Friday, April 21, 2006
Theory # 20: Routines
I suspect it's a personality trait, hardwired into the brain, but I think it can also be learned.
Carl just came back to the house, 15 minutes after he'd left, because he'd forgotten his wallet, making him unable to get in the gate, which made him late for a meeting. He was understandably angry with himself, and blamed the headache he'd woken up with, but this sort of thing happens at least once every week or two.
All he has to remember is
So why, I ask Carl on the occasions like today when he forgets something and it screws up his whole day, doesn't he just make it an automatic routine? (I'm not known for tact.) Why not just every morning, when he's ready to leave, put on his watch, put his wallet in his pocket, clip the phone to his belt, grab his hat and his keys, and go out the door? What could be simpler? Instead, he has to actively think about each item. You can see it. He'll reach in the drawer for his watch and put it on, then look around, grab the hat from the table by the door, then go back in the drawer for the wallet, back over by the door for the keys, then get the cell phone from on top of the radio. It's in a different order every time, and he has to think about it, has to remember each item.
Perhaps it's because I have so many things to remember, and because the consequences of forgetfulness fall on people I love rather than on myself that I'm more motivated to make certain that I don't forget.
But I do think I have a predisposition to routine. I use routines all the time. In fact, it's sometimes a challenge to shake things up a bit. The routines do free my mind from having to consciously think about mundane tasks, but I have to be aware of them getting in the way of things I want or need to do.
Can Carl learn to make those 4 items an automatic routine? I'm convinced it's possible. Will he? Probably not. He doesn't have the routine gene, and the consequences would have to be much greater than they are at present to motivate him enough to remember.
...read more
Categories: Theories
Carl just came back to the house, 15 minutes after he'd left, because he'd forgotten his wallet, making him unable to get in the gate, which made him late for a meeting. He was understandably angry with himself, and blamed the headache he'd woken up with, but this sort of thing happens at least once every week or two.
All he has to remember is
- hat
- watch
- wallet
- cell phone
- keys--and since he can't leave without them, this one doesn't really count
- assortment of vitamins for everyone
- coffee (hah! like I'd forget that one)
- what I'd planned for breakfast--the main dish, fruit, and milk
- to let the dog out
- clearing off the table
- homework
- lunches
- water bottles
- to sign Cam's agenda
- any notes/permission slips/money the kids need
- jackets
- shoes
- backpacks
So why, I ask Carl on the occasions like today when he forgets something and it screws up his whole day, doesn't he just make it an automatic routine? (I'm not known for tact.) Why not just every morning, when he's ready to leave, put on his watch, put his wallet in his pocket, clip the phone to his belt, grab his hat and his keys, and go out the door? What could be simpler? Instead, he has to actively think about each item. You can see it. He'll reach in the drawer for his watch and put it on, then look around, grab the hat from the table by the door, then go back in the drawer for the wallet, back over by the door for the keys, then get the cell phone from on top of the radio. It's in a different order every time, and he has to think about it, has to remember each item.
Perhaps it's because I have so many things to remember, and because the consequences of forgetfulness fall on people I love rather than on myself that I'm more motivated to make certain that I don't forget.
But I do think I have a predisposition to routine. I use routines all the time. In fact, it's sometimes a challenge to shake things up a bit. The routines do free my mind from having to consciously think about mundane tasks, but I have to be aware of them getting in the way of things I want or need to do.
Can Carl learn to make those 4 items an automatic routine? I'm convinced it's possible. Will he? Probably not. He doesn't have the routine gene, and the consequences would have to be much greater than they are at present to motivate him enough to remember.
...read more
Categories: Theories
Labels: theories
