Wake up. Sit up. Get up. Brush teeth. Change into video call clothes. Get on video call.

End result: all set for meeting.

Sometimes slip into the alternative: Wake up. Check phone. Sit up. Check phone. Get up. Check phone. Brush teeth. Check phone. Change into video call clothes. Check phone. Get on video call. Check phone.

End result: still ready for call. Different trajectory. Routine time expanded. More rushed now. Rushing causes mistakes. Attention may be split or key decisions under-analyzed.

New alternative: Wake up (earlier). Sit up. Get up. Brush teeth. Write morning pages. Change into video call clothes. Get on video call.

Same end result. New trajectory. Less rushed, more thoughtful. Longer routine time, but spent mindfully. Better start today.

Humans react to situations. Reactions follow a trajectory set by routines. Choose the right routine for the desired reaction, then carefully tune and examine. Start in the morning - it's easier to start a trajectory than divert it.

This post is part of the Daily Blogging Challenge. The theme for this article was "Routine." Thanks to Chris Hannah for sharing the challenge and Jeff Perry for organizing it!