Every day, I wake up and head to the kitchen and set about performing my coffee ritual. I boil the water to 203 degrees in the far too nice kettle I was gifted by a wonderful partner, measure and grind the beans, portion them into my Le Creuset French press, steep the coffee for 8-10 minutes, wibble it ( it's a thing, I promise!), and pour it for the two of us. I'm sipping that coffee right now, as it turns out.
It's not a terribly challenging task, and one I've now done so many times that I can do it half asleep, but it is a small habit that sets an intention for my day. It provides me with a ping of happiness (thank you, oxytocin and dopamine) first thing in the morning and provides a small sense of accomplishment. It sets the tone for the day.
We all perform small tasks each and every day that have become habit. We do them almost without thinking about it, but they still make all the difference. These small habits create intentions and allow us to build into larger tasks. Everyone likes to feel as though they've accomplished something. There is an entire to do list industry because we love not simply finishing a task, but crossing it off our list.
These habits allow us to change behavior, improve ourselves in various ways, or simply allow us to focus better. Whatever the habit might be, it's important not to overlook the process itself. The act of doing something familiar, with an expected outcome, and seeing the end result can be remarkably motivating.
I know this morning ritual matters because I'm keenly aware when I'm unable to perform it. When I'm traveling and need to stop at a coffee shop on the way to a meeting, I always feel like something is off. I certainly enjoy the opportunity to visit a new coffee shop, but my morning still doesn't feel quite right. It often takes me longer to ease into the day when I'm away, and I'm usually unconsciously searching for a replacement for this habit. I'll find that hit of dopamine somewhere else, wrapped up in some other habit I can create for the time I'm away.
So, what are those rituals or habits that you perform each and every day? What are those small accomplishments that set the tone for the day?
