HABITUAL BEHAVIOR

It has been said that people control habits, but habits control destinies. It is a good part  in our lives is spent in a habitual fashion. Much of our daily behavior is patterned and routine. Habits by definition are behaviors that have been performed so often that they have become automatic. This means that habitual behavior operates just below our consciousness threshold. When we are preoccupied, or acting habitually, we are not free to manage our time. We are not simply as alert as when we are acting non habitually. Managing time requires accurate observation of what is taking place.

People tend to assume that habits are always bad. This is not true. Many habits are quite beneficial. If we had to consciously decide on everything we did during the day, life would become quite unbearable. Once we learn to do something well, automatic habit control is a blessing.

For example, you bathe, dress, eat and do dozens of similar routines everyday. The advantage of course, is that you can devote your attention to other things while you carry out the task at hand. Your body continues on in the same routine fashion as long as nothing unexpected happens. If an unexpected event does occur, your mind instantly focuses on what you're doing and you're not longer behaving habitually.

In general, you will want to reduce some of your habitual behavior in order to use time more effectively. The best way to begin reducing habitual behavior is to discover your present habit patterns. As you uncover these patterns, the need for change will become obvious and you will become more motivational to make the change. You will begin to discover of which your habit patterns are beneficial and which ones are detrimental.No one can force you to change. But if you wish to improve the way you spend your time, if you wish to achieve better results, then you will have to change some habits. 

No one can change for you. You must do it yourself. This doesn't mean that other people will be totally out of the picture. Certain associates may play a crucial role in your efforts. Practice, however, will be up to you. Others may help to reinforce your new bahaviors, but its is up to you who must, voluntarily, undertake them.