In 1906 a man named Alfred Henry Lewis said, “There are only nine meals between mankind and anarchy.”
This highlights an essential part of humanity — the thread of habit and structure that needs only the slightest pull to unravel society.
Not many people realize how much they take the status quo for granted until it is changed. Something as small as switching seats in a classroom can disrupt the flow of a day.
The change nags at you all day, you notice every little bump that you would otherwise ignore.
It is as if the brain becomes primed to see the negative in every change. Having that precious order disrupted without consent is a recipe for disaster.
Take away nine meals and we turn on each other like dogs.
I understand the need to change things up once in a while, variety is the spice of life. Yet, aren’t we creatures of habit?
Think about your morning routine — subconsciously the same things happen in the same order day after day. Shower, brush your teeth, apply deodorant and so on.
Griffen Winget | Argonaut
Why is it that a stagnate morning routine is fine, but eating the same lunch or listening to the same five songs bothers us?
It is because humans desire order and spontaneity at the same time. This leads to conflicting ideals that can harm one’s mental state.
Order and spontaneity seem mutually exclusive when, in reality, they coexist quite well.
That is the point I want to drive home — you can live a life of habit and structure while interspersing impulsiveness.
Too often it seems like there is an imbalance that causes an abrupt shift to the opposite side. People stuck in habits make rash decisions in hopes of finding new meaning.
Impulsive people go too far and seek out the comfort of order and stability. They lose the luster of spontaneous decisions.
Both options are equally destructive, bad habits slowly wear you down like water on rock while impulsiveness can change your life in an instant.
What it comes down to is understanding when and what you should change.
Breaking a morning routine on a work day can cause more harm than good. However, doing something spur-of-the-moment on a morning off can make the day much more memorable.
Exercise is one of the best things to change. Doing the same workout every day can breed a dislike for the gym.
Switching up running for something atypical, like climbing or swimming, opens your mind and body up to new possibilities.
You start to break out of the common “eat, sleep, work” routine that so many people subscribe to.
It becomes apparent how many opportunities are available. That is when habit becomes invaluable. When you are stuck on a decision, go with what you know.
It is important to balance your life in all aspects, from eating healthy to going outside enough.
Too much of one and you begin to grow sick of the monotony.
Next time it feels like life is in a rut or out of control, look for the spicy or steadfast options — for balance is the key.
Griffen Winget can be reach at [email protected] or on twitter @GriffenW