When the days are short, wintery and dark I personally feel the boundaries of my daily routines closing in about me until I realize that I am able to adjust them to Fit Just Right. As we collectively start into the winter ahead, might I suggest some blog reading and simple adjustments to make life more enjoyable? A daily cup of tea (Early Grey for its uplifting bergamot perhaps), some light therapy care of full-spectrum light bulbs to ward off the winter blues, dance parties and the Brain Pickings blog, which is chockful of inspiring ideas from famous smart people. Check out this recent entry, The Daily Routines of Famous Writers.
Henry Miller‘s daily routine according to Brain Pickings:
MORNINGS:
If groggy, type notes and allocate, as stimulus.
If in fine fettle, write.
AFTERNOONS:
Work of section in hand, following plan of section scrupulously. No intrusions, no diversions. Write to finish one section at a time, for good and all.
EVENINGS:
See friends. Read in cafés.
Explore unfamiliar sections — on foot if wet, on bicycle if dry.
Write, if in mood, but only on Minor program.
Paint if empty or tired.
Make Notes. Make Charts, Plans. Make corrections of MS.
Note: Allow sufficient time during daylight to make an occasional visit to museums or an occasional sketch or an occasional bike ride. Sketch in cafés and trains and streets. Cut the movies! Library for references once a week.