Cultivating Helpful Rhythms

Written By Micah Renck

After a recent season of change without much ritual, I found myself desperately craving a regular, predictable schedule that would meet my needs. Because my old rhythms were no longer applicable, I had to sort out what I needed right now—and how to structure my days accordingly.

In doing so, I found the most helpful and effective rhythms do two things: meet my needs and help cultivate a life I enjoy.

These don’t need to be extravagant; in fact, simpler ones are easier to implement. One ritual I’ve recently cultivated has been using my desk’s walking pad while I do editorial tasks for work. This meets my needs for movement and increased focus. Another has been journaling a poem before work on weekday mornings to foster my creativity and begin my day doing something for myself. 

Although these are relatively small habits, they offer predictable structure and parts of the day I look forward to. 

When you think about cultivating your own rhythms, it’s helpful to think about which of your needs aren’t being met. After all, the most helpful rhythms center on serving us and meeting our needs. If rhythms don’t serve a purpose, then they likely won’t be sustainable. (However, this is not to say we can’t also have rituals for rest and play; those are valid needs, and when they’re not met, we don’t feel like our best selves.)

As you consider what rhythms would benefit you—and how to implement them—here are some guiding questions:

  • What do I need (an introvert evening each week, a few peaceful moments in the morning, a way to transition out of the work day, etc.)?
    You’re the one who knows best what you need. Even if you can’t name it straight away, after sitting with this question for a day or two, the answer will likely become more clear. 

  • What’s one sustainable habit I can cultivate that will make establishing this rhythm feel achievable?
    This could be programming the coffeemaker before bed so those few minutes in the morning can be spent reading. Or, it could be rearranging your daily tasks so one evening each week is free for recharging. This concept is very similar to The Lazy Genius principle of starting small. 

  • Will this actually serve me—or will it feel like another arbitrary checklist item I can’t complete?
    Remember, rhythms should serve you—not vice versa.

  • Does this rhythm (and the purpose it’s serving) matter to me?
    If you feel like you should read more, but you’re more interested in TV shows, that’s okay! This process is about fostering a life you enjoy—not trying to “should” yourself into being a different person.

  • Is this realistic for my season?
    If your weeknights are full with kids’ activities, working out before dinner every night probably isn’t attainable. However, fitting in a couple weekly workouts before your lunch break might be. You know your season and what’s achievable, rather than aspirational, right now.

These prompts aren’t the end-all-be-all of cultivating rhythms. There may be questions you’d add or subtract. However, I do believe working through these general ideas will help you ideate on how to structure your days and meet your needs. 

It’s also worth noting that rituals will likely change as your seasons of life do. While I’ve had the same general patterns of journaling, reading, and moving my body for years, those habits have looked different in each season. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments as needed so your rhythms continue serving you. 

Some helpful resources in cultivating rhythms:

Micah Renck
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