Do you have any EVERYDAY RITUALS?

23 replies
I'm a pretty lazy marketer. Heck, I'm a pretty lazy person at times too. It's hard for me to stay active with something because my ADHD gets excited about new things every 5 minutes. Consistency is something that I struggle with on the internet pretty bad.

Recently I've made a commitment to myself to blog everyday. And I mean everyday. No sick days, no rainy or snow days, no vacation days. Every day. It shouldn't be so tough if I cue up 10 or 15 posts ahead of time in case I do get lazy or am busy some day in the future.

Some people may think you'd run out of stuff to talk about. Not a chance. There's always something to write about, and even if you do have writers block for the day you can always post a silly pic from your iPhone or something. (Geez, I must have a few hundred of those).

The goal here is to get me committed to writing everyday. I usually don't write about marketing everyday, nor do I try to monetize every post. I probably write 30% marketing, 30% silly stuff, and 40% lifestyle and travel. Basically I write whatever I feel like on any given day.

The other goal is to condition readers to come to my blog every morning as if they were reading the morning paper. I've learned that momentum is a huge thing and people get really used to reading my blog, only to soon be bummed that I'm not updating more frequently. Visitors are more likely to return when they KNOW there is going to be a new blog post each day.

So I'm curious. Do any Warriors have any rituals or tasks that they do every single day? Do you do these tasks first thing in the morning, or whenever you feel like it? How do you keep motivated to do the same thing each and every day?

I really want to keep up the momentum I have on my blog, but I know at my core I'm a pretty lazy person. I'm looking for any ideas or examples of people who do daily rituals and how they keep at it.

So what do you do EVERYDAY?
#everyday #rituals
  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    I try and write an article each day but like you, the ADD (oops you said, "ADHD") gets in the way. The battle ensues ...
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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    I go to the gym every morning and to a coffee shop every afternoon.

    Work stuff fits in around that. I've always found that I work better when I feel like working, so if I don't feel like it - I don't do it. Then when I do feel like it I get a lot done.

    I don't have any IM related stuff that I do religiously every day.
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    • Profile picture of the author JayC81
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      I've always found that I work better when I feel like working, so if I don't feel like it - I don't do it. Then when I do feel like it I get a lot done.
      I always try to tell myself this, but it's harder to actually do it. Most of the time I feel like I need to work even though I know I shouldn't feel that way...
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Moffatt
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      I go to the gym every morning and to a coffee shop every afternoon.

      Work stuff fits in around that. I've always found that I work better when I feel like working, so if I don't feel like it - I don't do it. Then when I do feel like it I get a lot done.

      I don't have any IM related stuff that I do religiously every day.
      What about the days you don't feel like going to the gym? Do you force yourself to get up and go, or do you just say... "ah, I don't feel like it today"?
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom B
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Jason Moffatt View Post

        What about the days you don't feel like going to the gym? Do you force yourself to get up and go, or do you just say... "ah, I don't feel like it today"?
        Force yourself to go. After awhile it becomes a routine and you feel strange if you don't do it.
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    • Profile picture of the author freemen14
      In terms of IM the first thing I do is open my freemind software and look at the map of the project I am working on. It helps me to focus my attention and gives my mind a refresher of what has been done and what needs to be done. This works for me anyways.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Jason - you just made me feel better! I'm not the only one.

    I've tried scheduling myself to do certain things each and every day - even to the point of setting a time frame to do them each day. It worked for a while - but I don't work at home to keep a schedule like a job. Like you, I often do some writing ahead on motivated days to cover me on the days I don't feel like doing it. It's the best compromise I've found.

    Every day I do the tasks that have to be done to keep things running and for freelance work. Some days I'll work 12 hours and get a lot done - other days I just don't do that much.

    One thing I have found this year is if I give myself a brisk walk or run before I start to work - I work better and longer. If I go straight to my computer in the morning - my brain is still asleep and it takes time to get motivated.

    kay
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Moffatt
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Jason - you just made me feel better! I'm not the only one.

      I've tried scheduling myself to do certain things each and every day - even to the point of setting a time frame to do them each day. It worked for a while - but I don't work at home to keep a schedule like a job. Like you, I often do some writing ahead on motivated days to cover me on the days I don't feel like doing it. It's the best compromise I've found.

      Every day I do the tasks that have to be done to keep things running and for freelance work. Some days I'll work 12 hours and get a lot done - other days I just don't do that much.

