This was going to be a post about creating a conscious practice, which seems to occupy a lot of our present day, "mindful" focus.
I've always had a on-again-off-again relationship with yoga, ever since first trying it at about 14-15. I don't really do any sportsy stuff (except swimming), but I do see the value in yoga, especially as someone who hunches over a computer a good part of the day. And recently, I've been trying to stick to a daily practice, usually before bed, just to free some of my overtaxed muscles. And I was going to write about that, and how good it feels.
But then I thought... what's the big deal? A lot of people (gurus and coaches and influencers and yogis alike) emphasize the alleged importance of creating a daily routine for yourself, and sticking to it. And on the outside, I can see the benefits, like:
- creating structure;
- providing peaceful sanctuary in daily chaos;
- making time for yourself.
But after a little thought, the only one I'd keep on that list is the last one, making time to do something good and healthy for yourself. Obviously, that is, if we're talking about actual good things like physical activity, or meditation, or indulging in some hobby. As for the other two... I don't know.
See, we already have plenty of routine in our lives. So you have these people telling you you'll feel more balanced and structured if you do this one thing every day, without fail. Yeah, but you also do the dishes every day, don't you? You do the shopping. You eat. You work, in whatever form that takes for you. Point is, why doesn't anyone find peace and structure in eating their breakfast, or doing the dishes?
They're as much of a routine, if not more so, as your yoga practices and your meditations. And yet, all you ever see about those activities is complaints. There's a linguistical difference at play, as well. The stuff I listed, we refer to as "chores", while the other ones are a "daily practice".
One's showing up for yourself, the other's just so damn irritating.
Of course, one's quick to object that yoga and meditating, and doing something good for you fulfills a different purpose than doing the dishes. Agreed, but that's not what's at stake here. No one's doubting the merits of these activities, but the purported benefits of a "daily practice", and why it always has to be one of these bohemian things.
If it's structure you're after, then the running of a household, no matter how small and low-key it may be, will provide all the structure you need. Even the most hectic households still have a usual lunch hour, and a time they do the dishes or their ablutions.
Yet those don't seem to make the cut for "mindful practices" or count as a beneficial daily routine. Why? Is it because they're so awful? Or is it because when it boils right down to it, a daily practice isn't all it's cracked up to be? Sure, there's numerous benefits to practicing yoga every single day. But most of those are physical. Whatever peace and stillness and serenity I or anyone else may find is purely in our own heads.
The reason I think my (hopeful) daily practices are good for me is that I've been told they are. Moreover, I tell myself they are. I tell myself this is how you find stillness, and lo and behold, I'm more peaceful and calm when I do it. But maybe that's just conditioning, and I could find the same stillness doing dishes...
At the end of the day, a routine is just a routine, and while some routines may be great, they often do more harm than good. Routines are how you get stuck, and irritated. I try to keep a routine in my writing, because it's the only way to get stuff done, but it's damn hard work. Frustrating, too. I don't do it floating on a little cloud about how great everything is. And while routine is necessary for some things, maybe other stuff like meditating, practicing yoga or any other physical exercise, or all this other stuff that's said to be good for you should be a go-by-feel type thing. Maybe it's more beneficial to only do these things when you feel you should, and that they'd be helpful to you, rather than struggle to do them dutifully every day. And then feel bad when you miss a day. I think a conscious practice should be more important than a daily practice no matter what.
But maybe I'm wrong.