How Routine and Creativity Help Me Stay Grounded

I’ve learned a lot about stability the hard way.

Not from textbooks. Not from mindfulness apps. But from falling flat on my face enough times to figure out what helps me stay on my feet.

For me, it starts and ends with structure. I train hard. Always have. And while some of that comes from being overly critical of how I look (cheers, brain), the real reason I commit to it every day is because it helps. Bookending my day with movement does more than keep me fit. It anchors me.

Most mornings begin with a shared workout alongside my oldest son before school. We use the Centr app and that time means a lot more to me than just fitness. It’s bonding. It’s routine. It’s control in a world that often feels anything but. In the evenings, I tend to hit the rower or use my makeshift gym in the cellar. Occasionally I’ll use the work gym, but only when I feel like staying in that environment a little longer. Lately, if I’m honest, I haven’t really felt that way inclined for a number of reasons.

I often research new workout routines and trial them, but I usually come back to what I know. Familiarity gives me space to focus on something deeper. This week, for some reason, rowing has been my go-to. Maybe because it gives me space to think. I’ve already clocked up just shy of 55,000 metres (as of this morning) for the week! That number sounds a bit wild written down, but there you go.

That physical rhythm is one part of my equation. The other is creativity.

Whether it’s writing books, building screenplays, or designing training scenarios for work, letting my mind wander into creative space has been life-changing. It gives structure to the chaos, purpose to the noise. It’s not just expression. It’s regulation.

That balance of routine and creativity is what keeps me grounded.

But here’s the truth. What works for me might not work for you. And that’s okay. It’s not about mimicking anyone else’s strategy. It’s about building your own. About tuning into what actually helps you function, not what looks good from the outside.

That’s exactly why I created NeuroEdge.

It’s not a formula or a checklist. It’s a lived experience, turned into a toolkit. And prior to its release in June, I've released ten tools that helped me stop performing and start rebuilding. No fluff. Just honest, grounded support for navigating life with a neurodivergent brain.

If anything here resonates, you can download the NeuroEdge Starter Pack for free. It’s my way of paying forward the lessons that got me through the hardest parts.

https://tobeyalexander.com/products/neuroedgestarter

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need somewhere to start.

Let’s build that together.

Welcome to the "cellar" where my brain gets its daily dose of freedom (and training)