Consistency begets momentum.

I went to a late-night jam after a gig last night. Good music, good vibes, and people having a great time.

One problem: this old man gets thrown off his schedule when he stays out too late. Getting back home at 2 AM, asleep by 3, and up by 10 still feeling groggy.

No bueno.

Was it worth the cost of admission? Yes and no.

• Yes — to check out the scene and learn what this particular jam was about.
• No — because it threw off my schedule for getting an early start and working on my priorities.

Consistency — waking up, following the same morning routine, and hitting the most important task of the day first — begets momentum. Our attention is finite, and everything from the internet to events around the city is vying for it.

That’s one reason I love a steady residency gig. Same time, same place. It’s the perfect way to get your public music work in without constantly worrying about logistics.

Automation through habituation is key.