And I'm trying to evolve a few healthier routines - to replace the old routines that weren't working. This is how it goes:
#1 - Wake up, boil water - go for cigarette while water boils - return, have coffee, peruse the inanity of the internet. This I'm trying to cut down on, Mebbe a half hour at most, nothing is new, the world still turns.
#2 - Go for brisk walk. Return. A few mental exercises, stretch.
#3 - Read aloud. I'm working on some "kids" projects at the moment so I'm reading a selection of T.S. Eliot's Verse and from his Book of Cats. This is actually, despite sounding nuts, very helpful. To read something is one thing, to read it aloud - sound it out, try and find the rhythm, alliteration, it's quite another. And it's helpful, it slows down the brain, makes me read, speak and think slower. That's a good thing.
#4 - Meditate. I've tried this before, it's without the best thing I've done for boosting productivity. If I can do it. Sitting quiet, eyes closed with an empty mind is surprisingly difficult. Which is weird because I tend to do this all the time when my eyes are open and I'm engaged in conversation...The best I've done, 20:18 - 20 minutes, 18 seconds. I was into the absence of mind. On a good day this could be addictive.
This is followed by what I would hope is "A period of Productivity.". And, overall, things are more productive than they were. I answer no texts or calls (unless it's to sell something off on Kijiji), my day was becoming easy prey to other peoples boredom.
In the evening, after dinner, normal digital relations resume. Put on some background music, Trip-Hop is the new favorite, lots to listen to. Unpack a few boxes, write a few postcards, list a few more items on Kijiji.
I've noticed - If I have a clear idea what I'm doing - a little background music or noise doesn't hurt, but it can get distracting - I'm prone to distraction.
This is how it goes. I repeat steps 2-4 a couple of times in the day, an ideal day would see me get in an hours meditation, but that's a ways away. 30 days makes a habit, lets do the experiment and see the results...