How do we turn on the auto pilot for making things work for us?
Years ago, my husband was a photographer. He was an early bird who would often go on location for photographs that would be used for publications. He was a man of habit who followed through with a “work your plan” attitude.
On a very icy and frigid Friday morning in January, he headed out to have films developed for the front cover of a magazine. The weather was not good for driving. On the way back from the film company, he took time to mark his mileage down in his handbook. It was a habit from his sales days. Later that day, he was hit by a flatbed tow truck. Our vehicle was crushed and his life was on edge.
That one habit paid off in establishing a workman’s comp case for us. Because he was on life support and later had no memory of the event, there was no other way to prove or determine what insurance would cover the bills. Records later confirmed he was on business and that he had indeed carried out his working duties. It meant that whether he lived or died, the hospital bills would be paid and that we would not lose our home.
This was just one of many mini miracles that paid dividends. His initial choice to develop a habit of keeping good records certainly was a safety valve for his family, and also that he would get the care he needed. It allowed him to get rehabilitation to walk, to speak, to hear, to see, and to live.
This April, Delight in Living is having 2 groups called “Moving Forward” to help one another plan goals, and succeed in achieving them. I am confident that this will help those involved to improve self confidence, increase self efficacy, and stay focused. Groups are great in helping us become our best. That is why children are often more successful in achieving goals; they have friends around who help keep them on target. This is particularly true of team sports.
Did you know that most of us are on auto pilot? We get up, brush our teeth, make our beds, grab the same thing for breakfast, and head out the door. Our schedule is determined by going to class, getting kids to school, a demanding work itinerary, or love for a sport. When it comes to getting up we may rely on a clock radio or someone to wake us. Perhaps your pet dog encourages you to rise and shine. Some people have an internal clock that gets me up each day. Each habit has been developed by doing the same thing over and over again.
Habits can help keep us on task. We have certain things we do each day and just do them. If you’re like me, you don’t appreciate adding more onto a “to do list” so I try to incorporate things into a natural schedule. That includes walking whenever I can to stay active, eating regular meals so I eat sensibly, and scheduling personal time for doing the things I really want to do.
When my parents were young, they had a day each week to do accomplish things. One day was assigned for laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Another day was set aside for family and attending church. Yet another for going to the bank, and connecting with friends. Their schedules ruled their lives. They didn’t have to be texting one another on the phone all the time to change things. They were efficient and loyalty to their habits kept them well. It was probably easier in some ways that they were more rigid and congruent with their schedules than we are today.
I seldom lose my keys, because I put them in the same spot. I stop at the same 2 gas stations so that when the charges come through I can confirm them. I have discovered that most of us are still creatures of habit. So how can we make habits work for us and not against us?
Having said that, can you name poor habits that work against you? Let me name a few you might relate too or see in the lives around you. 1-Overeating or eating late at night, 2-Rushing to meetings, or trying to cram too much into a day? 3-While one parent may be running kids here, there, and everywhere, the other parent works long hours to pay the bills. 4-Eating fast foods rather than taking time to prepare simple meals and eat together. These may contribute to feeling annoyed and/or unappreciated.
Finding healthy ways to relieve stress and get ahead may mean slowing down. It is a call to recreating new patterns. Patterns that are chosen become habits with consistency and long term goals in mind.
One of the best way to create good habits for a healthy lifestyle are to 1-want something, 2-accept the challenge, and 3-embrace the steps to making something work. Prepare your schedule in advance. Stick with the plan to start making the small choices into worthwhile habits. Call on others to help you stay focused.
Peace for the day. Delight in Living!