Using Disruptive Days to Your Advantage

Life is full of disruptions—unexpected events that throw off our routines and make us feel like we’re losing control. This past week, I experienced this firsthand. The 4th of July celebrations pulled me away from my usual regimen. My family and I headed to Rhode Island for a beach day, which meant I missed my run, strength training, writing, and even planning for upcoming work presentations. I felt off-track, as if I was falling behind and not living up to my responsibilities. Was I?

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1. The Impact of Disruptive Days:

The dip in my Slow Velocity trend data from the past month illustrates this disruption clearly. If you look at the chart (above), you’ll see a noticeable drop on July 4th to 0.25. It hurts to see this. It’s easy to panic and think, “I headed for a downward spiral.”

2. Understanding the Bigger Picture with Statistical Control Charts:

This is where Statistical Control Charts (SCCs) come in handy. They help us visualize whether our process is truly going off the rails or if it’s just a single day of deviation. My college running coach often reminded us, "A day is just a day; don't let it mess with your head." SCCs provide this perspective by showing that a single low point is not necessarily indicative of a long-term problem.

In my chart, you can see that my performance on July 4th was significantly below my average daily score—three standard deviations. But I know the root cause: it was a holiday, and I intentionally took a break from my routine. The very next day, my efforts bounced back. This shows that July 4th was an outlier, not a sign of a deteriorating process.

3. Embracing Aberration Days:

Emily Balcetis, author of Clearer, Closer, Better, wrote:

‍One candy bar today won’t expand our belly, but one candy bar every afternoon likely could send us shopping for a new pair of pants down the road.

Her point was that ‘just a day’ only becomes a problem if that day becomes every day. As long as these aberrations are aberrations (and infrequent), they aren’t necessarily bad; in fact, they can be advantageous.

4. Explore vs. Exploit:

Aberration days can be used as exploration days. Think about it in the lens of the explore vs. exploit trade-off. According to the explore vs. exploit concept, while most of the time we need to exploit the knowledge we have that works, we also need to continue seeking new ideas and behaviors (because there might be something better out there). Use these disruptive days to do things not on your list. Visit places different from your daily norm. Meet people who might offer new perspectives. Make it as different as possible.

Consider the Silicon Valley tech executives who go on silent retreats far from their chaotic digital daily routines. Their daily scores on these days might plummet, but they are exploring the possibility of a reset or a breakthrough that could lead to significant improvements in their future daily lives. These retreats offer them a chance to step back, reflect, and potentially make a step-level change upward.

Now, the Rhode Island coastline might not be drastically different from my norm, but I kept an eye out for interesting people who could teach me something new. The goal isn’t to manipulate your metrics for a perfect score but to gain awareness and continue learning. Embracing these exploration days can ultimately drive innovation, creativity, and growth, transforming a temporary dip into a powerful leap forward.

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Disruptions like holidays or unexpected events can feel like setbacks, but with the right perspective, they become opportunities for growth and exploration. Use your aberration days wisely, and remember, it’s just a day. Don’t let it mess with your head. Embrace the disruption, learn from it, and bounce back stronger.

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