Insight of the Week: The hidden power of a 'boring' routine

There’s a pattern in every success story that’s often overlooked: successful people live “boring” lives. They’re willing to repeat the same actions day in and day out, even when it’s unexciting or when results are invisible. Consistency, not glamour, is what sets the elite apart.

Think about it: Michael Jordan shot 1,000 shots a day. Warren Buffet dedicates 5-6 hours daily to reading. Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day, even on holidays. These aren’t grand gestures or flashy routines; they’re the mundane tasks that few are willing to commit to - but these routines are what make greatness inevitable.

'Boring' work builds mastery.

Mastery is the result of repeating the same actions until they’re nearly automatic. This process may feel mundane, but each repetition builds skill and confidence. Michael Jordan’s 1,000 daily shots weren’t exciting, but they allowed him to execute flawlessly under pressure. Mastery requires relentless focus on fundamentals.

'Boring' work reduces decision fatigue

When you commit to a routine, you not only simplify your day but also engage a powerful part of the brain: the basal ganglia. This brain region, responsible for driving routine activities, allows us to perform repeated actions with minimal conscious effort. The basal ganglia are evolutionarily older and highly energy-efficient, with far fewer limitations than the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain we use for complex thinking and decision-making).

As soon as you start repeating an activity even just a few times, the basal ganglia begin taking over. This shift allows repetitive tasks to occur almost automatically, freeing up conscious mental energy. With time, routine actions require less and less attention, helping you perform more tasks simultaneously or focus your full attention on high-priority decisions.

Consequently, this reduces overwhelm and creates more freedom and mental clarity for other things.

Aphorisms

1. You will be civilised on the day you can spend a long period doing nothing, learning nothing, and improving nothing, without feeling the slightest amount of guilt - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

2. My only measure of success is how much time you have to kill - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

✍🏻 Quote of the week

Until next time,

Daniel