Creatures of Habit - Like Humans Like Animals

24 July, 2008 - Motivation - 10 Comments


Photo by Toni VC

We wake up at 7am. Each day.
We go to bed at 11pm. Each day.
We commute the same route to work. Each day.
We light up a cigarette. Each time we start our car.
We do the same workout at the gym. Each day (and regardless of whether it is working for us).

As humans, we like to believe we’re the far most superior race on Earth and we’re nothing like the bird that migrates year after year… to the day. But when push comes to shove, we inferior, empowered, Earth busting humans are creatures of habit just like any animal.

We stick to a regular schedule and (God forbid) if our schedule is ever interrupted we get flustered and so messed up and “Not with it” that we’re scared to go any further.

So as I sit here, next to my garden pond watching the cat lay on the chair that its been on all day (a habit!), I wonder what it’s going to be like to wake up at 4:30am tomorrow morning. I wonder what it’s going to be like to break my habit. To step outside my comfort zone. To produce and experience change.

I’m meeting with Chris Garrett for lunch tomorrow and that means I have to be up early to ensure I get all my work completed before I head off to the city. So tomorrow, I vow to experience change. Difference. A new zone with less comfort. I vow to wake up at 4:30am, not 7am. I vow to go to sleep tonight at 10pm, not 11pm. I vow to head out on a bike ride tomorrow morning before the sun rises, rather than going to the gym. And I vow to take a different commute to the Leeds office than I usually do (thanks to Chris who shall be driving me, rather than I walking).

As humans, we naturally love comfort and hate change. As humans, we prefer easy and woeful, over brutal and functional. I wonder what life would be like if we all made the decision to do what worked as opposed to what was easy.

What habits do you have? How do you think change to those habits would affect you? Let us know in the comments.

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Posted on 24 July, 2008 by Jamie Harrop
Filed Under Motivation |

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10 Comments»

Comment by Cath Lawson
2008-07-25 02:44:09

Hi Jamie - Moving out of your comfort zone is good. I’ve broken one really bad habit already - no more drinking wine every night and I’m walking every day. I’ve also broken the habit of not following my passion, so I’m hoping that will bring some interesting results.

Fags and coffee are next - but not straight away.

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Comment by Jamie Harrop
2008-07-26 09:37:02

Sounds like you’re on a mission of change, Cath. Good for you! :)

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Comment by Susan
2008-07-25 03:41:21

Bad eating style was my habbit. I ate junk food oftenly. I pushed myself to change by bringing lunch box to my office. Eating home cooking everyday was hard to do at the beginning. Two benefits I get from my new lifestyle are living more healthy and saving more money. Now I’m struggling to get out from another bad habbit. Routine exercise. It’s hard for me because honestly I hate exercise.

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Comment by Jamie Harrop
2008-07-26 09:38:54

Hey Susan,

If you hate exercise, then you’re not doing the right exercises. Find something you enjoy (a new sport, maybe?). Make exercise fun, and you’ll find it brings better results. That’s why those people who go to the gym find several different circuits to do so as to not get bored of doing the same thing each day. :)

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Comment by Susan
2008-08-02 03:24:07

You’re right. I won’t be able to do right exercise if I don’t like it. I’m thinking to start jogging. Thanks for your reply anyway. It open my mind.

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Comment by Michael Henreckson
2008-07-31 21:54:20

My Dad always says, “Variety is the spice of life”, and I’m inclined to agree with him (and you). When we get stuck in a rut it’s really hard to deal with life when we get thrown a curveball or something we’re not used to.

So,
Semper Gumby (always flexible) :)
Michael Henrecksons last blog post..Keep Your Writing Formal: It May Help You Get Hired

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Comment by Jamie Harrop
2008-08-01 15:03:55

Semper Gumby. So fitting. :)

Thanks for the comment, Michael.

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Comment by Jonathan Mead
2008-08-01 04:43:13

This idea crosses my mind on a daily basis. I have to change things regularly or I start feeling like a mindless drone.

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Comment by Jamie Harrop
2008-08-01 15:05:26

Thanks for the comment, Jonathan.

A mindless drone almost sounds fun… but we all know it isn’t. :)

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Comment by Lindsay
2008-08-08 20:34:25

I have a huge collection of quotes that I’ve picked up over the years, but there are only a few that stick in my head and pop up from time to time in my daily life…

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

Lindsays last blog post..Turn a Single Book into a Full Time Income

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