      One thing I have found this year is if I give myself a brisk walk or run before I start to work - I work better and longer. If I go straight to my computer in the morning - my brain is still asleep and it takes time to get motivated.

      kay
      Yeah, a "Hour Of Power" in the morning can be tremendous for some people that are striving to be productive throughout the day.

      What I've been doing is not getting out of bed until my blog post is done. It seems to be working, but then again, I never have any appointments or anything that I have to do on a daily basis to get in the way. I'm worried once I get back to the beach in San Diego I'll want to get out of bed much quicker.
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    • Profile picture of the author garyfromdurham
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post


      One thing I have found this year is if I give myself a brisk walk or run before I start to work - I work better and longer. If I go straight to my computer in the morning - my brain is still asleep and it takes time to get motivated.

      kay
      Kay

      That is a great way to start the day.

      I was inspired by Eban Pagans video where he spoke about how important it was to start the day healthily because it usually sets the tone for the rest of the day.

      I think that doing some form of exercise to clear the cob webs away really helps to make a day more productive.

      Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author EA
    Jason Moffatt - I just wanted to say to you "You not only kick ass" your blog also makes me smile and I wish you all the best in your journey and all the gratitude too.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Moffatt
      Originally Posted by EA View Post

      Jason Moffatt - I just wanted to say to you "You not only kick ass" your blog also makes me smile and I wish you all the best in your journey and all the gratitude too.
      Hey thanks EA. I appreciate that.

      I wish I could address you by your name, but I guess EA will have to work. You don't have any relation to EA Sports do ya? Wouldn't that be sweet.
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    I paint toy soldiers between marketing tasks. No seriously I do.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      Originally Posted by jazbo View Post

      I paint toy soldiers between marketing tasks. No seriously I do.
      I thought I was the only one ...
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  • Profile picture of the author tylerdrun
    yeah that kinda stuff happens... and it still happens for me. it's lack of self-control and discipline.

    One month it didn't happen to me was in april. i used to get up, take a shower,visualize, read think and grow rich, write articles.

    i was sooo perfect. but school now has distracted me and has made me an arsehole again... but will improve...

    it's abt preparation... and control.. how badly do you want it?

    atleast now i meditate every day... for at least five to ten minutes.
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  • Profile picture of the author KatyaSenina
    I struggle with the same thing. Will keep an eye on this topic.

    Though I don't really think there is a magic solution to cure laziness. Like Thomas Belknap said you just have to force yourself to do things, even if you don't feel like it.
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  • Profile picture of the author LinChick
    I'm not sure how much, for me, is laziness versus being very easily distracted. I've gotten into a routine of cleaning the kitchen while my coffee brews, then having my morning cup of coffee while either working on a blog posting or checking in on the forums I moderate. That usually depends on my kids and when they wake up and start making demands for breakfast.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Lenaghan
    Originally Posted by Jason Moffatt View Post

    So what do you do EVERYDAY?
    Play with my kids. They're not going to want to play with me forever, so I take every opportunity I can.

    Other than that, I can't say there's much I do EVERY day. Business-wise, I work more on a weekly schedule - as long as I get certain things done by the end of each week, I don't worry as much about when I do them.

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
      Originally Posted by nichescape View Post

      Play with my kids. They're not going to want to play with me forever, so I take every opportunity I can.
      Ah, a man with his priorities together ...refreshing!
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  • Profile picture of the author LogoNerds
    Gym is always the first part of my day - and nice and early too. Energy levels are through the roof ALL day. Its amazing how much you can get accomplished after a real good early workout. Try it
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  • Profile picture of the author jennypitts
    I do not know about other female IMers, but being a full time mom, wife and IMer requires that I plan my day accordingly. Otherwise I will accomplish very little. Being organized allows me the leisure to attend to last minute mishaps in the business and accidents in the house.
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  • Profile picture of the author stephie614
    No...I have no everyday rituals... just take every day as it comes.. I do have short and long term goals. Probably why it takes me 3 days to accomplish what takes others 30 minutes to do.
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    • Profile picture of the author MoaddinFM
      Every evening I draw actually a picture on what I want to achieve and put "put on" date on it.

      Then I fix it on my bedrooms door so the first thing I see is the growing list of my dreams. And I know what I will work the day for.

      Then I achieve my goals and put a date on "achieved on" and I am happy to get closer to my dreams.
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  • Profile picture of the author GhWriter
    I have AdHd too and it is distracting. I am always finding something new, and planning something new. one thing that I do to work with it is write about my latest distraction. this way, I get to think out what is distracting me, and I have a new blog post.
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