Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS
Traditional knowledge of self-defense says you should be changing your schedule for your safety; but doesn’t it really help that much?
For years most of us in the self-defense world have been suggesting that you very your schedule and your routes all the time. As a practical matter, this can’t always be done.
I don’t know about you, but my boss wants me at work at a certain time every day. He is against me showing up on a changing schedule. It’s bad for his business.
I’ve also noticed that the more I’m on a schedule, the easier my life is. I don’t have to worry about what I’m doing next, because it is on my schedule so much that it has become a habit. I like having my schedule the same so I don’t have to look at my calendar all day every day to figure out what is going on.
Something else I noticed by going to the gym every day at 5 am, I know the people there and their vehicles.
By keeping a schedule I can be more aware of my surroundings. I can tell when someone new is or there is a car in the parking lot that shouldn’t be there.
Just like on my block, when I keep a schedule of places I go, people know me and I know the people that should be there. I know the feel of the place and what normal is.
Notice normal so that you can notice when something is out of place is half the premise of the book “Left of Bang” by Patrick Van Horne and Jason Riley. If you haven’t read it, you should.
The more you learn to notice normal it becomes like pulling into your driveway at home and noticing a car that shouldn’t be there. Once you get good at establishing the baseline (normal), things really do stick out that much.
So having a schedule can help you with that baseline in your everyday life and those places you visit.
A lifetime ago varying your schedule to increase your self-defense became common knowledge. We got it from the VIP protection people. When someone is out to get you specifically varying your schedule helps keep that person from setting an ambush on you.
Most of us don’t have someone out to get us specifically. Most common street crimes are crimes of opportunity or against another criminal for criminal reasons. So by not being a criminal we get rid of a lot of crime that could happen to us.
If there ever is a specific threat against you, most likely would be a divorce or custody battle, and sometimes revenge, then you should vary your schedule and pattern as much as possible. If you go to work every day there are only so many times you can show up and only so many ways to get there.
If you are like me and don’t have specific threats against me, I like to keep a schedule and it makes it easy to establish that baseline and live a good life.
Stay Safe,
Ben