If you took a peek into my daily life, you might find it, ummm…well, boring.
Wake up early. Stretch. Write. Work. Read. Walk. Sleep. Repeat. Throw in some activity on some days.
Not exactly the stuff of viral reels, right? There are no dramatic plot twists, no spontaneous trips to Bali, no montages of me “seizing the day” in a cinematic frenzy. (Read my earlier post on “From Reels to Real“)
Ah, well. It’s predictable, structured, and for the most part, looks the same today as it did yesterday.
And I love it.
But I also know how it looks to others! It could be labelled as mundane, uninspiring, maybe even robotic. I believe we live in a world that glorifies spontaneity and variety. In this world, adventure is marketed as the only way to live fully.
Routine, on the other hand, is treated like a creativity killer, a trap, a slow march into monotony.
I used to believe that too. That was years ago. Until I realized that the most successful, fulfilled, and disciplined people I admire all have one thing in common: a solid, often “boring” routine.
Would you stick to a routine if it meant success?
Somewhere along the way, we romanticized the idea that success is born from moments of explosive inspiration. That a writer wakes up one day, fueled by divine creativity, and churns out a bestseller in a caffeine-fueled frenzy. Ah, that glorified frenzy and hustle culture…
That an athlete suddenly finds their rhythm and becomes a champion overnight.
That a business owner has one genius idea, and poof! They taste success.
But that’s not how it works. Behind every masterpiece, every medal, and every thriving business, there’s a quiet, consistent grind.
Great authors don’t just write when they feel like it. They write daily, sometimes producing pages of nonsense just to get to one good paragraph. Athletes train every day, even when they don’t want to. Entrepreneurs wake up and do the same tedious work, refining their craft, sending emails, tweaking their ideas – long before they ever “make it.”
Routine is the backbone of mastery.
I Love Spontaneity Too – But Here’s the Difference
Now, don’t get me wrong! I love a good spontaneous plan. A last-minute trip, an unplanned coffee catch-up, or simply deciding to switch up my day because I feel like it. Flexibility keeps life exciting. I do it too.
But here’s the thing: spontaneity works best because there’s a routine to fall back on.
If every day was unpredictable, I wouldn’t get much done. If I only worked when I felt inspired, I’d have little to show for it.
My routine isn’t a cage…it’s a foundation. It allows me to build something meaningful, knowing that even when I take a break, I have a structure to return to.
My Routine, My Freedom
Here’s the funny thing: The very routine that might seem restrictive to others is what gives me freedom.
Because I don’t have to waste time deciding when to work out …. I just do it.
Because I don’t sit around waiting for inspiration to strike – I show up and create anyway.
Because my day is structured and I actually have space for creativity to flourish.
Routine removes decision fatigue, creates momentum, and turns discipline into second nature. And once something becomes second nature, it stops feeling like a chore. It’s just part of who you are.
That’s the paradox: Routine, when done right, isn’t a prison. It’s a launchpad.
Embracing the “Boring” Path
A routine-based life may not appear thrilling on the outside. There are no wild detours, no unpredictable chaos, no constant adrenaline rush.
But what I do have is a deep sense of fulfillment, clarity, and the knowledge that every small, seemingly “boring” action is leading me somewhere.
So if you’ve ever felt guilty for not living a highlight-reel-worthy life, let this be your permission slip.
The magic isn’t in the grand, dramatic moments. It’s in the quiet, consistent steps you take every day.
Because boring? Boring is where the real work happens. And that’s what makes all the difference.
In that case, let me be boring. 🙂
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