The two most recent trials were both interesting in their own ways. The first was a plethora of morning routines in which every morning I tried to do a physical task, mental task, and accomplish a “first win.” The latter started as an attempt to try out freelancing but soon spiraled out into an entirely different exploration of what I actually want to be doing with my time.
Mornings Done Right
While I don’t maintain all of the aspects I used in the trial, I still make sure to journal every morning and read out of The Daily Stoic. From time to time, I’ll try and do a few exercises, but definitely, am not keeping up the consistency. It ties back to something I mentioned previously, it’s far more difficult to add than eliminate from a routine. Regardless of the specifics, trying out numerous activities helped me get into the swing of a routine I stick to more often than not.
The physical task was my favorite to try out different activities for. From Jump roping to push-ups to yoga I would wake up and just start doing something. My favorite was jumping jacks. They were easiest to get started as soon as I rolled out of bed.
The first win was definitely the most difficult part to hit each morning. I would often just pick a project I was working on and decide one quick thing I could do. Though it didn’t always need to be anything project related. Sometimes it was as simple as tidying up areas of my apartment or dropping off a library book. Anything to start the day off with a win. The goal was to be able to look back and know the day wasn’t wasted.
When Life Hands You Freelancing
Riding the high of a trial that really challenged me, I wanted to try another. Freelancing was supposed to be my next big personal challenge. I would force me to really tighten my schedule, learn many new skills, and learn a new trade. Unfortunately, my timing couldn’t have been worse. I started juggling old projects, new projects, this trial, and all that on top of an already busy day to day life. After only a week I was burnt out bad.
The experience forced me to address some difficult questions. I don’t know if it was coincidence or some sort of fate, but I started reading the book Essentialism. I found myself suffering from the “undisciplined pursuit of more.” I wanted to do everything 100% all at once. This wasn’t possible. Instead, I drove myself mad. Ever since, I’ve put nearly every side project on hold and am trying to apply a lot of what I learned in my day job.
Instead of trial updates, I wrote more concept pieces, which I really enjoyed. It was nice to change it up from talking about what I did that week, and more so explore a general idea. The subjects I was discussing were highly inspired by what impact I was feeling from the overwhelming projects. Saying no, prioritizing, and defining personal values were all lessons this trial forced me to learn.
What’s Next for TOBBI?
With that, we’re all caught up on the ten trials I’ve run so far. Some fun, others difficult. Some painful, others relaxing. I’ve learned a lot and I hope to keep writing for you.
The next trial involves facing a certain fear that I’ve had for a long time. Going bald.
Trying Out Before Buying In 