I eat at a local sandwich deli in Enid about four days a week on average.
That might sound strange at first, but think about this: where do you get your morning drink—coffee, soda, tea? Is it usually the same place? Most people eat nearly the same thing for breakfast every single day. Lunch really isn’t any different.
There are even millionaires who wear the same outfit every day. Not because they lack options—but because routines remove friction and free up mental energy.
What I Usually Eat
The place I go is mostly a sandwich deli. I rotate between about three sandwiches, with my most common choice being a chicken salad sandwich, which is fairly healthy. I usually get chips as my side.
If I ate lunch at home, I’d probably end up with… a sandwich and chips. Or a frozen dinner. So nutritionally and practically, I’m not really “splurging”—I’m just relocating the same meal.
It Gets Me Out of the Office
The biggest reason I eat out is simple: I work alone, and my wife doesn’t get lunch. Going out gives me a reason to leave the studio and see other human beings.
It’s a mental break, not just a meal.
I already drive to the post office and the bank most days anyway, and the deli is right on the way—about five blocks from my house. It opens early, so I can get there before 11 a.m. and beat the big crowd. I don’t eat much breakfast, so an early lunch works perfectly for me.
And honestly, I just genuinely like the food. That alone eliminates about 90% of the decision-making nonsense people overthink every day.
The Space Matters
I like eating at high-top tables, and they have some right by the front window. I enjoy the view—watching cars cruise by, seeing what the weather’s doing, and just observing the world for a bit.
I usually park my Jeep out front, covered in stickers, where it sits on the busiest street in town for about an hour. That’s unintentional visibility every single day.
The Loyalty Perks Add Up
I buy a monthly tea pass. For less than the cost of three teas, I get a free tea every day for 30 days. Tea runs anywhere from $2.50 to $3.50 now, and they always fill me up before I leave.
It’s a quiet little life hack. Unlimited tea might seem small, but psychologically, it feels like a win every visit.
About every three or four weeks, I also get a free sandwich. That’s loyalty paying dividends. Most people never optimize for that. Sometimes they combine my free sandwich with my tea pass, and I eat completely free.
It’s a Social Experience
The staff knows me and my order. They check on me. They take care of me. I know most of them by name, they know my name, and some even know my phone number. A couple of them have become actual friends.
That turns lunch into a social interaction instead of a transaction.
I also get spontaneous conversations with people I know who stop in to eat. Some close friends even know I’ll be there and occasionally show up just to join me. I’m plugged into the local human network without trying.
Less Thinking, More Living
One of the biggest benefits is zero daily decision fatigue. That’s one less choice I have to make every day, which frees up mental energy for things that actually matter. Deciding what to eat for dinner with my family can literally take an hour—so removing lunch from that equation is a gift.
I don’t waste brainpower scrolling reviews or debating options. That mental clutter is gone.
Routine reduces stress. Familiar surroundings calm the nervous system. Consistency equals comfort. There’s something grounding about a predictable daily ritual—and I genuinely look forward to the sandwich I’m going to eat that day.
My “Third Place”
This deli has become my “third place.” Not home. Not work. My unofficial office and social hub. I even have meetings there sometimes.
It anchors my day. A reliable lunch creates structure, especially when you’re doing creative or entrepreneurial work. I catch up on social media platforms I don’t normally read. I pause. I reset.
And I completely avoid bad meals. There’s nothing more frustrating than breaking your routine, spending time and money, and ending up with a meal you don’t even enjoy.
The Practical Upside
* I know exactly what it costs—no surprise spending.
* I support a local business consistently.
* It’s a low-effort social environment.
* I feel welcome when I walk in.
* I’ve essentially outsourced lunch logistics.
* Routines keep me grounded when life gets chaotic.
One Last Thing
I should add this: I still eat a wide variety of foods for dinner. Lunch is my routine. Dinner is where I mix things up.
This isn’t about being boring.
It’s about building a simple system that works—so I can spend my energy where it actually matters.
And honestly?
It’s one of the smartest daily habits I’ve ever built.
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