excellence, actually Why Your Routine Might Be Working Against You
Jan 15, 2026
Explore how routines can empower peak performance or hinder it if rigidly followed. Learn why elite athletes prefer simple warmups over complex rituals. Discover the 'training wheels' concept to recognize mental states and alternatives when routines falter. Adapt routines to match task intensity and simplify decision-making to reduce overwhelm. Unpack the three-by-three practices for balance and flexibility. Finally, see routine breakdowns as opportunities for growth, not failures.
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Function Over Form
- A routine's purpose is to produce a mental or physical state, not to preserve its exact steps.
- Prioritize function over form so routines enhance capacity rather than control.
Use Routines As Training Wheels
- Treat routines like training wheels that teach you the desired mental and physical state over time.
- Develop alternative tools so you can reach that state even when the usual routine is unavailable.
Affordances Prime Performance
- Behaviors and objects create affordances that prime the brain for what's next via prediction.
- Pairing simple cues with outcomes grooves the desired state into predictable action.
