Good morning comrades, I often think and aim to strategise what my ideal day looks like: I’m in a position where I can try and replicate this to the best of my ability, and I can rely on the teachings of Stoicism to back me up. A typical day in the life of a Stoic would involve practicing self-discipline, controlling emotions, and focusing on virtuous behaviour.
You would start your day with reading and reflection to clear your mind and set their intentions for the day. During your daily activities, you would strive to maintain a sense of calm and impartiality, even in the face of adversity or hardship.
You would also engage in practices such as gratitude, seeking wisdom, and performing acts of kindness. At the end of the day, then reflect on your actions and decisions to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement.
The goal for a Stoic is to live a life of virtue and inner peace, detached from external events and circumstances.
NB: I’ve written this from my perspective, to match my daily routine. I didn’t include our basic needs like hydrating, details about food, using the bathroom, and cleaning up. These should be hopefully engrained in your mind.
An ideal day of living might look something like this:
7:00 am: Wake up and get outside, or, read & Journal for 30 minutes. During this time, focus on setting intentions for the day and letting go of any negative thoughts or emotions.
8:00 am: Eat a simple and nutritious breakfast while practicing mindfulness and gratitude. Consider the effort and resources that went into producing the food and the people involved in bringing it to your table.
9:00 am: Engage in physical exercise, such as boxing or running, to keep the body healthy and the mind clear. Focus on the present moment and let go of distractions.
10:00 am: Begin work or daily activities with a clear and focused mind. Practice detachment and strive to remain calm and impartial, even in the face of challenges or setbacks.
1:00 pm: Take a break for lunch and engage in conversation with friends or family. Practice active listening and try to understand different perspectives. Seek wisdom and growth through these interactions.
2:00 pm: Continue with work or daily activities, focusing on performing each task to the best of your ability. Maintain a sense of equanimity and strive to not be attached to outcomes or external events.
6:00 pm: Prepare dinner, and engage in leisure activities, such as reading, outdoor time or spending time with loved ones. Cultivate relationships and practice kindness. Watch a podcast, or favourite show. Reach out, and reply to anyone on my radar.
8:00 pm: Reflect on the day, considering both successes and areas for improvement. Practice self-reflection and self-improvement, striving to live in accordance with Stoic principles.
10:00 pm: Get ready for bed, screens away, and prepare for a good night's sleep, ready to start a new day of living. Fate permitting.
Regardless of all these timed events, the thing to remember is:
Stoicism promotes living in accordance with nature, to practice virtue, and to cultivate inner peace and wisdom. How you achieve this can vary, and might look completely different from what I have in mind.
Quote for the week ahead
Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn't matter.
Cold or warm.
Tired or well-rested.
Despised or honored.
Dying…or busy with other assignments.
Because dying, too, is one of our assignments in life. There as well: "to do what needs doing."
— Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations 6.2