Life Operating System | The Rhythm of Your Existence
The Rhythm of Existence: Designing a Consistent, Balanced, and Fulfilling Life
Do you ever feel like life is just pulling you along in different directions? Like you're constantly reacting to obligations and putting out fires, never having enough time for the things you really want to do? What if there was a way to take control and design a life of consistency, balance, and fulfillment - with less effort?
According to entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek, it all comes down to what he calls the "Rhythm of Existence." In essence, it's about intentionally designing the flow and cadence of your life, at every level - yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily. By proactively planning out your time, you create a structure that aligns your life with your priorities and allows you to achieve more, with greater ease and harmony.
Here's how you can start designing your own Rhythm of Existence in 4 simple steps:
Step 1: Map Out Your Year
The first step is to zoom out and look at your year as a whole. Get out a calendar and start by marking down all the key dates, events, and commitments that are already determined. Things like:
Holidays and long weekends
Birthdays of family members
School schedules for your kids
Planned vacations
Regular work events and quarterly meetings
Seasonal activities you always do
Once you have this "skeleton" of your year mapped out, you'll start to see the natural rhythms and patterns. You'll gain clarity on where you have flexibility and open space.
Step 2: Identify Your "Must-Dos" vs. "Want-to-Dos"
Next, make a list of all the things you absolutely must do on a regular basis - your non-negotiable commitments and responsibilities. For example:
Work schedule and key deadlines
Exercise and health routines
Family time and date nights
Household management and errands
Community or religious commitments
Essentially, what in your life is not optional and has to happen no matter what? These are your "Must-Dos."
Then, make a second list of all the things you want to do - the activities and practices that are meaningful to you and light you up inside, but often get pushed aside by life's demands. Maybe it's things like:
Taking an art class
Learning an instrument
Volunteering regularly
Taking solo trips
Writing your novel
Training for a triathlon
Step 3: Schedule Your Priorities
Now it's time to take your "Must-Dos" and "Want-to-Dos" and actually calendar them in. Most people only plan for their "Must-Dos," and then wonder why they never have time for anything else!
The key is to treat your "Want-to-Dos" with equal importance, and build them into the structure and flow of your life. Literally block off time for them and schedule them like any other commitment.
For example, if working out is a priority, don't just say "I'll fit it in somewhere." Decide exactly which days and times you'll exercise, and put it in your calendar. If learning guitar is important to you, determine precisely when you'll practice each week, and treat that time as sacred.
The more you can map out and schedule all your priorities - both the "Must-Dos" and "Want-to-Dos" - the more likely you are to follow through and make them a consistent reality. You're designing your life intentionally, not just letting yourself be pulled around by the current.
Step 4: Implement, Assess, Adapt
Designing your ideal Rhythm of Existence is not a "one and done" process. It's something you'll continue to refine and adjust over time, as you implement it and see how it feels in real life.
Maybe you'll realize that a 5am workout isn't sustainable, and you need to shift it to lunchtime. Maybe you'll find that weekly date nights are too much, and you want to make them bi-weekly. The key is to keep paying attention and make changes as needed, so your rhythm is always supporting you.
It's also important to reassess your Rhythm of Existence on a regular basis - perhaps quarterly or yearly. Are your priorities still the same? What's working well and what needs to change? Make planning and designing your life an ongoing practice.
As you live your Rhythm of Existence longer, it will start to feel like second nature. You'll develop a cadence to your life that enables you to achieve your goals and feel more fulfilled, with less effort and strain. Rather than a constant battle of willpower, your ideal lifestyle will simply be the grooves you naturally fall into.
Some Additional Tips for Rhythm of Existence Mastery:
Start small. Trying to schedule every minute of your life right away will likely just stress you out. Begin by mapping out the big picture and most important elements, and fill in more details over time as you get the hang of it.
Be realistic. As you're determining your ideal rhythm, make sure you're being honest with yourself about what's truly doable. Overcommitting and overscheduling will just lead to burnout.
Allow for flexibility. Life happens and unexpected things will always come up. Make sure to leave some open, unscheduled space so you can adapt as needed.
Schedule in free time. Downtime and play are just as important as productivity. Make sure to block off time for fun, relaxation, and spontaneity as well.
Involve others. If you have a partner, family, or team, get them on board with designing your collective Rhythm of Existence. Collaborate to make sure everyone's needs are met.
More than anything, remember that living a life of balance, fulfillment, and ease is possible. But it doesn't happen by accident - it happens by intentional design. You have the power to create a Rhythm of Existence that enables you to be your best self and live your best life. Using the steps and strategies above, you can make your ideal lifestyle your day-to-day reality.
If you're feeling pulled around by life and yearning for more consistency and control, give Rhythm of Existence method a try. Start thinking about your life like a beautifully orchestrated symphony. What instruments need to be playing when? How can you create a melody that makes you dance through your days? Map it out, implement it, and enjoy the harmonious rhythm of a life well lived.
This post is partly inspired by this video by Rob.