A few days ago, I was on a video call with a friend. Right at the beginning, she asked me a question that caught me off guard. I don’t remember her exact words, but it was something like, “How are you doing with your morning routine in the woods?”
She was referring to my “4 AM morning routine” that I wrote about recently For a moment, I had trouble fully grasping what she was aiming at, so she rephrased her question—she wanted to know how I manage to get up that early and step into the cold darkness every day.
I answered her by explaining that I enjoy having my brain fully awake and functioning, and my morning routine helps me achieve that. It’s a comforting thought—after engaging in several practices in the midst of nature, getting work done and being creative come much more easily. That’s why “getting out there” isn’t a struggle for me.
In retrospect, I realize I could have given a more comprehensive answer. So, let me get into some details right here and now.
Developing a habit for something most people consider a pain in the rear end is much easier when you don’t ask yourself how you’re doing while you’re doing it. Believe it or not, asking yourself questions you’d rather not hear the answers to only makes things suck more. By avoiding this, the process quickly becomes effortless.
Additionally, doing something regularly is easier when you see only one viable option. I deliberately frame any “alternatives” to going into the woods in ways that make them feel less appealing. As a result, the woods become the only option I’m willing to identify with.
Moreover, I automatically frame my time in the woods as a positive experience. While we were talking, I involuntarily remembered that temperatures have been decent over the past few days, and on clear nights, the moon might even cast some light. Plus, as I stand in the woods, I’m not only surrounded by beautiful old beech trees—with spring weather upon us, the Christmas roses are blooming, and the trees and flowers provide perfect company.
Then again, I could have answered her question with another question: “Is it difficult for you to feed your dog when you don’t feel like it?”
She loves her dog—and believe me, that dog is super cute. No sane person would neglect this little guy. So, her answer would probably have been, “Well, I just do it.” And I could have replied, “Exactly. You show your dog love by taking care of it. Likewise, I feed my cat and attend to his litter box, whether I’m in the mood or not. And equally importantly, I show myself love by tending to myself. That’s why I go into the dark, cold woods. And when I do, I don’t suffer because I ignore any alternatives.”
