Crossposted from the Double Dynamo dev blog.
I love mornings.
It wasn't always this way: some days I'd hit the snooze button over and over, and when I got up I felt like I hated everything until lunchtime. But a few years ago I added something that makes me want to get out of bed and greet the day. A Ritual.
My ritual began when I was working at a small startup in San Bruno, a 20-minute BART ride from my apartment. Every morning before hopping on the train I walked to my neighborhood coffee shop, ordered an Americano, and watched the other customers smile and talk.
Sometimes I brought a book and read a chapter. Sometimes I did a Times crossword puzzle. Usually I reviewed my Anki deck. And pretty much every morning I pulled out the old iPhone and played a game for 5 or 10 minutes. I felt a rush when I played a good round in Scramble With Friends, or broke though my personal record in Dots, or unlocked a new stage in Super Hexagon: it was the satisfaction of seeing legitimate effort lead to tangible results. Sometimes I thought I felt my neurons rewiring themselves.
It primed the pump: once my mental energies were flowing I felt ready to tackle anything.
My morning ritual has changed a little bit over the years as I've tried on some new things and phased out others. But one thing has stayed constant: I am careful to carve out a quiet, unrushed time full of things that I enjoy. And ultimately it inspired me to create the game that is now Double Dynamo.
What's Your Ritual?
What do you do to get going in the morning? Maybe it's as simple as singing in the shower, or hitting the pavement for a short run. Maybe you listen to your favorite music. Maybe you work on cooking the perfect scrambled eggs. Maybe you meditate or recite mantras or reaffirm your goals.
Whatever you do, have fun with it! What will be your inspiration?
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