Routines I have Added to my Day During the Last 3 Months

Reading

“Read what you love until you love to read.” -Naval Ravikant

Looking back on my childhood, almost all of my free time consisted of playing video games and reading. I spent hours every day getting lost in fantasy stories and nature books. I brought big books with me everywhere I went. It was a great source of pride that I had a 12th grade reading level in the 3rd grade (I’m not so sure those tests are accurate but it was nice feeling smart). As I got older I became more social and “busier” and therefore had less time to read. High school does a pretty good job of beating the will to read out of you, and by sophomore year I was only reading the required material and maybe one or two books a year.

After high school I discovered something amazing. The audiobook. Audiobooks are great for “busy” people or anyone trying to get in some extra reading while doing some other task. I began listening to audiobooks while working at my old night time cleaning job, and would listen to them at every proceeding job I had; the backroom at Target, auditing oil deliveries, and putting together paperwork at a law firm. I would probably finish about 2 books a month doing this, and with audiobooks you have zero excuses not to listen to a couple hours a day.

I am definitely a champion of audiobooks, and I will defend them till my last breath, but there absolutely is something different about a physical book. I don’t think I can describe it without sounding pompous but take my word for it, there is a difference. In early March this year I was gifted a ton of free time and had to adapt my current goals. One of the goals I changed was “Read 2 books this month”. My free time increased by at least 5x so I thought “fuck it, lets make it 10 books”. I started listening to audiobooks and reading physical books like mad and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I rediscovered my love for reading. For the past 10 years, reading has sort of felt like a chore, like something that needed to be done to get crossed off my list. This is no longer the case and now I read the way I did when I was younger. I cannot overstate the importance of reading. Reading gives you knowledge that is only trumped by doing, and with a finite lifetime it is sometimes better to learn from the mistakes of others through books. Reading breeds curiosity and can make a person competent at many skills. If you look at the most successful people who have ever lived you will notice one common thing between them. They all read. A lot.

I am currently averaging 1 book every 3 days now. I cant recommend it enough, please read some books. Start with stuff that interests you or stuff that you think would be helpful. If you are “too busy” then listen to some audiobooks while working out, or commuting, or cleaning your house. Audible is only $14.95 a month and you get a free book of your choice every month. Below is a link for 30 days free.

https://www.audible.com/ep/freetrial?source_code=MSNGBSH060214901I&device=d&cvosrc=ppc.bing.audible%20sign%20up&cvo_campaign=42052109&cvo_crid=76622320874237&Matchtype=e&msclkid=1cc079bd096916e1a681277c632f536b&gclid=CK69lcKsu-kCFYiXxQIdSpIG9w&gclsrc=ds

Running

“It takes relentless self discipline to schedule suffering into your day, every day…I’m not training for a race, I’m training for life. I’m training my mind for when I get that call at 2 o’clock in the morning that my mom is dead or something tragic happens in life.” -David Goggins

Fuck running. I will probably say that a few times in this section so if the word “fuck” or the word “running” offend you (I’m offended by the latter) feel free to skip to the next section. Anyway, fuck running. I have never been a good runner and I have never enjoyed running. I have always preferred the weight room to the track and my endurance is proof of that.

After being gifted a two month vacation, I decided I should work towards something difficult with some of the extra time I was given. In mid March I went for a “run” around the block (maybe half a mile). I couldn’t even run the whole way without stopping. I was winded and my legs were throbbing. I hobbled up my stairs and had the most beautifully stupid idea I’ve ever had. “I’m going to run a sub four hour marathon this year”. I couldn’t even run a half mile without wanting jump into traffic and I decided I would run 26.2 miles by the end of the year.

The first couple weeks were brutal. After about 2 weeks my knee and ankle joints were so fucked up that I physically couldn’t run. My body wouldn’t let me, the best I could do was a sort of speed walk hobble. I was forced to wait a week and heal. During this time I did a lot of research and mapped out the next 6 months. I got some actual running shoes and started running again. Both my joints and my hatred for running got stronger as days went by. Everytime before I start running I just think to myself “fuck this, this is so fucking stupid” and then I run.

I am up to 3-miles without stopping. Every week I am getting a little but faster and running for a little bit longer. My legs are much stronger and my endurance is no longer dog shit. But don’t be fooled, I still fucking hate it.

Writing

“The purpose of writing is to keep civilization from destroying itself.”-Albert Camus

School does a really good job of making you write, but does a horrible job of telling you why you should write. It’s actually really simple. You should write for two reasons.

1. Writing helps you think. It lets you lay out thoughts from your monkey brain and sort them and refine them.
2. The more you write, the better you will get at articulating your thoughts.

It’s been over 5 years since I graduated, and so for 5 years I haven’t had a reason to write. I was “too busy”. Too busy lying to myself that I was “too busy”. In mid April I bought a leather journal to write in daily (or almost daily). I usually write for about 5 minutes after I wake up and it ranges from dreams I had, to ideas, to clearing up my thoughts on certain issues. At the beginning of May I created a blog and have committed to witting something every Sunday. It isn’t because I think I am good at writing or even that I have something interesting to say (I don’t think either of those things are true). Instead it is to work through ideas and to improve my writing. If anybody reads it and enjoys it, that is just an unintended benefit.

Miscellaneous

30 minutes of French a day (semi-fluent now)

Ice baths once a week

Hot baths 3 times a week

Compression socks 2 hours a day 4 days a week

48 hour fast once a month

Added supplements: Magnesium, xylitol gum, MCT oil

Extra ab workout on Sundays

HIIT Training on assault bike after workout on Mondays

30 minute or longer walks

10 minutes a day of some sort of meditation (Wim Hoff breathing technique, guided meditation, or just sitting with my thoughts)