My recent interview with Aaron Dignan, author of Brave New Work, made me think a lot about how routine really prevents progress… and how the grounding nature of routine messes with me. 

Here’s the example I’m thinking of: 

During the winter my family rents a 70’s throwback cabin near Hoosier pass.  It’s an amazing little gem stuck in a semi-remote area.  We go there every weekend for ten straight weeks to snowshoe, ski, entertain friends, drink beer, watch Netflix, read, and stare into a real wood fire.

At the end of the winter we always say, “that was great but I’m glad to be home for a weekend!”  During ten weekends of being gone, paperwork has piled up and the furnace filter needs changing.  Wanting to catch up is reasonable.  What I don’t like is that it feels comforting to be back in the routine of normal living.