What I Learned About My Brain: How Changing My Routine Helped Me Stay Present

In the past few months, I’ve noticed that I’d get unusually sleepy during the weekend meeting, especially during the talk. It wasn’t that the speaking was boring—it was just that my body felt exhausted. So I set out to figure out what was behind it.

Step 1: Trying Physical Adjustments

First, I experimented with different approaches: I started doing less strenuous exercises, changed my eating habits, and tried to get longer, more restful sleep. But despite my efforts, nothing seemed to fully work. I’d feel a little better at first, but the sleepiness would always return by the time the Watchtower study began.

A Breakthrough Discovery

Then, the first weekend of November, I went out of town. That night, instead of doing my Bible reading in the morning like usual, I switched it to the evening. And surprisingly, the meeting was one of my best in a while!

A week later, on November 10th, I had another enlightening experience. I was running late and ended up moving my Bible reading to after the meeting. The result? I stayed fully alert and felt more energized than I had in weeks.

Realization: Embrace Flexibility with Routine

This experience taught me a valuable lesson about my brain: I’d been placing too much pressure on myself to keep my mornings identical each day. While routines are helpful for managing ADHD, I realized that if my routine was impacting what mattered most to me, it was okay to adjust things. Flexibility doesn’t mean failure—it means taking care of yourself.

Moving Forward: A More Adaptable Approach

This unexpected discovery gave me a fresh perspective on my routine. I’m letting go of the pressure to make every morning look the same and embracing a more adaptable mindset. Sometimes, shifting one theocratic activity to support another can make all the difference in staying present and energized.

Takeaway for You: What Might You Need to Experiment With?

Sometimes, the routines that are supposed to help us can get in the way of what matters most. Have you felt a need to shake up your own schedule? Experimenting might reveal small changes that could help you focus better and feel more present.