Grandpa’s Habits
"Habits are not a finish line to be crossed, they are a lifestyle to be lived." -James Clear
My grandfather recently turned 96 years old. I went to visit him at his home (yes, he still lives in his own home and I watched him during his morning workout. I made a few very clear observations. These realizations were so clear and so obvious, but so many of us find excuses and reasons to avoid the simplicity of our habits and routines (myself included).
Why do we do that to ourselves? We know habits help us in many ways. Creating good habits can help us manage our minds. When we have routines, it frees up brain power for other things. Habits we create today can shape the future of our tomorrow. And even beyond. Research shows that the “best way to bring about change in your life is by creating new routines and sticking to them until they become habits.” For more data-driven ways habits can impact your life, check out this article.
As for my grandpa, he has 96 years under his belt. A huge driver of his mental and physical stability and strength comes from the habits he has established for himself.
So what are grandpa’s habits and how does he maintain them?
He exercises EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
No excuses. He does leg lifts, arm weights, and stretches. He formed this habit as a young athlete, maintained it during active duty in WWII (where it became a matter of life and death), and never stopped. His exercise routine keeps his body healthy and strong which is essential to him as he continues to live in his own home.
He makes his bed EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Making his bed every day sets him up for a successful day. It establishes at the very start of a day his commitment to his habits. Does he nap? Yes. But he still makes his bed with care, consideration, and a sense of achievement.
He dresses as if he is heading into the office EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
At 96 years young, he does not leave his home often. That does not mean that he chooses to dress down for himself. He finds pride in feeling successful. That is POWERFUL. His clothes and dress make him feel a sense of pride.
He sticks to his routine.
He finds his best days are those when he is adequately rested and refreshed. He ends his day at 10 pm and begins his morning at 7 am EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. The consistency he brings to each day set him up for success. Mentally he frees up space by maintaining his habits.
Did you notice a pattern in Grandpa’s habits? He committed to each habit EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Not just when he felt like it or when it was convenient. He makes a conscious choice every day to maintain his habits.
This man has been a part of my life for more than 42 years. His habits are as strong, reliable, and true as anything I have ever seen. He is living proof that the choices you make today, and the habits you form, will impact you for years to come. They matter. They make a difference. Whether it is positive or negative is up to you.
Now if you aren’t sure where to start with identifying and implementing habits, I highly recommend “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. This book is very valuable and will walk you through all aspects of habits, from forming new ones to breaking bad ones, this book will cover it. It will also touch on your mindset and its approach to habits. It is a great resource to have.
Lastly, I will leave you with a few questions.
What habits are you forming? How are your current habits paving the way for your future?
There will come a time when your future self is going to look back and reflect. When that time comes, wouldn’t it be amazing to be in a place where you can stop and say “Thank you” to yourself for the choices you made today? You have the power to create the future you desire. It can start today. Your future depends on it.
Celebrating your success,
Krista Ryan