how I get my head in the game - The Plucky Jester

A few months ago, I was having trouble with my meditation practice.

I was showing up to the mat twice daily and that’s a long way from where I used to be.

But, when I was sitting to meditate, I was just phoning it in.

Getting my head in the game

I’ll be the last person to tell anyone “you have to do meditation right.”

However, I didn’t want to phone it in anymore.

I wanted to add more depth to my practice.

And, for better or worse, meditation is one of those practices with unlimited depth.

Here’s how I’m changing things

I first heard of the pregame routine from James Clear.

When I first heard about it, I wondered “do I need to be a sports fan to get this?”

No.

Similar to a chef getting all their tools in place before cooking with intention, I was looking for something to put me in the zone.

Here are the requirements for a pregame routine.

Firstly, I make the pregame routine something physical.

The chef might sharpen their knives.

The runner might put on their shoes.

Here’s my pregame routine: I take 5 intentional breaths: count to 5 on the inhale, count to 7 on the exhale and hold for 8.

And repeat.

Second, I make the routine something so small that I would feel silly saying “no” to it.

For example, I’d feel silly saying “I just don’t have the will to take 5 intentional breaths.”

By finishing the pregame routine, I get on a roll and tell myself that I’m going to make this session count.

The benefits are tough to see in the beginning.

In practices like meditation especially, the benefits accrue slowly but then compound greatly.

Also, while I used meditation as an example here, the pregame routine can be used to increase intentionality and intensity towards any habit.

If you too have been showing up but lacking intensity, a pregame routine might be a tool you can use to get your head in the game.

Just remember the following design

1. Make it physical
2. Make it something you can't say no to

Are you going to try out a pregame routine?

Tell me all about it.

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