Routines: The Hidden Engine of Time
M
Published
Life is composed largely of routines.
Think about brushing your teeth.
You walk to the sink.
Grab the toothbrush.
Apply toothpaste.
Turn on the water.
Brush in a familiar pattern.
Rinse.
Put everything away.
You probably perform the same sequence every time.
By adulthood, you have repeated this process tens of thousands of times.
Habits eliminate decision-making.
Life contains many such routines:
- waking up
- preparing meals
- getting ready for work
- household chores
- exercise preparation
When routines are poorly designed, they consume mental energy.
When well designed, they operate almost invisibly.
They free attention for more meaningful pursuits.