4 Positive Military-Inspired Habits You Should Form

When you hear the word habit, what do you think of? Do bad habits like smoking, drinking, or snacking come to mind? Or are images of freshly made beds, a person going for a daily jog, or automatically transferring a portion of your check to a savings account conjured up? Habits can be positive or negative, but the commonality is that it is a settled or regular tendency or practice, one that is hard to give up or change. The length of time necessary to form a habit is up for debate; many people believe that habits form in 21 days, but researchers at University College in London found that, on average, a habit took 66 days to form. In the end, it doesn’t matter if it takes 21 or 66 days, the key takeaway from the research is that forming a positive habit or breaking a negative one takes patience and perseverance. I can’t think of many professions that have as many daily routines, or habits, as the Military. Our spouses’ days begin with habits (unit Physical Training) and end with habits (saluting the flag during Reveille). Instead of feeling constrained by these habits, we should embrace the positive aspects of a habitual lifestyle and utilize them to help us become more effective in our own lives. Gretchen Rubin is famous for her work in the study, and practice of, habits. One of my favorite quotes is: “What I do every day matters more than what I do once in a while” . This consistent approach to daily life resonates with me and reminds me of the 20 Mile March approach to accomplishing Big, Hairy Audacious Goals. When I began examining my own family’s habits, I was surprised at how many of them were formed and/or inspired by the Military! Here are my top 4 habits: 1. Start Your Day with PT Exercising is arguably one of the most IMPORTANT habits you can form. It releases endorphins that boost your mood and your energy levels, reduces levels of stress and improves overall wellness. The Army might be on to something by scheduling it’s required exercise first thing in the morning, because experts recommend scheduling your most important habits in the morning. I would recommend starting out your day, along with your soldier if possible, with some sort of exercise (PT in Army speak). For me, that means that most days I have to start my days at 4:31 each day. As painful as that number is, I find it is the only time that guarantees that I get my daily workout in . Not only is self-control the strongest in the morning, but most of my mornings begin in a predictable way. That precious predictability, and my desire to do 100 burpees, seems to evaporate with the morning dew. 2. Regularly Attend Advanced Schooling We have been fortunate enough to spend nearly four of our thirteen years in the Army in some sort of advanced schooling. For most Military branches and ranks, schooling and/or training is required before becoming eligible for the next promotion. This dedication to being a life-long learner is admirable and we as spouses should seek to expand our knowledge base alongside our servicemember. Incorporating reading, studying, or working on earning a specialized certification should become part of our daily battle rhythm. Reading not only helps you stay abreast of the world around you, but it stimulates your thought processes. When my oldest son was a baby, the lack of sleep that ensued led me to feel like I had zero thought processes. It wasn’t easy, but I forced myself to begin working on my Accredited Financial Counselor Certification. Even though I didn’t feel like studying during his nap time, I knew that continuing the habit of reading and learning was a critical step in my career. I was surprised that once I scheduled in the time to study (thankfully my husband was at the Captain’s Career Course so he was studying as well), I felt more refreshed and able to tackle the challenges of being a first-time mom. 3. T-6 Scheduling For all of it’s unpredictability, the Military does a great job of planning. They typically operate off a T-6 planning schedule, meaning that they layout the events occurring in the next six weeks in reverse order (reviewing week 6 first and ending with the current week last). This habitual planning and prioritizing is an INCREDIBLY powerful practice that we as Military Spouses should emulate. In order for me to get everything done in a given month, I need a serious plan of attack. I start by laying out a weekly and then daily plan - each of which focuses on scheduling in the highest priority tasks first (doctor’s appointments, conference calls, baseball practices, etc.). Once I have built them into the calendar, I then focus on adding in the smaller, less urgent items/events (Easter egg hunts, bouncy house visits, inputting travel receipts, etc.). Instituting a T-6 scheduling mindset may seem small change, but it is one that will drastically improve your effectiveness. 4. Salute There are few sights that are more heartwarming than seeing the entire post (including children playing in the front yard) stop whatever they are doing at 5:00, turn to face the American flag and salute while Reveille is played by the Bugler. This daily habit may not seem applicable to our lives as milspouses, but the practice of taking time out of every day to pay respects and show gratitude is extremely valuable. Our lives seem to get consumed with work and personal demands and it can be very difficult to remember to show gratitude. We as military spouses should also schedule in two to three minutes in each day to stop whatever we are doing and show gratitude for everything we are blessed with in our lives. When I started doing this, it felt forced, but as the days went on it became much more natural. I am continually surprised by how many doors open and how many new relationships are formed by simply taking the time to show sincere gratitude to those around me. Although I have no desire to join the Armed Forces myself, I am thankful for the opportunities it has provided for my family. I am also thankful for the routines, rituals, and habits that shape our daily life. I have found that by instituting the above-mentioned habits alongside my solider, my efficiency and effectiveness have increased significantly- both personally and professionally. And it's is fun to feel like I have a closer connection with my spouse who is often away doing those VERY SAME habits! Connect with us on Facebook!

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