“Be obsessive” this post recommends. That’s the key to success, the daily repetition of certain actions. The writer there isn’t the first person to offer that tip, of course; it’s pretty common.

That doesn’t work for everyone, though. Personally, I like a day that allows for a mix of things. There are certainly some elements of the day where I feel twitchy if I’m not able to do them in a particular order (turn on computer, read email, read RSS, open other tabs in a very specific way), but those tend to be deck-clearing activities, the kinds of things I do before I get on with the day’s work.

I don’t deny the power of repetition in determining success. If you want to do something well, do it time and again. Constantly be honing and practicing and executing your craft. What I question is the need to do everything in the same order and in the same was all the time.

I’ll admit, I’m a creature of habit in most of my life. But when it comes to the workday, I prefer an environment that keeps me on my toes a bit, throwing spanners in the works regularly enough to be interesting without becoming annoying and disruptive.

Chris Thilk is a freelance writer and content strategist who lives in the Chicago suburbs.