I have a fantasy of my ideal working day, where I get up gently and ease myself into the day with meditation, exercise and simple food. Then I write or make music or art in the morning and spend the afternoon breathing it all back in by reading or listening to music, perhaps a trip to the cinema. I have a clear ending to this working day and spend the evening with family and friends and good food.
And the part that is most fantastical is the idea that I would be able to do this absolutely every day and never get bored with it. That's not me. I need much more variety than is implied by even this simple routine.
Also there are still many people who demand my attention at odd times throughout the day. I can't be a monk. At least not yet.
But I do think that I could get closer to the ideal. Having just a little more structure could make a big difference. Having a regular morning practice is the thing that, in my experience, gets me on more of an even keel. Returning to a few simple things before doing anything else, instead of drinking coffee and doomscrolling might not get me my perfect day, but I know I feel better about how imperfect the rest of my day is when I start it right.
