Acknowledging Default Behavior

This past Sunday, when I got in my car, Bluetooth-compatible with my iPhone, something happened. I recognized how my phone typically starts playing songs from my music library, even though I may want to play audio from another app. The car's audio system usually defaults to my music library.

This scenario got me thinking: "What are my default settings?"?

What behavior do you automatically do without thinking??

To be more specific, what behaviors do we default to when hungry, tired, or frustrated??

What good is it to go all day "eating healthy" or resisting sweets only to come home exhausted and succumb to the leftover piece of chocolate cake in the refrigerator and sabotage our fitness progress??

Or, give our work colleagues and clients our attention and patience and come home grumpy because it took so much energy out of us that we have little to give to our family??

The Answer: Monitor Your Energy?

What do your body and mind need right now??

It is like driving; you periodically check your fuel tank.?

What are the energy levels of your mind and body? You are the only one responsible for maintaining this. And there are zero awards for going nonstop all day.??

Throughout the day, ask yourself this question and have the self-discipline to listen and respond appropriately.?

What do your body and mind need right now?

It amazes me how I can see intelligent professionals in their 50's still not understanding this principle. Your willpower and energy are finite and must be replenished throughout the day, not at the end of the day.?

Case Study:?

Here is a fascinating article on how judges are more likely to grant prisoners parole early in the day or just after a break. However, when judges don't take breaks, they result in their "default behavior," which in this case is no parole.?

Taking breaks has shown to:?

• Improve mood?
• Make better decisions?
• Increase glucose levels in the body?

This can conflict with the belief that "taking breaks" is associated with being lazy. Instead of human beings, we have become human doings, where we are running nonstop.?

We must first confront this false belief if we are to permit ourselves to take a break.?

What do your body and mind need right now???

If we strive for optimum performance in our day, we must get better at listening to our needs and take the courage to act on the answer.?

by Eric Papp

Helping you accomplish what matters and be home for dinner