I’m often asked about my daily routine in prison, so I thought I would write an article to describe it. My routine does not change, as I believe that repetition leads to personal and physical improvement. Keep in mind that we are currently in a modified lock down, as much of the camp remains closed. I planned this routine BEFORE I surrendered. The lesson to be learned from this post is to plan your routine prior to surrendering.
MY GENERAL PRISON ROUTINE
6:00am: Wake up, and brush my teeth, floss and wash face. I have already picked out my clothes from the night before, and they are hanging on one of my designated hooks.
6:30am: I head down to the dining hall for breakfast. Breakfast consists of oatmeal, fruit, two milks, and a breakfast pastry. Yes, I eat the pastry. I don’t drink the milk, instead I drink a protein shake (which I buy through commissary).
7:00am: Start working on my course work. I have enrolled in legal certification courses, as I have a goal of forming a medical malpractice consultation firm upon my release.
8:45am: Emails and article work. Right now I only get one hour of email time due to COVID. My goal is to post an article per day.
9:45am: Coffee break.
10:00am: Standing count. During this time, I stand by my dorm room and an officer walks by and counts all the inmates. It does not take much time, and is not dehumanizing at all. The officers are professional, and I understand the necessity of this in a confinement environment.
10:15am: Continue course work.
11:00am: Go to the dining hall for lunch. Lunch consists of a hot meal (hamburger, fish sandwich, pasta, turkey, roast beef, chicken, etc), fresh fruit, salad and a dessert. I give my dessert away. I also drink another protein shake.
11:30am: Continue my course work.
1:00pm: Workout. I work out for two hours. I won’t bore you with the details.
3:00pm: Shower and shave
3:30pm: I go to the TV area and relax and hang out with other inmates.
4:00pm: Standing count
4:15pm: Read. I am currently reading a book every 3 days. Once I have more computer time, I will post book reports on the books. I’m trying to learn a lesson from every book I read.
5:00pm: Dinner. Dinner consists of a hot meal (similar to lunch), fresh fruit, salad, and a desert. Like lunch, I give my desert away. I also drink another protein shake.
6:00pm: Work on content and course work. The content refers to my pretrial, sentencing, and prison experience. I am working on an eBook, which can help a white collar defendant, from indictment all the way through the prison experience.
9:00pm: Standing count. After the 9:00pm count, the main lights in the dorm shut off. Each desk has its own individual lights, so this is a mute issue.
10:00pm: I make myself two protein shakes, and I read until I fall asleep. I tend to fall asleep very quickly. I am usually asleep by 10:15pm.
This is essentially my routine Monday through Sunday. I have applied for a job to tutor fellow inmates. As soon as that job starts, I will update the routine.
I understand that the routine seems repetitive. However, I find that this repetition is not forced, and it has become instinctive to me.
I signed up for courses and formed a plan of action for my goals prior to surrendering. Therefore, productive work for my future was already planned ahead of time. I want to stress the importance of this: you must plan for productive activities prior to surrendering. I suggest enrolling in courses through Adams State College. It is one of the few accredited, prison-friendly colleges left in the United States.
I will talk about education and action plans in future posts.
Until next time,
Shan Sultan
Shan Sultan worked as a medical doctor for 10 years before receiving a 48-month sentence for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Shan was designated to Lewisburg Camp.
