Peter Sorgenfrei argues that routines should prioritize personal time over work. Start your day device-free with something like swimming or reading instead of checking email. Weave in non-work activities throughout the day—knitting, music, podcasts—to keep your sense of self intact.
Building a routine that feels human and not corporate, it starts when you wake up. What is the first thing you do? Do you start grabbing your phone, looking at your emails, worrying about the day? Or do you spend time by yourself without a device, reading something that has nothing to do with business, spending time outside exercising? I go for a swim in the morning. You know, what is that thing that makes you feel like a human when you start your day? That kind of sets you up for the rest of the day. And then during the day when you're busy and when there's all sorts of stuff going on, again, come back to what makes you you. Some people like to knit. Some people like to read. Some people like to listen to music and podcasts. Just let it not be about business. If you do those things, I think it feels more human than corporate to, to be a professional human being, essentially.
