Rituals Are Key to Productivity

Why is it more challenging to get a little exercise a few times a week than it is to brush your teeth twice a day, every day?

Short answer: the power of rituals.

I recently listened to an interview with Tony Schwartz, the co-author of “The Power of Full Engagement.” He explained that a ritual – defined as a carefully defined, highly structured behavior – pulls at you to perform a task, whereas “willpower” and “discipline” require that we push ourselves to a particular behavior.

Schwartz revealed that conscious will and discipline are in limited supply, and that the “secret” power of a purposefully established ritual is that it ensures you use as little conscious energy as possible.

So that explains why I have beautiful pearly whites, but I still get winded going up a flight of stairs!

What rituals do you practice that serve you well?

Tagged as: exercise, rituals, The Power of Full Engagement, Tony Schwartz