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# Routines
- URL: https://www.joeyplunkett.com/routines/
- Published: 2026-05-01T07:20:51.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-01T07:20:50.000Z
- Author: Joey Plunkett
- Tags: Newsletter

[Hi y'all](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RswRq-8sPM&list=RD7RswRq-8sPM&start%5Fradio=1&ref=joeyplunkett.com),

- This week you get a personal reminder to [muck around a bit](https://www.joeyplunkett.com/mucking-about/), even when things feel busy.
- Following that energy, [I really enjoy this article](https://bronwentate.substack.com/p/5-ways-to-take-a-real-break-amidst?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) by Bronwen Tate about taking better breaks. Her central thesis plays off Dani Shapiro's take that smoke breaks were good for creativity - that the internet is nothing like a cigarette break. As someone who's never been one to rip a dart, I've long been [envious](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58V2vC9EPc&list=RDj58V2vC9EPc&start%5Fradio=1&ref=joeyplunkett.com) of the little slices those who do partake carve out for themselves - walking outside, fully and physically removing themselves from their task. Health discussion obviously set aside, a cigarette break represents a drastically better break than we often give ourselves. I think we should all ask ourselves how we can get more of that without a nicotine habit.
- I'm traveling to visit Macy's family out of state. I realize over the past several years I've been defaulting to nearly the exact same travel day outfit every time I go to the airport. It helps me have one less thing to manage when I'm getting out the door for a trip. I'll probably write a small post about what that actually is because I stand behind it as a great travel setup. But it's gotten me thinking about how taking some small decision-making off your plate can increase your capacity when spinning multiple plates. How adding in more routines can be a bit of a superpower for getting things done and feeling less stressed.
- Playing off of that, I also believe that routines can free up brain space for creativity. Henry Miller's [daily creative routine](https://www.themarginalian.org/2012/02/22/henry-miller-on-writing/?ref=joeyplunkett.com) \- accompanied by his great commandments for writing in the linked post - shows that routines can be loose things. The most important part of accomplishing goals, creative or otherwise, is the ability to see where you're at and respond. Case in point: "MORNINGS: If groggy, type notes and allocate, as stimulus. If in fine fettle, write."
- After years of enjoying KEXP's [live](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apAKU%5FsXQJQ&list=RDapAKU%5FsXQJQ&start%5Fradio=1&ref=joeyplunkett.com) [shows](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfCDqkstCYI&ref=joeyplunkett.com) [online](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5zh%5FeUHokc&list=RDJ5zh%5FeUHokc&start%5Fradio=1&ref=joeyplunkett.com), I'm on their mailing list. They send out a [new music newsletter](https://www.kexp.org/?ref=joeyplunkett.com) every Tuesday and it's a goldmine. Another deep well to draw from. Most recent find from them is [Lime Garden](https://open.spotify.com/track/2uEWM5lSQsl0ubzbxFd6U7?si=110d0cdcdd014f28&ref=joeyplunkett.com) ([Apple Link](https://music.apple.com/us/album/cross-my-heart/1856558449?i=1856558788&ref=joeyplunkett.com)).

['Til next week](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egsiGXt5yio&ref=joeyplunkett.com), 

Joey