As my wife and I help the last of our adult children step into responsible, independent lives, I’m reminded of this article I first published on 10 May 2019. I’ve revised it slightly.
My older son Damion graduates from college on Sunday. I’m sad to admit that I’m primarily relieved that I no longer have to write big tuition checks. These college years have been financially stressful! One graduate down, two more to go (in 2021 and 2022).
Still, I’m happy for my son, and deeply pleased with his accomplishment. I might even shed a tear on graduation day.
He made it through in four years with relatively light student-loan debt, no small feat these days. He hasn’t lined up a job yet, but he’s working on it. It will come. And then his adult life begins.
I remember when mine began — and how challenging I found the adjustment. I think many of us experience this. I’d run out of things to graduate from and had to find my way. It was bewildering.
So I aped what I saw my parents do: make routines and systems out of everything I could.
I organized my life around my job. It’s what my dad always did. He worked from 7 to 3:30 in the factory, and by God he made sure he was at work not just on time but early and ready to work hard. I didn’t have to be to work until 8, so I adjusted my timing accordingly, but otherwise I followed his pattern. I went to bed every night by 11 and rose at 6. I showered and dressed, and then went into the kitchen where I turned on the radio and made eggs and toast. I read the newspaper over breakfast until it was time to go. I got to my desk around 7:45. When I got home, I made a simple dinner and watched the nightly news. I did simple chores around the house or ran routine errands, and when that was done I watched TV until bedtime.
I set aside Thursday evening to go to the laundromat and afterward iron my dress shirts, and Monday evening to shop for groceries and supplies.
I adapted my mom’s system for not running out of items at home. Every week I put a fresh sticky note on a kitchen cabinet and another on the bathroom mirror. As I got close to running out an item I’d write it down on the nearest sticky note. Then on shopping day I’d transfer those items to my shopping list and set out fresh sticky notes. For critical items like toilet paper I always kept a spare. It cut way back on emergency trips to the store. Whenever I needed to use a spare, it went onto the nearest sticky note so I could get a new spare on my next shopping trip.
I paid my bills on Saturday morning. As they came in the mail I’d stack them on a table next to my desk. On Saturday I’d figure out which ones were due soonest and pay the ones I had money for. The rest went back onto the stack. I didn’t make very much money. but there was enough to pay for everything if I timed it all right.
Those were my normal routines and systems, but I could shift them around when adventure came my way. For a while I was on the air Thursday nights at my alma mater’s radio station. Sometimes a friend would call and want to go get a beer. Every now and again I had to work late. Sometimes I went away for the weekend. I kept enough margin that I could move laundry or shopping a night or two and be all right. I could even bump paying bills to Sunday night or Monday morning when needed.
My routines and systems provided structure and resiliency to my life. I always had clean clothes, so I never had to worry about what I was going to wear to work. I always had food in the house, so I never had to spend big money on a meal out (unless I wanted to) or go hungry. My bills were always paid, so nothing ever went past due and collection agencies never called.
My routines and systems removed needless stressors. I was able to focus on my job and enjoying my free time.
I still keep these routines and systems, except now shopping is Saturday after lunch laundry is Wednesday while I work from home. I still pay bills on Saturday, although there’s enough money now I just pay every bill every week. I still have enough slack in the plan that I can move things around a day or two without running out of underwear or finding nothing in the house for breakfast.
I suppose I come from a family that naturally builds routines and systems. I know not all people do. But I know everybody can build habits. With deliberate practice I think anyone can enjoy the lowered stress and increased effectiveness this brings.
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