How To Get Half Of Your Life Together
and why you shouldn't
Recently, an acquaintance of mine told me (in German) “Ordnung is das halbe Leben”, which translates to “Order makes up half of life”.
Plan, follow your routine, schedule in a clean manner and you have half of life together— Is this true? I don’t know, but adjusting my routines to my personal needs has had a tremendous impact on my life. Everybody can do it, and it has been scientifically proven to improve our life quality.
Here is my take on this and some motivation for you.
One reason to plan and routinise yourself:
Mental clarity.
That’s really it for me. I am not the biggest fan of a rigid routine (although I have fallen victim to it many times). Nonetheless, there’s just something about knowing what you will exactly do tomorrow, under the condition you wake up of course.
Because I traveled in Italy last week, my daily habits have minimised to skincare and drinking water. Being in Berlin again, I had to reassemble everything, which was harder than thought. I was all over the place. Trying to get myself back together, I asked myself what do I want?
What do you want?
The hardest part is to find out your personal taste, without being overly influenced by others. For me, it is less fixation on what I am about to cook and what things I do after waking up and before bed. So a rough meal plan and simple (3-4-step) routines were built up again. Nothing fancy, it should take me less than 60 minutes. Having done that, I noticed how drastically my preferences have changed in two weeks and that I crave simplicity right now. This simplicity gives me a peace of mind and some stability.
Remember, it is always okay to reassess and try out new things.
Why you should stop following habits
Ok, wait what? I just told you that a routine unique to you helps you to think and act clearly and integrate with yourself.
However, as always, we have to acknowledge and see the opposite of things. For us today two main antagonists are playing: Nietzsche and boredom.
While the latter is quite obvious to be a main disruptor and a dreaded experience, which arises with a routinised schedule (no matter how efficient), our dear Nietzsche has some interesting points to consider. In his philosophy, Nietzsche destroys all of the former morals humankind has followed since the rise of Judaism and Christianity. After abandoning this “life-denying” orientation, it is time for the “Übermensch” to develop and rise. Moreover, Nietzsche distinguishes between “the herd” (religious, moral-oriented people) and “higher” people. The herd will succumb to nihilism, the fall of all morals, and the higher people and the free thinkers will finally live out their life-affirming paths.
For the Higher man, danger and a Dionysian lifestyle are essential, they run through his blood. He doesn’t fear risk, he actively seeks it out with passion.
People abiding by herd morality are characterised as being sluggish, sickly, and tired. Giving in to the ascetic ideal, they deplete themselves from all of the natural desires in life. Those people live a routined life. They fear danger excessively and seize taking risks. Their routine has made them tired of life, and they’re not about to change it.
After all, you must follow your routine to be a good human being.
What are your thoughts on this?
With love,
Rose