The extraordinary nighttime routine of the philosopher king, Marcus Aurelius:
Marcus Aurelius reigned as Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE
Despite being the most powerful man of his time,
he’s remembered as wise, humble, and a servant leader.
How did Marcus become powerful? How did he stay virtuous?
His journal, 'Meditations,' holds the secret...
Despite being the most powerful man of his time,
he’s remembered as wise, humble, and a servant leader.
How did Marcus become powerful? How did he stay virtuous?
His journal, 'Meditations,' holds the secret...
Marcus was a Stoic who believed in *practical daily habits*.
From Meditations, we get a fair idea of what his nighttime routine would have been.
Here’s the 7-part breakdown:
From Meditations, we get a fair idea of what his nighttime routine would have been.
Here’s the 7-part breakdown:
Step 1: Eliminate external stimuli.
"It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."
Use the nighttime to take a vacation from your busy day:
- Unplug from TV + social
- Take a walk, meditate, or practice 'non-doing'
- Seek inner-stillness
"It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose."
Use the nighttime to take a vacation from your busy day:
- Unplug from TV + social
- Take a walk, meditate, or practice 'non-doing'
- Seek inner-stillness
Step 2: Get some physical exercise.
"A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body."
Marcus did not believe in exercise for vanity.
Instead, he saw exercise trained the mind for:
- Consistency
- Self-discipline
- Clear thinking
Take a mind-cleansing walk tonight.
"A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body."
Marcus did not believe in exercise for vanity.
Instead, he saw exercise trained the mind for:
- Consistency
- Self-discipline
- Clear thinking
Take a mind-cleansing walk tonight.
Step 3: Review your day.
"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."
It’s been said that we do not learn from experience,
but learn from *reflecting* on experience.
"Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life."
It’s been said that we do not learn from experience,
but learn from *reflecting* on experience.
In reviewing your day, here are some helpful questions to journal:
- What did I plan to happen?
- What actually happened?
- What went well? What didn’t go well?
- How can I improve for tomorrow?
An HBR study found a 25% increase in performance for those who journal at night.
- What did I plan to happen?
- What actually happened?
- What went well? What didn’t go well?
- How can I improve for tomorrow?
An HBR study found a 25% increase in performance for those who journal at night.
Step 4: Contemplate your sage.
"Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Still more so life."
In this step, reflect on your role model.
Marcus would often ask, "What would Zeno do?"
Zeno was the founder of stoicism (and who he looked up to).
Another approach…
"Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Still more so life."
In this step, reflect on your role model.
Marcus would often ask, "What would Zeno do?"
Zeno was the founder of stoicism (and who he looked up to).
Another approach…
Compare yourself to your ideal self.
Ask, “What would my ideal do?”
Take a few mins daily to reflect on the character traits + values you aspire towards.
By keeping your ideal top of mind, you'll:
1. Close performance gaps
2. Become the type of person you deeply admire
Ask, “What would my ideal do?”
Take a few mins daily to reflect on the character traits + values you aspire towards.
By keeping your ideal top of mind, you'll:
1. Close performance gaps
2. Become the type of person you deeply admire
Step 5: Take a view from above.
"Think of substance in its entirety, of which you have the smallest of shares;
and of time in its entirety, of which a brief and momentary span has been assigned to you."
Here, you’ll zoom out on your life...
"Think of substance in its entirety, of which you have the smallest of shares;
and of time in its entirety, of which a brief and momentary span has been assigned to you."
Here, you’ll zoom out on your life...
From this higher vantage, you’ll see that everybody has problems.
Problems that are, perhaps, worse than yours:
Wars, natural disasters, hunger, etc.
And this often leads to gratitude for what you DO have.
Problems that are, perhaps, worse than yours:
Wars, natural disasters, hunger, etc.
And this often leads to gratitude for what you DO have.
Then zoom out further…
And, realize, in the words of Naval Ravikant:
"Your life is firefly blink in the night."
See earth from the POV of the universe
Cosmic insignificance therapy (like this) will give you perspective.
You’ll stay humble + make your finite time here count.
And, realize, in the words of Naval Ravikant:
"Your life is firefly blink in the night."
See earth from the POV of the universe
Cosmic insignificance therapy (like this) will give you perspective.
You’ll stay humble + make your finite time here count.
Step 6: Prepare for the next day.
"In your actions, don’t procrastinate."
Lower barriers; set your future self up for success:
- Layout clothes
- Pack a lunch
- Plan your ONE thing (most important activity)
The best morning routine starts the night before.
"In your actions, don’t procrastinate."
Lower barriers; set your future self up for success:
- Layout clothes
- Pack a lunch
- Plan your ONE thing (most important activity)
The best morning routine starts the night before.
Step 7. Spend time with your family
“Don’t rush this. This might be the last time you do this. It’s not guaranteed that either of you will make it through the night.”
These are the words Marcus would quietly repeat to himself, while tucking his kids into bed.
“Don’t rush this. This might be the last time you do this. It’s not guaranteed that either of you will make it through the night.”
These are the words Marcus would quietly repeat to himself, while tucking his kids into bed.
Despite being important, famous and busy,
Marcus still made time for family.
How?
By contemplating death.
It reminded him of what truly matters:
Family—to cherish and love NOW.
We must too.
Marcus still made time for family.
How?
By contemplating death.
It reminded him of what truly matters:
Family—to cherish and love NOW.
We must too.
TL;DR Marcus Aurelius Nighttime Routine
1. Eliminate external stimuli
2. Get some physical exercise
3. Review your day / journal
4. Contemplate your sage
5. Take a view from above
6. Prepare for the next day
7. Spend time with family
1. Eliminate external stimuli
2. Get some physical exercise
3. Review your day / journal
4. Contemplate your sage
5. Take a view from above
6. Prepare for the next day
7. Spend time with family
Best-selling author Tim Ferriss describe Stoic philosophy as:
"An ideal operating system for thriving in high-stress environments."
Want to dive deeper into Stoicism?
My recommended reading:
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
"An ideal operating system for thriving in high-stress environments."
Want to dive deeper into Stoicism?
My recommended reading:
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
That’s a wrap, philosopher king and queen!
If you enjoyed this thread, please RT the first tweet and follow me @SystemSunday
This account exists to help you:
- Learn systems + mental models
- Become your best self
All systems go,
Ben
If you enjoyed this thread, please RT the first tweet and follow me @SystemSunday
This account exists to help you:
- Learn systems + mental models
- Become your best self
All systems go,
Ben
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