As a surgeon, when I routinely went to the OR, I had a ritual.

I would wake up at the same time every day, pack two hard-boiled eggs and a thermos of coffee in my small leather bag, walk to work via the same route, and swipe into the pre-op area, waving hi to the front desk on my way past.

I’d talk to the patient, sign the consent with the same ballpoint pen, go upstairs to my office, change into my scrubs, wear the same scrub cap and the same Danskos, then turn on my computer and take a sip of coffee before heading down to the OR.

I’d always remove my badge and place it near the nurses’ workstation, then put on the patients’ sequential compression devices myself.