Ask Stoics source guide · Stoicism at Work
A Stoic Review of the Workday
This guide offers a Stoic framework for reviewing your workday. The aim is to reflect on your actions, thoughts, and intentions without judgment, focusing instead on areas for growth and alignment with virtue. Consider how you applied your attention, managed your speech, prepared for tasks, and navigated challenges. This practice is not about self-criticism but about continuous improvement and understanding your own nature.
On this page you will get a clear explanation, a way to examine the idea, exact evidence from public-domain Stoic texts, and links for continuing the study.
Reviewing Your Attention
Reflect on where your attention was directed throughout the day. Did you focus on what was within your control, or did your mind wander to external circumstances beyond your influence? Consider moments when your focus was sharp and when it was scattered.
A Stoic aims to apply attention to things dependent on their will. This practice helps identify patterns in your focus, allowing you to consciously redirect it towards productive and virtuous endeavors in the future.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.4
Evaluating Your Speech
Consider the nature of your conversations and pronouncements today. Was your speech truthful, necessary, and kind? Did you engage in gossip or idle chatter, or did you contribute meaningfully to discussions?
The Stoic practice encourages mindful communication. Reviewing your speech helps you cultivate a habit of speaking with purpose and integrity, reflecting on how your words impact yourself and others.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 2.8
Assessing Your Preparation
Think about how you prepared for the day's tasks and challenges. Did you anticipate potential obstacles and plan accordingly, or did you react impulsively? Preparation extends to mental readiness as well as practical steps.
Effective preparation, both mental and practical, is a key Stoic principle. This review helps you identify areas where better foresight could have improved your outcomes and reduced unnecessary distress.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.4
Noting Avoidance and Aversion
Examine what you tried to avoid today. Did you attempt to sidestep things outside your control, leading to frustration? Or did you wisely direct your aversion only towards things dependent on your will?
A Stoic understands that attempting to avoid things independent of one's will leads to unhappiness. This reflection helps you refine your understanding of what truly lies within your power to change or accept.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.4
Reflecting on Justice
Consider your interactions with others. Did you act justly and fairly in your dealings? Were your decisions equitable, and did you treat everyone with the respect due to a rational being?
Justice is a cardinal Stoic virtue. This review prompts you to assess your conduct in social interactions, ensuring that your actions align with principles of fairness and universal human dignity.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 2.8
Rehearsing for Tomorrow
Based on your review, what lessons can you carry forward into tomorrow? Mentally rehearse how you might approach similar situations with greater wisdom, attention, and virtue.
This rehearsal is a proactive step, not a dwelling on past mistakes. It prepares your mind to respond more effectively to future events, reinforcing virtuous habits and mindful conduct.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.6
What the primary texts say
These excerpts keep their work and exact locator so you can check the claim in context rather than accepting a detached quotation.
“He who is making progress, having learned from philosophers that desire means the desire of good things, and aversion means aversion from bad things; having learned too that happiness and tranquillity are not attainable by man otherwise than by not failing to obtain what he desires, and not falling into that which he would avoid; such a man takes from himself desire altogether and defers it, but he employs his aversion only on things which are dependent on his will.”
“you are a portion separated from the deity; you have in yourself a certain portion of him. Why then are you ignorant of your own noble descent? Why do you not know whence you came?”
“From everything which is or happens in the world, it is easy to praise Providence, if a man possesses these two qualities, the faculty of seeing what belongs and happens to all persons and things, and a grateful disposition.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of a Stoic workday review?
The purpose is to reflect on your actions and intentions throughout the day, identifying areas for growth and alignment with Stoic virtues. It's a practice of self-awareness and continuous improvement, not self-criticism.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.4
How does this review help with managing emotions?
By reviewing your aversion, you learn to direct it only towards things within your control. This helps prevent unhappiness that arises from trying to avoid external events, fostering greater tranquility.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.4
Should I feel guilty if I didn't meet my own expectations?
No, the review is not for self-punishment. It's an opportunity to learn and improve. Recognize your noble descent and inherent capacity for reason, using past actions as lessons for future conduct.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 2.8
How can I apply these lessons to tomorrow?
By mentally rehearsing how you might approach similar situations with greater wisdom and virtue. This proactive step prepares your mind to respond more effectively and mindfully to future events.
Sources: Epictetus, Discourses 1.6
Continue with Ask Stoics
Bring one of these source-grounded questions into the app:
- How did I manage my desires and aversions today?
- In what ways did I exercise my rational faculty?
- What external events did I mistakenly try to control?
- How can I better prepare my mind for tomorrow's challenges?