Structure or Spontaneity

Structure or Spontaneity

 

‘A prudent person profits from personal experience, a wise one from the experience of others.’

-Joseph Collins

 

‘There is nothing more miserable and foolish than anticipation.’

-Seneca

 

 

My focus today is the balance between structure and spontaneity.

 

I am a creature of habit.  I feel much more comfortable when my days are structured and things go according to my plan.  I wake up at the same time every day and have the same morning routine.  I time block my day and write a daily to do list.

 

On the other end of the spectrum are those of us that purposely do not plan the day.  Let things come to them and decide how they feel and what to do throughout the day.  Most days are spent bouncing from task to task.

 

Which one is better? Neither.  Most people are probably in between the two examples, but lean one way or the other.  Success is not determined by how you go about your day.  The challenge is to accept which category you fall into, structure or spontaneity, and then force yourself to try the other. 

 

Every once in awhile, I force myself to change my routine, I force myself to not be structured for a day.  And every time I do this, I gain new insight into how I work and my productivity.  As an example, I have discovered that an occasional cat nap in the afternoon provides me a tremendous productivity boost. 

 

If you live your life in a structured way, take a break.  If you live your life spontaneously, try a dose of structure for a day.  I guarantee that you will learn something new.

 

Kyle C. Ryan

 

 

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