Do Something Every Day

www.happiness-project.com It's often easier for me to do something every day than to do it some days. I post to my blog six days a week. I take notes every day. I write in my one-sentence journal every day. Many people have told me that they find it easier to exercise when they exercise every day.

If I try to do something four days a week, I spend a lot of time arguing with myself about whether today is the day, or tomorrow, or the next day; did the week start on Sunday or Monday; etc.

If you do something every day, you tend to fall into a routine, and routine has a bad reputation. It's true that novelty and challenge bring happiness, and that people who break their routines, try new things, and go new places are happier, but I think that some routine activities also bring happiness. The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. By re-framing, you can find happiness in activities like doing dishes or sweeping the floor, as well as your beloved morning coffee-and-newspaper.

The things you do every day take on a certain beauty, and provide a kind of invisible architecture to daily life.

Funnily enough, two geniuses whom I associate with the idea of the unconventional wrote about the power of doing something every day.

Andy Warhol wrote, "Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it's exciting, and if you do it every day it's exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it's not good any more."

Gertrude Stein made a related point: "Anything one does every day is important and imposing and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful."

So if there's something that you wish you did more regularly, try doing it every day; if you do something every day, revel in it.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Do Something Every Day
• HappinessChallenge
• happiness
• change
• resolutions
• habits
• patterns
• writing
• blogging
• NationalNovelWritingMonth
• NaNoWriMo

[Catwink41]

PS: Sorry there is no EDIT feature on Youtube! "She felt 50 pounds lighter!"

[Catwink41]

My daughter-in-law's sister (!!!!!) took 5 trips to the SPCA thrift store, when she finally accepted her size 14 self as her normal one and donated all the clothes which did not fit!! She filled the SUV to the very roof with sizes 6, 8, 10,12, 16, 18, 20 and 22!! The SPCA was THRILLED!!! Then it didn't stop there. She and her husband went through EVERY cabinet and drawer!! They cleaned out the garage!! She said she elt 50 pouns lighter in her soul!!!

[haggleme1]

You are very witty. I really enjoy your blog. I find that I hoard items because they all seem great especially shoes. I am going to go start now on trying to get rid of some.

[Merijev]

Well said, Gretchen, I agree :)

[Macaronica]

hmm...