The Paradox of Routines
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Morning routines have been a hot topic of discussion lately, mostly prompted by a mega-viral video of an Instagram influencer running through his elaborate minute by minute rituals.
It's incredibly good content—the ASMR sounds, the shots, the execution—but is having a fancy, complicated morning routine really going to change your life?
If you aren't going to start dunking your face in expensive bottled water before 6am, can you still be successful?
Look, I'm a routine guy...
I love my cold plunge and my early mornings just as much as anyone, but there's an important truth I need to share:
The best routine is the one you can break.
I call this the Paradox of Routines.
If it sounds strange, it should—it's a paradox, after all.
You've been told to chase the perfect morning routine protocol: Delayed caffeine intake, saltwater hydration, habit stacks, cold plunges, journaling, workouts, no phone before 10.
The list is seemingly endless...
It looks amazing on paper, and even better on social media, but here’s the problem:
When your routine becomes too rigid and complicated, it becomes a source of stress rather than strength.
I used to be fanatical about my morning routine. If I had a late night event, unexpected commitment, or chaotic bedtime with my toddler, I’d get pre-stressed—a weird anticipatory anxiety about not nailing the next morning's routine.
The routine designed to serve me had started to own me.
My entire life changed when I realized I could wake up late, do a few pushups and jumping jacks to get the blood pumping, drink my coffee, and magically still show up for the work that matters.
The lesson is that your routines should have an A, B, and C level:
- A Level: Your ideal routine, if everything goes according to plan
- B Level: Your baseline routine, doable on an average day
- C Level: Your bare-bones routine, when all hell breaks loose
Now, I might hit my A Routine on 20% of days, my B Routine on 70%, and my C Routine on 10%. The system has built in flexibility, much like how a skyscraper is designed to bend and sway with the wind.
The best part? No more pre-stress about the routine, because it's built for the unpredictable, dynamic nature of life.
To implement this idea with your morning routine, ask yourself these questions:
- What are the habits or actions that get you into a primed state for the day ahead?
- Which of those are necessary vs. nice to have?
- What's the most simplified version if you had to get it done in 5 minutes or were traveling and in an unfamiliar environment?
Using your responses, create your own version of A, B, and C morning routines. Track your execution against them for a few weeks and see how you do.
The best routine is the one that actually helps you get the important things done.
Your routine should serve your life, not own it. Remember that.
