Daily Constitution

I often feel the need to impose structure on myself to regain control when I feel I’m losing it. This sounds dramatic and it probably is. I spent much of my evening this evening going over my notes and weekly task procedure in an attempt to refine my “second brain” so I can start using it again since I stopped keeping up with it a mere 3 weeks into this new year. Perhaps the input structure was too rigid, but internally I told myself it’s okay just go with it, to not take it so seriously. I changed the formatting to try to accommodate this, though I may have inadvertently added more of the kind of structure I’m trying to avoid, but time will tell.

I also decided to impose a set of daily rules on myself. My own sort of constitution I suppose. They’re at the top of the template so every week when I make a new note it automatically populates:

## Daily Constitution
*do your best, but be kind to yourself*

1. No Alcohol during the week. Or unless you’ve accomplished something on the weekend. 
2. No weed until after dark. 
3. Clean at least two things. 
4. Limit coffee.
5. Read something.
6. Write something.
7. Draw something.
8. Take a picture.
9. Make the coffee for tomorrow.

    *Subject to change*

I tried to be considerate with daily tasks and rules, to choose things that I often do anyway and simply want to keep a reminder to continue doing. Others are strong encouragement and goals. Though I left tasks like exercise mostly off, I don’t want to get discouraged when weather/injury/time/energy/&c get in the way, the mindset should persist.

I believe substance use of all types, including coffee even, is fine in moderation. But I can tell my intake gradually increases over time and I often need check-in moments with myself such as this to help quell excessive intake and abstain when needed. It helps me enjoy the moments when I finally do imbibe more thoughtfully and fully as well. Plus the health benefits are immediately tangible w/r/t sleep, energy, stamina, &c.

Cleaning any two things a day is reasonable and the easiest thing to do for general home upkeep. One task often doesn’t feel like enough (it isn’t), two tasks is enough to make you not feel guilty if it ends up being all you do, but two small tasks often turns into three and four and builds momentum for other upkeep or projects.

The creative endeavors are typically accomplished every day even by minimal standards. I read the news and either listen to or read books, an educational podcast at least, daily. I write in my notes app, at the very least a to-do list, though I will strive for more. I take pictures with my phone daily in non artistic ways, but perhaps after writing it down like this in my daily constitution I will be a bit more thoughtful when the shutter is pressed. Draw something might be the daily stretch, to me even a doodle or diagram for my next project will suffice.

Setting up the coffee pot to brew in the morning is one less thing my wife has to do before bed or god forbid, when she wakes up. She is awake before me and it is the smallest but most impactful daily gift I could give her. It’s bewildering though, I often am petulant and reluctant about doing something so simple and low effort. Putting it in my daily constitution is a reminder for me to go beyond myself for this simple task that means more in the reward for the love of my life than it does in effort for me. I also view it as a metaphor to look forward to tomorrow.