The optimal routine is boring
Nobody is perfect. It’s hard to be an ultra-marathoner, startup founder, Fields medalist and Nobel laureate, a good father and a good husband. It’s probably also boring, but I’m too far away to know. Doing all the daily tasks we should isn’t easy, and keeping a routine is -let’s just admit it once and for all- boring. This often makes us feel like we’re not making progress in life.
A more realistic and effective approach is to have a rotation of routines. Set yourself a goal and a certain amount of time. Focus and obsess until you achieve that single goal. Some ideas: * Learn Portuguese in 2 months. * Take all the Deep Learning courses you can on coursera for 3 months. * Build a website and write 10 posts in 6 weeks. * Watch the top 20 IMBD movies on netflix in 2 months. * Do a sports routine for 4 weeks. Meditate at 6 am every day for a month.
Having an optimal routine is overrated. Making frequent changes is more natural and always more fun. The key is to do it deliberately, and not at random.