Questioning Blanket Societal Prescriptions ??
Lately, I've been pondering how most people don't tend to question blanket prescriptions that society, family, and corporations place on them.
Here are a few that come top of mind (and my corresponding opinions):
- A 40-hour workweek is not best for every single job or industry
- 8 hours of sleep is not best for every person
- Traditional 9-5 jobs are not best for everyone
- College is not for everyone
- Caffeine is not for everyone
- 8 cups of water per day is not enough to keep every person hydrated
- Get married, have kids, and buy a house before age 30
- Doing the usual "10 reps per workout" is not enough for every person
Why not?
We are all composed genetically differently.
We all have different life factors that play significant roles in our lives.
We all have different goals and definitions for "success"
The next time you're handed with a blanket prescription or you find yourself doing something simply because "that's how everyone does it", I encourage you to take a moment to question it.
Do some research.
Analyze yourself over time. Take notes on how your body reacts to things.
Measure how much sleep you really need (while keeping things in your life constant).
Question the type of work that energizes you most. Also, the work that drains you most.
Measure (in mg) how much caffeine you need on a daily basis (or to omit entirely.)
Over time, this questioning will come habitual and you will become more intentional with different areas of your life (vs living like a robot and just doing as we're told). This will result in more energy, drive, and excitement every day.
Optimize your life for yourself, your commitments, and your priorities.
This is the exercise that I walk my readers through in the first chapter of my book "Self-concept". In order to be highly successful at anything, it's crucial to begin with really understanding yourself, then molding your life to help you achieve the things that you want most.
Director Of Communications at Facebook AI
4 å¹´What do you eat
Project Engineer Sr at Lockheed Martin | STEM Advocate
4 å¹´This is awesome, encouraging others to explore what works for them individually! Knowing ourselves is key ?
Executive Director at Family & Children's Counseling Services, Inc.
4 å¹´You are preaching to the choir. So true, one size does not fit all. Question everything. Think for yourself. (Not common these days.)
Community Manager
4 å¹´Always question everything. Never accept anything blindly, like religion.
Video Producer, Creative Director, Content Strategist, and Holistic Development Promoter
4 å¹´There is a general blueprint that works, but does it bring fulfillment and satisfaction? I can personally say with my own experience, that what you wrote was very accurate in my case. Minus the caffeine lol.