Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Tuesday: Habits, Routines, and Rituals

I've been thinking a lot about change lately and have come to the conclusion that what really stands in the way of making a genuine change are the habits, routines, and rituals that people develop over time--the little things we do each day without even thinking about why, the often-strange, little things we cling passionately to if someone asks us to change.

Here are some examples:
  • My grandpa has to have a martini every night at 4:30. He even travels with a martini-making kit to accommodate this habit.
  • A friend always orders the same thing at McDonalds: two hamburgers with only ketchup and french fries. She then puts two french fries on each burger.
  • My husband only likes to buy brand-name food--no generic or store brand for him.
  • I take my shower in a certain order every morning: wash and condition hair, wash face, shave, and wash.
  • I have an entire ritual related to grocery shopping: make menu for the week, make categorized list for the store, clean out refrigerator, shop, put food away (freezer, then fridge, then pantry).
What small and quirky habits, routines, and rituals have you developed over time?

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11 comments:

angieoh! said...

I am totally a creature of habit. I will have to think about this one and post later. Great challenge Barb!

Georgia said...

Will get to the habits and routines later, but everyone has to come over to my blog and see the gorgeous journal Barb sent me for being the winner of the first drawing of the Trendy Tuesday. It's wonderful!!! Thanks a ton, Barb!

Webfrau said...

Your Grandpa sounds like a smart man! LOL!

Latharia said...

My tai chi instructor & I were talking about habits a couple of weeks ago. I have a lot to say on this subject ... I will update my blog! :)

Greta Adams said...

great challenge!! I will have to think about this one

Tami said...

I Have Finished Mine, I am strange.LOL
http://tamiforan.wordpress.com/

Unknown said...

Habits...hmm..good one...
Have to have a cup of coffee the minute I get up, no matter what else is going on. The house could be burning down, but I better have a cup of coffee LOL.

I won't eat any mayo but Hellman's, and no cereal but Cheerios.

I always put my socks on right after drying off from the shower, before I put anything else on.

I could probably list tons hehe

~Kathryn~ said...

i have to sleep on the left side of the bed.
when playing sing star i must stand up to sing (as must anyone singing with me)
i read my emails in order they come in
i can't drink coffee unless i have coffee whitener
there are probably tonnes more - but i can't think right now

Kerry said...

Here is my post with my answers from yesterday's post :) http://kerrysponderings.blogspot.com/

Georgia said...

I wouldn't even know where to begin with this one. I AM a creature of habit and would be lost without my routines. My husband and everyone else in my family always joke about my lists and rituals that I do....but I just see it as me. Don't know if I will comment any further about this one, because I could go on forever. There isn't enough room to list all my routines!

As The World Scraps said...

I am stuck in habit mode each day. At the starting of each day I must have my decaf coffee. Just the smell wakes me up and makes me smile. At the end of the day I must have my hot cocoa before bed. If I do not have my cocoa it seems like I am not as happy in the morning. - lol - psychological I know -