Startup and Shutdown Routines
I’ve been in a bit of a rut. Since my wife went back to work in March, my work schedule has been capricious, and until a few weeks ago, Abby (6 months) was home because there was no availability at the daycare, meaning I was mostly a Stay-at-Home Dad. And even so, the kids have been sick regularly1 thanks to daycare and school germs.
I haven’t felt like I’ve been able to get into a good groove. And my afternoon walk, which I’ve tried to time with the afternoon slump, has not been working. Apparently walking 1+ miles in the summer heat isn’t rejuvenating.
So what can I do? After having a chat with my friend Brian, who started a startup and shutdown routine, I decided to do something similar.
What are Startup and Shutdown Routines?
There are lots of great resources on these routines and explained better than what I can write here, so I’ll send you my favorite, which is this episode of Focus on routines.
With my routines, I have 2 goals:
- The startup should get me in the right mindset to do 5-6 hours of work.
- The shutdown should close loops and allow me to fully focus on evening activities with my family.
My Startup Routine: Walk, Journal, Write
First and foremost, I moved my afternoon walk to the morning. The early morning walk makes the streets are quieter, it’s cooler, and it gets the juices flowing early.
After my walk, I’ll sit on my deck and read, then set up my journal pages. Including in journaling is writing out my todo list on my Analog cards. As a bonus, “walk” is something I can immediately cross off!
Then I will spend 20 minutes writing2. The benefits of wiring for 20 minutes a day are well documented and something I absolutely want to do more of.
After these 3 (4 if you count the Analog cards) activities, I’m ready to tackle the primary task for the day.
Ensuring I get a Startup Routine
One problem I’ve faced in the past is that my mornings, like my afternoons, are different depending on if my wife works.
When she does, I take the kids to school and daycare, meaning I’m not back home until 8-8:30, which feels late for a startup routine.
But I’ve committed to doing it, so the hours of 7-10am are blocked off on my calendar every day. When my wife is home, I’ll go for an earlier walk. When she’s not, I’ll walk as soon as I get home from drop-off.
I also need to manage my expectations more. I simply won’t get as much done on drop-off/pickup days.
The Shutdown Routine: Journal, Note, Drum
At the end of the day, I will journal how the day went, jot down any loose threads, and do the daily reflections. Optional if I need to blow off some steam: play the drums for 15 minutes.
This needs to start 30 minutes before the end of my day. On drop-off/pickup days, that means starting at 4:20 so I can be out of the house by 4:55. On days when my wife works, it will be 5:20.
Since afternoon meetings are more desirable for me (I’m less productive anyway), I’ve set up a Zap to look at my wife’s calendar. If she’s working, create a “shutdown event for 4:00-5:00 pm.” If not, create the event for 5:00 pm.
What About You?
Do you have a startup or shutdown routine? Let me know in the comments!