Hell's Bells

Routines By The Bells

I made mention in a Tweet the other day about an email going at at 4 bells, or 0600 in the morning. Huh? Bells? 

Bells are a still relevant and useful way of marking time on Naval ships. It marks the passing of watches and duty cycles without the need to wear a watch (sorry Chris Johnson) or stopping to look up at a clock. Read more about navy ship bells here if you're interested...Ship's Bells Time

Most importantly, ship's bells mark the passing of the ship's routine.

Routine is the first thing one learns in the Navy, or any branch of the military for that matter. The military institution is a machine, pure and simple and machines run best on routine. Routine makes for a disciplined Sailor, we were told and a disciplined Sailor is an effective fighting Sailor. 

Furthermore, a whole crew of disciplined Sailors makes for a better fighting ship or aircraft and in the Navy, you fight with the ship or aircraft, often relying on the precise, synchronized movements and actions of an entire crew of te, twenty, hundreds and thousands, in the case of an aircraft carrier.

But back to routine. Routine is first learned with the never changing time of reville, or the time to awaken, rise  and start the day. From there, every single moment, at least in your boot camp life, is regulated to the minute. Never changing, barring some shifts in operational requirements, but for the most part, even your poop times become a precise routine. (Thus, the infamous shit on command trick)

You eat to a schedule, you march to a schedule, you learn, clean, sleep and fight to a schedule. It does instill discipline, even if by force. But in the end, it ingrains things into your mind that become automatic.

How does this apply to everyday life as a civilian? Well, the same way. You see, the more you follow a routine, the easier it is to follow and the chances of you departing from that routine become narrower the longer you do it. It will almost feel uncomfortable when the routine changes or can't be met. 

Now, how you respond to that also is a learnable trait and only increases your skill stack of being an efficient time manager. After all, that all a routine is. Just time management overspread with habit formation. 

Learn to wake at the same time, work out at the same time, keep your keys, wallet and phone in the same place and follow a routine every morning the exact same way. It will reduce stress and allow you to simply be present, without that nagging feeling that you're missing something.

Until next time

Semper Fortis

Chief Chuck