More obsessive business

An easy place for the living deliberately gig to start is the day: 24 hours (surprise!) Eight for sleeping, eight presumably for employment. In the long term, the allowance for work will come with the caveat that I use my time to do good in the world, and have a positive impact.

I estimate at least two hours a day will be dedicated to commuting, and two for eating. Commuting can be done by bicycle or by foot (and by flying cape), and thus count for exercise (and will also be sustainable). Meals don’t have to be solely focused on the basic food-to-mouth routine (e.g.can be social).

This leaves four hours a day, or 20 hours a week, plus 32 hours on the weekend, so 52 hours total.

I will have two rungs of self-improvement.

Rung one: Things that should be worked into my daily routine, and thus be done at minimum seven hours a week: Exercise (not including commute); Reading-I will later come up with a reading list that can updated; writing (can include this blog). This is 21 hours a week total.

Rung 2: This will be a much more flexible list of things to do. Each item on the secondary rung will be worked on for a minimum of fours a week. I will work on 2 at a time, so 8 hours a week total.

This leaves 23 hours a week as a buffer zone. The routine must not be too rigid, lest being a half hour off throws off my whole day. This time can be used to catch up on hours missed earlier in the week, and also allows me a good sphere with which to utilize how I please. None of these spheres must remain distinct from each other. Dancing is exercise, watching a film can be social, as can meals.

Out of 168 hours in a week, I’m using 52 to live deliberately. 30% of my week. I will adjust accordingly if this schedule is too easy or too difficult. The main thing, as this exercise has proved, is to be aware of the time. I can watch television, but it must either be within a social setting or something intellectually stimulating, preferably both.

Same goes for social outings. This does not mean that all socializing must take place at chamber music concerts, but in general this schedule should be used to make me wary of any ruts. Socializing has its own reward, and not every conversation must be pretentiously high-minded, or “constructive.” I simply seek to avoid spending too much time in spaces that are too familiar and comfortable. If I am to be alone, let it be in the space of productive self-reflection and thought.

I will not delve further into the boring minutiae of how I plan to keep track of these times, etc. (because, well, I’m bored). A reading list, a film/television list, and a list of things to work on will be forthcoming (and your input will be hoped for).

This schedule will not exist for the sake of it existing, and I will avoid becoming pointlessly obsessive or rigid about it. It is merely a guide that I seek to stick to, and will be adjusted so that it becomes a sustainable model for living deliberately.

booga-booga.