The importance of crafting a root document

A list of guiding principles that tell you who you are..

How many of us can confidently say who we are? If someone asked you who you were, how would you answer? Would you give them your name, maybe your job title and where you were born? Do any of these things really make you you though?

In this fast-paced and ever-evolving world, it can be all too easy to lose sight of what truly matters to us — especially if we never gave it much thought in the first place. Amidst the constant stream of information, entertainment and distractions, maintaining a sense of self and purpose can become truly challenging.

One way I’ve found that helps me become more mindful in this regard is by embracing the concept of keeping a root document—a personal record that captures the essence of my values, preferences, and goals. Using this document I can find a profound source of motivation and guidance when I need it most.

This idea of creating a root document is somewhat inspired by Cal Newport’s study hack that he calls “rooted productivity". In this system he recommends to:

create a single page document that describes the key productivity rules, habits, and systems that you currently follow in your life.

In the article he talks about making your list with productivity in mind, but instead I felt the urge to make a document that listed the rules, virtues and practices that make me who I am.

Discovering Authenticity

Just as Benjamin Franklin maintained a "virtues journal" where he documented his daily efforts to cultivate various virtues, crafting a root document allows us to delve deep into our identities and explore what truly resonates with us. By identifying and documenting our values, interests, and personal quirks, we gain a clearer understanding of who we are as individuals. This practice results in a document that allows us to make decisions aligned with our true desires and beliefs. By thinking deeper about our guiding principles, our root document can outline what to do in moments of boredom (to stop you reaching for social media). It can push you to learn something rather than watching another episode of some TV show. Your root document can serve as a reminder of what to buy (or not to buy) when at the supermarket. It allows us to be realistic about who we are and what we want in life.

Guiding Purposeful Actions

Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius famously kept a personal journal that became known as his Meditations. The Meditations were highly personal reflections Aurelius made about life as he was living it. They often acted as a reminder for how he wanted to live his life. In a similar way, a root document can serve as a compass that guides our actions and choices, providing a solid foundation for our daily lives. By articulating our preferred activities, rituals, and habits, we create a framework for intentional living. Listing practices such as listening to music on Bandcamp rather than Spotify, always carrying a notebook and a pen or following a Stoic lifestyle helps us prioritize activities that bring us joy and fulfillment, enabling us to make conscious decisions aligned with our values.

Nurturing Consistency and Discipline

Both Benjamin Franklin and Marcus Aurelius emphasized the importance of self-awareness in their practices. Regularly referring to our root document fosters this kind of self-awareness and mindfulness. It encourages us to pause and reflect on our preferences and habits, allowing us to assess whether our actions are in line with our authentic selves.

Franklin's commitment to recording his daily efforts in his virtues journal and Aurelius' dedication to writing his Meditations are both testaments to the power of consistent practice and your root document should be something that you sit with frequently. I tend to read mine on the first of the month but I encourage you to find a routine that works for you. I’ve set a calendar reminder to keep myself accountable. Take this opportunity to swap out or adjust anything that isn’t working for you. In Cal Newport’s original article he gives a piece advice which gives you the freedom to see this as a fluid document:

I will do my best to: (a) follow the processes on these document; and (b) on a regular basis evaluate these processes and update the document to better reflect what’s working and what’s not, as well as what’s important to me and what’s not.

So what is in my root document? Well of course it’s intensely personal, but here’s a few entries, of the 56 I have, that I can share:

• I consume music on Bandcamp rather than Spotify as much as possible.

• I take a notebook and a pen with me everywhere I go.

• I don’t wear shoes at home.

• I like writing cards for people.

• I will stop myself if I notice I’m being negative.

• I genuinely ask hospitality staff how their day is going.

• I have a uniform.

I use Obsidian to keep my root document but obviously anything will work. Apple Notes, Google Keep, Evernote, a .txt document. Whatever is most convenient for you. Heck, a piece of paper would be fine. The key is to remember to keep checking in to see how you’re doing.

Please share your (shareable) root document entries below in the comments!