Military Routines Every Civilian Should Do

Simplifying your life and creating a routine can help you accomplish goals and get more done, which is something we could all benefit from. Well, it is no secret that the marine corps has special tips that can make your everyday tasks go by quicker. The military is known for being strict, but they also produce some of the best workers out there. Those who are in the military have their routine down to a science, and there are some military routines every civilian should do. Make your civilian life easier by following the simple tricks that the military uses on a daily basis.

Don't commit if you're not ready.

The first lesson that those in military service learn is that you have to stay committed. Signing up to go into the military is a big decision, and once those papers are signed, you are legally obligated to follow through with them. From the beginning, Marines know that they have to be committed and follow through on their word. This is just as important in daily life, because commitment is something that a lot of people struggle with. If you find yourself unsure whether or not you can get something done, don’t commit to it. Your word holds a lot more weight if you always follow through with the things that you say. Learn from the marines and decide that you are only going to commit when you are ready.

Use military time.

The rest of the civilian world and the military read time in a 24-hour block, rather than the two 12-hour blocks. It may be confusing at first, but military time is actually really easy to use. Any hour after 12:00 PM just adds one number. It’s perfect for those who may work with a large group of people, because it can prevent confusion from happening. If something is happening at 10:00 PM, you can tell everyone that it will be happening at 22 hundred hours. The military uses this time because there is always someone working at all hours. Especially in the air force, it’s important to know when the planes are arriving, and 1:00 is too confusing when it could easily just be 13:00 in the afternoon.

Learn the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Military service requires a lot of talking on phones and other devices that may not come through as clear as they do when you are using your iPhone. To prevent any misunderstandings or confusion, when military spells out anything, they use the NATO phonetic alphabet. This doesn’t take a long time to learn, and it’s useful in many different settings. It uses things like “A” as in “Alfa” and “P” as in “Papa.” Having a set phonetic alphabet helps prevent people from saying something like, “P as in pneumonia.” The NATO phonetic alphabet is the most widely used alphabet over radiotelephone.

Get moving in the morning.

Whenever you see the military depicted, they are always waking up at the crack of dawn and running laps. While this might seem like some clever used in the best military training movies you could watch, it is actually something that occurs during military training. This is one of the most important military routines every civilian should do. Most of us are used to rolling out of bed in the morning and lazily getting ready for our day. While this might seem relaxing, it actually hurts our chances of having a healthy and productive day. Exercising right when you get up improves your mental awareness, which in turn will help you to get more things checked off of your list. It doesn’t have to be anything big, and even 100 jumping jacks can do the job. Serving in the military is no piece of cake, and neither is this routine, but you will greatly benefit from it if you stick with it.

Have some caffeine.

Surprised? One thing most do when they leave the military is keep this routine in check. Caffeine might sound like it is bad for you, but from the many studies that they have done, caffeine is the best way to stay up without any adverse side effects. That being said, you shouldn’t down caffeine every morning and expect it to work. If you really want the caffeine kick, lay off of it for a day before you need it to work. This will help the effect be greater, and you’ll actually get the stimulant to help you. The military uses caffeine gum, but a glass of coffee will do the same thing to you.

Learn battle rhythm.

Don’t worry; you aren’t going to learn how to go into battle. While that’s certainly a skill marines learn, battle rhythm is not what it may sound like. Battle rhythm means that you are writing out your goals for the day and establishing steps you need to do to accomplish those goals. The military is all about lists, and daily goals are something that they always do. For example, if you need to wash your car before work, you would need to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier. These are steps you could list on your battle rhythm goal list. Doing this every day will help you to set a routine and get more productive with your life.

Go to sleep.

Everyone knows that you need to be getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night as an adult, but it’s not always possible. With those in the military, the stress is high and they may have trouble sleeping. However, you have to know how to shut your brain off. If you are having trouble sleeping, learn how to wind down and get to bed. Some people are going to count sheep, but others may need to work out and tire themselves out. Whatever it is that you need to get to sleep, make sure to do it. There’s nothing more important than getting sleep for your body.

Don't skip getting ready.

Those days that you stay in sweats and don’t brush your hair might be fun, but they aren’t very productive. Even just brushing your teeth can make you more productive in the mornings. This is especially important if you work from home or at a workplace that doesn’t require formal clothes to be worn. Navy Seals, other military members, and students at the best military schools in the US are always dressed in their work clothes whenever they need to be doing something productive. It helps to boost your morale, and when you look your best, you’re going to work your best.

Use your skills.

There are different branches in the military, and not everyone is cut out for each position. When military training starts, they look at each person’s skills and find what is going to be the best position for them while serving in the military. Utilizing your skills is something that everyone can benefit to learn from military members. A person can’t be successful at something they have no skills in, so find out your skills and put them to use. You’ll find that you’re not only more productive, but the job will come easier for you as well.

Play catch up.

Getting sleep each night is incredibly important, but it’s not always possible when in the military. They found that with studies, if a person skips sleep a few nights and then sleeps for around 16 hours straight, they can catch up on their sleep that way. While it might not be ideal, it’s something that can help when there have been a few nights of too little sleep.

Exercise daily.

When in the military, you are exercising every day to keep up your stamina and keep in shape. This is one of the best things you can do for your body and your mind, and definitely one of the things to consider when training for any tactical fitness goal. When you work out, you get a lot of relief from stress. It helps to energize your body and also releases endorphins that make you happier. A healthier body leads to a healthier mind, and that’s especially important in both military and civilian life.

The military is strict and tough, but these amazing military routines every civilian should do aren’t too hard to incorporate into your everyday life. They work to make you more productive and regular, whether you are saving lives or sitting at a desk.