Life is Change

Adopting a fixed mindset can be incredibly frustrating. The belief that things must remain the same can lead to feelings of anger and discontent. It's crucial to acknowledge that we are floating, not anchored in place.

Recently, I spoke with a friend who is a physical therapist. She mentioned that her clients often seek definitive answers for managing back pain. She chuckled, explaining, “There are no hard and fast rules.” It’s challenging when people look to you for absolute solutions, as each individual's issues are often deeply personal. Our unique experiences and limiting beliefs shape our challenges, which evolve over time. The solution for back pain today may differ dramatically next year, especially if we neglect to address it in the present.

We must accept that the rules of life can change daily.

Lists Need to be Flexible

A hundred days ago, I had no illusions that my routine would last indefinitely. I continued to refine it, adding more tasks and making it excessively detailed. This probably led to my downfall. Instead of focusing on five main tasks, I expanded it to nine, complete with multiple sub-tasks.

Ten days ago, I lost motivation to engage with my list. A week ago, I opened it but didn’t complete any entries. Three days ago, I didn’t even glance at it. Each deviation from my plan drained my mood, leaving me feeling exhausted and frustrated.

While there are simple, essential tasks to accomplish daily, the overall flow of my day is heavily influenced by my energy and mood. When crafting a list, it’s vital to maintain its flexibility. Creating rigid morning, afternoon, and evening lists can turn your life into a spreadsheet, where failing to check off tasks leads to feelings of inadequacy.

Flow — Forced or Followed?

Establishing a strict hierarchy of tasks resembles constructing a channel; you build barriers that can restrict your natural flow. If your structure is too narrow, you may overflow; if it’s too broad, progress can stagnate. Forcing your flow can lead to erratic results and leave you feeling drained.

Allowing your energy to shift organically between tasks enables you to adapt to your environment. Create a diverse list of activities, allowing your energy to guide you through your day, week, or even your entire life.

Create an Unroutine

Inspired by the CrossFit philosophy of varied Workouts of the Day (WOD), which intentionally avoids consistency, I aim to develop a form of “habit confusion.” This approach encourages awareness of my daily energy flow while accommodating fluctuations in mood and life circumstances.

Is this "Unroutine" suitable for everyone? Absolutely not. I recognize my privilege of working from home and my ADHD-driven need for a bit of chaos. I thrive on overcoming challenges just as much as I do on being productive.

I’m interested to hear if anyone else has explored an unroutine or an anti-task list that allows for flexibility while still addressing necessary responsibilities. Are there any fellow chaos enthusiasts out there?

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