7 evening habits of a Stoic.
The Marcus Aurelius Routine:
The Marcus Aurelius Routine:
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and philosopher—
who believed in practical daily habits.
His journal, Meditations, gives us a fair idea of what his nighttime routine would've been.
Here's the 7-step breakdown:
who believed in practical daily habits.
His journal, Meditations, gives us a fair idea of what his nighttime routine would've been.
Here's the 7-step breakdown:
Step 1: Eliminate external stimuli.
"It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."
Use the nighttime to take a vacation from your busy day:
• Unplug from TV + social
• Take a walk, meditate, or practice 'non-doing'
• Seek inner-stillness
"It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."
Use the nighttime to take a vacation from your busy day:
• Unplug from TV + social
• Take a walk, meditate, or practice 'non-doing'
• Seek inner-stillness
Step 2: Get some physical exercise.
"A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body."
Marcus did not believe in exercise for vanity.
Instead, he saw exercise trained the mind for:
• Consistency
• Self-discipline
• Clear thinking
Take a mind-cleansing walk tonight.
"A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body."
Marcus did not believe in exercise for vanity.
Instead, he saw exercise trained the mind for:
• Consistency
• Self-discipline
• Clear thinking
Take a mind-cleansing walk tonight.
Step 3: Review your day.
"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."
It's been said that we do not learn from experience,
but learn from *reflecting* on experience.
"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."
It's been said that we do not learn from experience,
but learn from *reflecting* on experience.
In reviewing your day, here are some helpful questions to journal:
• What did I plan to happen?
• What actually happened?
• What went well? What didn't go well?
• How can I improve for tomorrow?
An HBR study found a 25% increase in performance for those who journal at night
• What did I plan to happen?
• What actually happened?
• What went well? What didn't go well?
• How can I improve for tomorrow?
An HBR study found a 25% increase in performance for those who journal at night
Step 4: Contemplate your sage.
"Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Still more so life."
In this step, reflect on your role model.
My advice: Compare yourself to your ideal self…
"Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Still more so life."
In this step, reflect on your role model.
My advice: Compare yourself to your ideal self…
Ask, "What would my ideal do?"
Take a few mins daily to reflect on the character traits + values you aspire towards.
By keeping your ideal top of mind, you'll:
1. Close performance gaps
2. Become the type of person you deeply admire
Take a few mins daily to reflect on the character traits + values you aspire towards.
By keeping your ideal top of mind, you'll:
1. Close performance gaps
2. Become the type of person you deeply admire
Step 5: Take a view from above.
"Think of substance in its entirety, of which you have the smallest of shares;
and of time in its entirety, of which a brief and momentary span has been assigned to you."
Here, you'll zoom out on your life...
"Think of substance in its entirety, of which you have the smallest of shares;
and of time in its entirety, of which a brief and momentary span has been assigned to you."
Here, you'll zoom out on your life...
From this higher vantage, you'll see that everybody has problems.
Problems that are, perhaps, worse than yours:
Wars, natural disasters, hunger, etc.
This often leads to gratitude for what you DO have.
Problems that are, perhaps, worse than yours:
Wars, natural disasters, hunger, etc.
This often leads to gratitude for what you DO have.
Step 6: Prepare for the next day.
"In your actions, don't procrastinate."
Lower barriers; set your future self up for success:
• Layout clothes
• Pack a lunch
• Plan your ONE thing (most important activity)
The best morning routine starts the night before.
"In your actions, don't procrastinate."
Lower barriers; set your future self up for success:
• Layout clothes
• Pack a lunch
• Plan your ONE thing (most important activity)
The best morning routine starts the night before.
Step 7. Spend time with your family.
Marcus would quietly repeat this to himself while tucking his kids into bed:
"Don't rush this. This might be the last time you do this. It's not guaranteed that either of you will make it through the night."
Marcus would quietly repeat this to himself while tucking his kids into bed:
"Don't rush this. This might be the last time you do this. It's not guaranteed that either of you will make it through the night."
By contemplating mortality, it reminded Marcus of what truly matters:
Family. To cherish and love now.
We must, too.
Family. To cherish and love now.
We must, too.
TL;DR Marcus Aurelius Nighttime Routine
1. Eliminate external stimuli
2. Get some physical exercise
3. Review your day/journal
4. Contemplate your sage
5. Take a view from above
6. Prepare for the next day
7. Spend time with family
1. Eliminate external stimuli
2. Get some physical exercise
3. Review your day/journal
4. Contemplate your sage
5. Take a view from above
6. Prepare for the next day
7. Spend time with family
Best-selling author Tim Ferriss describes Stoic philosophy as:
"An ideal operating system for thriving in high-stress environments."
Want to dive deeper into Stoicism?
My recommended reading:
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
"An ideal operating system for thriving in high-stress environments."
Want to dive deeper into Stoicism?
My recommended reading:
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Thanks for reading!
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Every Sunday I feature the best systems for health, wealth, and free time.
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