Life Beyond the Norm

I did it again. I found myself sitting at my desk this morning without any real recollection of my journey to the office. I hate it that my morning drive has become such a habit that I do it without even thinking. There’s no telling how many small details I miss along the way.

Wait… when did the trees turn green? I must’ve missed that too.

It has been said that we, as humans, are creatures of habit. As much as I would like to fight against the stigma, there is evidence of many habits in my life. Here’s the part that troubles me the most: my habits are both good and bad. They are both conscious and subconscious. They can work for me and they can work against me. They can help build discipline in my life or they can contribute to my laziness. The issue is not whether habits actually exist… the issue is what I choose to do with them.

For example, the habit of procrastination keeps popping back up in my life, although I was certain that it magically disappeared when I was handed my college diploma. I was horribly wrong. It’s a hard habit to break. The worst part? It affects many other areas of my life. It proves that my time management skills aren’t up to par. It sheds light on the fact that I need to plan ahead instead of just planning for today.

I also have a bad habit of staying up late at night. I mean, I’m just getting going when the Friends reruns come on. I’m a complete night owl. But when I have to leave for work by 8 a.m., staying up until 2 a.m. the night before is not a good idea. It causes me to be tired during the day and my level of productivity decreases significantly.

What benefits do I gain from these bad habits? Absolutely none.

In Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul admonishes us to, “Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”

I would venture to say that these habits are exactly what Paul is talking about. How am I able to make the most of an opportunity if I waited until the last minute and I’m unprepared for the task at hand? How am I able to make the most of the opportunity to do my best work if I’m half-awake and running on a mere four cups of coffee?

I’ve made a conscious decision that, instead of allowing my habits to rule my life, it’s time that my life ruled my habits.

Although it’s been tough, I’ve sat down and planned out my detailed monthly calendar, and, most importantly, stuck with it. The urge to procrastinate and push things off until the last minute is there, but if I plan ahead, I am able to mentally deter myself from it. Through this process, I think something miraculous has happened… I think I just might have developed a habit of planning ahead. Amazing how that happens.

Instead of staying up late during the week, I’ve been hitting the sack at midnight. Most mornings, I wake up rested and ready for the day, with much more energy than usual. Since I’ve been in this habit, I’ve been more productive at the office and the days seem to go so much smoother. Not to mention the fact that I’ve got extra time in the morning to stop by my favorite Starbucks if I feel like it. Instead of driving to work in my normal daze, I roll down the windows and crank up the music. Never mind the crazy looks I get from other drivers.

Although these are small, subtle changes in my lifestyle, they are essential to making the most of each opportunity. Habits that were once disgraceful are being changed into routines that are worthwhile.

By making the conscious choice to use my habits for good, I am able to make the most of opportunities that would normally just pass me by.