The Average Tuesday

I’ve been thinking recently about how much of my life satisfaction depends on how I spend the average Tuesday.

I’m all about planning adventurous weekend activities, I enjoy trips and vacations as much as the next person, and I look forward to holiday celebrations and other meaningful gatherings of friends and family.  But these special occasions comprise a small fraction of my year-long hours, so while attention ought to be paid to momentous occasions and creating out-of-the-ordinary memories, it should also be devoted to cultivating routines, habits and practices that make the average Tuesday (or Wednesday or Thursday or Monday or Friday) life-giving. 

Here are some things that make my “average” Tuesday an excellent Tuesday:

• I get enough sleep the night before.

• I drink excellent coffee from my favorite mug (I’m laughingly picky about mugs, and I’ve removed all mugs that fail to meet my “ideal mug” criteria from our home).

• I clearly identify, at the beginning of the day, what I hope to accomplish work-wise.  Having a plan keeps me focused and on-track, which leads to productivity and satisfaction.

• I spend the random bits of time between obligations doing something that I find enjoyable, like reading (trick: I keep the Kindle app on my phone, so wherever I am, I have access to a book).

• I keep my screen time to less than half an hour; for me, this includes avoiding texting conversations and opting out of social media.

• I get outside, weather permitting.

 Look at it this way: the average American worker receives 10 days of paid vacation per year, plus 10 “bank holidays,” plus 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays. That’s 124 days, which leaves 241 “regular” weekdays. 

Being intentional about how we spend our “average” days can go a long way to creating a life that we love.