Embracing the Mundane: A Journey Through My Routine Day

I hesitated to write this blog and participate in the October writing contest. My excuse was simple: my daily life seemed too mundane and boring. What was the point of sharing it? However, after observing my routine for a couple of weeks, I realized that my perception of monotony was self-imposed. Our self-talk significantly influences our outlook on life. While I had read about the importance of self-talk in books and seen it in motivational Instagram reels, truly internalizing this concept required reflection.

Self-talk extends beyond the conscious phrases we tell ourselves; it includes the heuristics we've developed to automate many decisions. One such autopilot decision was labeling my usual days as “boring”. I believed that only extraordinary events made life legendary. I had evidence to support this conclusion, but perhaps it was time to reconsider.

My typical day is filled with micro-failures in various aspects of life. These small setbacks neither dent my self-confidence nor have noticeable consequences. The usual conclusion is, "I have done what I was expected to do." Maybe that's what living is.

My day begins at 5:15 AM with the first struggle against the alarm. Despite aiming to sleep by 10:30-11 PM, I often fall asleep by midnight, making it challenging to wake up at 5:15. I end up snoozing the alarm (a micro-failure) and rise by 5:30. I get ready and leave the house by 5:45 to reach the football ground for our morning training sessions. Out of the 25-28 people expected, only 12-15 typically show up. I rarely miss these sessions unless I'm traveling or have an early flight for work. If ranked on fitness or football skills, I'd be near the bottom, battling some form of failure for those 60-90 minutes. Yet, I attend almost every session, three days a week.

Why am I consistent? I've adjusted my success criteria to keep myself motivated. Reaching the ground by 6 AM is a success. If I can do that despite losing the battle with alarm clock, it's an achievement. I've also raised the stakes in my mind. I've convinced myself that if I reach the ground by 6 AM, I'll have a wonderful day at work, and it's my contribution to losing weight while enjoying my favorite foods.

I'm back home by 7:30/45, rest, have breakfast with my wife, and start work by 9-9:15 AM. Starting the day before clients and colleagues begin reaching out helps maintain calm. It feels like I'm in control, even if I'm just prepared for a tough call or escalation. I've requested colleagues not to schedule formal calls before 11 AM unless necessary. Even when planning client meetings (I'm in Sales), I aim to schedule them between 11 AM and 5 PM, avoiding peak hours in Mumbai/Thane. The working hours fly by.

On about two weekdays, I have lunch at home with my wife, watching TV as we eat together. Afterward, I return to work. By 6:30/7 PM, I'm done, though reminders of pending tasks and thoughts of how I could have done better linger. I also reflect on how not to repeat certain mistakes. Recently, my wife and I decided not to open social media from 11 AM to 6 PM. This small decision has saved time and improved productivity, despite initial withdrawal symptoms. Quitting smoking must be similarly challenging, though I wouldn't know.

Evenings are tricky. Most days, I'm at home, watching OTT content with my wife. We debate what to watch, often settling on a Marathi series she prefers (another defeat), have dinner, and then watch separate content in bed. I try to sleep by 10:30/11 but usually fall asleep by midnight.

And that’s my usual day.

When I made notes for this blog, I wondered why I perceived such a day as “boring”? Despite being the least skilled in football, I've improved significantly. I'm better than those who skip practice. Losing 10 KGs in the past year is a significant achievement, especially without giving up sweets or occasional burgers and pasta.

I start my day playing football, not commuting like 80-85% of Mumbaikars do. We often overlook the special moments of eating or sipping tea with family. I am thankful for such a day knowing this wont last forever.

While a single day might seem uneventful, the small victories—meetings held, calls made—eventually lead to significant achievements, like signing a multi-million dollar deal for your employer.

One day, on the football ground, you realize you're sprinting and covering more ground than ever. You notice veins popping on your feet, indicating increased blood flow and improved performance. These biological changes don't occur with sporadic effort; they result from consistent practice.

The power of compounding works in unnoticed ways. Reading a few pages from a book might remind you of lessons from a favorite book read years ago.

Why fear failure? It's part of the journey. To enjoy the highs, one must be willing to experience the lows. Consistency ensures that one day, you'll get "lucky" and achieve what you've been working toward.

Writing this blog reminded me that boring isn't bad. Mundane days bring me closer to my ambitious goals.