Ever met someone who finishes their day by scrolling until their eyeballs hurt, falling asleep with the TV on, and waking up like a confused goblin?
That used to be me.
Until I found a better system — not from some productivity guru on TikTok, but from a guy who ruled the Roman Empire and still had time to write in his diary like a teenage philosopher.
His name? Marcus Aurelius.
His secret? He actually had a routine.
And 1,800 years later, it’s still more useful than 99% of the self-help junk on the internet.
So if you want to stop ending your days like a distracted mess and start building something called inner peace, pay attention.
Here are 7 timeless habits that’ll make you calmer, sharper, and less likely to scream into a pillow.
1. Eliminate the Noise
“It is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose.”
This doesn’t mean become a hermit. But you do need to shut out the chaos.
At night, Marcus would mentally “retreat” into himself. We scroll. He reflected.
The rule: Your phone doesn’t need to come to bed with you. Neither does your inbox, Susan from accounting, or that random email about 20% off protein powder.
Instead:
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Go for a walk.
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Sit in silence.
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Let your brain breathe.
We call this “non-doing.” It’s hard at first. Then it’s addictive.
2. Move Your Damn Body
“A healthy mind cannot exist without a healthy body.”
Marcus didn’t work out for a six-pack. He did it to sharpen his mind.
He walked. Trained. Kept the machine running.
Why? Because physical motion = mental momentum.
You don’t need a 90-minute HIIT workout. You need movement.
Stretch. Walk. Do 10 pushups and yell into the void.
Whatever keeps you grounded and out of your head.
3. Reflect Like a Philosopher, Not a Trainwreck
“What did I do well? What could I have done better?”
Marcus didn’t journal for likes.
He wrote to hold himself accountable. To clear the fog. To not lose his humanity inside a palace full of liars, power games, and terrible haircuts.
Your version?
No fluff. No filters. Just you vs. you.
And bonus: studies show this kind of reflection actually improves performance by up to 20%. (Because apparently writing down your screw-ups makes you screw up less.)
4. Revisit Your Role Model
“Mastery of life requires a master.”
Marcus didn’t wing it. He looked up to people — wise mentors, philosophers, generals — and asked, What would they do in my shoes?
You can do the same. Pick a personal hero. Or just pick your ideal self.
Ask:
Make their voice louder than your inner saboteur.
5. Zoom the Hell Out
“Think of time in its entirety, of which a brief and momentary span has been assigned to you.”
Perspective. That’s what this is about.
Feeling overwhelmed? Zoom out.
Your inbox? Won’t matter in 5 years.
That awkward comment at dinner?
Already forgotten.
The thing you’re obsessing over? Probably dumb.
Take the View from Above.
You’re a blip. So are your problems.
That’s not depressing. That’s liberating.
6. Set Up Future You for a Win
“In your actions, don’t procrastinate.”
Don’t just hope tomorrow goes well. Engineer it.
Lay out your clothes.
Prep your to-do list.
Put your damn phone across the room.
Do anything that makes Future You sigh with relief instead of scream into a coffee mug.
If you do nothing else from this newsletter — do this.
Because most people fail their mornings the night before.
7. Spend Time With the People You’d Miss If They Died Tomorrow
“Don’t rush this. This might be the last time.”
Dark? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.
Marcus knew life was fragile. He had kids. He knew loss. He never let himself forget it.
You’re not promised anything.
So hug tighter. Look people in the eye. Don’t half-listen while scrolling memes.
We all say we want to be present. But presence starts with remembering this: You could lose everything.
Don’t let that paralyze you. Let it wake you up.
Build Your Own Stoic Stack
Pick 2 or 3 habits from above. Test them for a week. If you don’t feel calmer, clearer, and slightly more badass, I’ll refund the nonexistent money you paid to read this.
Evening routines don’t need candles and green tea and Gwyneth Paltrow whispering affirmations.
They need intentionality.
Less input, more reflection. Less noise, more clarity. Less fear, more presence.
You don’t need to rule Rome to benefit from these habits.
You just need to stop ending your day like a zombie with WiFi.
This isn’t just a quote. It’s a chapter.
Guess what’s coming May 13.
Until next time,
Benoit
