To some degree, we are all creatures of habit. We all have routines that we repeat on a regular basis. What differs between us is how many routines, how much repetition, and how much they do or don’t matter to us. So occasionally, it’s good to step back and evaluate whether our habits are really helping us.
Habits with a Good Reason
Sometimes, our habits evolve for reasons that are justifiable, even though to an outsider it looks silly. For example, how many of us have ever had a “favorite pump” at the gas station? I don’t have one now, because here in Oklahoma there is practically a gas station on every corner (attributable to cheap gas and a preponderance of pick-up trucks). In Wisconsin, however, I always went to one particular pump at a Shell station. Why? Because it was the second-most convenient pump for pulling into the station from the main road and exiting the station on the side road. Why not use the “most” convenient pump? Because the nozzle dripped! People may have thought it was a kooky habit, but I had my reasons.
Habits Based on Comfort
So, what if I hadn’t had those two very good reasons to visit that particular pump – would it have been a crazy habit? Suppose the traffic patterns played no role, and suppose that all of the pumps were in perfect working order. In that case, would my idiosyncratic repetition been reasonable? When do we know if our comfort level in doing something has risen to the status of being a good reason?
Staying Open to the Possibilities
At work and at home, we have hundreds of small and large habits that have developed over the years. Sometimes the need for our habits is obvious. But sometimes, the rationale for our habits has faded and we’re left with routines that may or may not be efficient, effective, or even relevant. In that case, we may not replace an old habit with a new approach, but it’s still worthwhile to consider the alternatives.