In my previous posts, I have discussed the importance of autonomy in creating a happy, healthy, and purpose-driven life. Today, I want to delve deeper into the distinction between “autonomy” and “freedom” as it is often perceived in America. First, I want to talk about the difference in the definitions of the words “autonomy” and “freedom,” and then let’s talk about a practical way that I have used to try to create more autonomy in my everyday life despite the challenges of being able to make autonomous decisions in today’s world.
Autonomy Vs. Freedom
Autonomy is the ability to make decisions that align with your values and goals, ensuring that your actions reflect your true intentions and desires. It involves a sense of control over your life, enabling you to act in ways that are beneficial for yourself and your community. This concept of autonomy emphasizes consistent, deliberate actions that support personal and collective well-being.
Below is a clip from my last blog post, “Power and Autonomy: How to Create Happy and Healthy Lives,” with the definition of autonomy:
“Autonomy” is used to describe:
- Personal Autonomy: The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.
- Collective Autonomy: The ability of a group to govern itself and make decisions collectively.
- Institutional Autonomy: The independence of institutions from external control, often used in academic or political contexts.
Freedom, as frequently used in America, often refers to the absence of constraints and the ability to do whatever one wants. However, this notion of freedom can be misleading if it does not include true autonomy over one’s actions and daily life. Without autonomy, so-called “freedom” can be superficial and unfulfilling.
The Erosion of Autonomy
Many factors erode true autonomy for individuals in America and around the world:
- Media Influence: Media, owned by powerful entities focused on profit and power, heavily influences societal values and decisions. This often results in a lack of genuine autonomy as people’s choices are manipulated by external forces rather than their own informed values. The devaluation of education and purposeful miseducation in our society also keep people from making their most informed choices.
- Violence and Threat: The glorification and execution of violence, especially against marginalized communities, further diminish autonomy. The constant threat or experience of violence disrupts the ability to make free and deliberate choices, as fear and survival take precedence over personal growth and societal contribution.
- Economic Constraints: Living in poverty while generating profits for governments and organizations restricts autonomy. When basic survival is a struggle, the capacity to make autonomous decisions about one’s life is severely limited. This economic oppression impacts the health of communities even further.
This list barely scratches the surface of the methods used by governments to undermine true autonomy and maintain control over communities. For deeper insights, research the Trail of Tears, slavery, the prison industrial complex, the introduction of drugs into communities and then creating a “war on drugs,” redlining, and other admitted governmental and corporate-driven actions. These are just a few of the historical and ongoing tactics that consistently strip away autonomy from individuals and communities. All performed while under the guise of protecting “Freedom.”
Rethinking Freedom
Can freedom exist without autonomy? When freedom is defined without considering autonomy, it loses its true essence. Real freedom must include the ability to make autonomous decisions free from undue external influence, violence, and economic constraints. This redefined freedom emphasizes well-being and integrity for individuals and communities, ensuring that decisions benefit all of us rather than just a powerful few.
Bridging Theory and Practice
To bridge the theoretical understanding of autonomy and the practical aspects of our daily lives, we need tools that empower us to make consistent, value-driven decisions. One such tool is the weekly schedule. This schedule helps us carve out time for activities that align with our values and goals, allowing us to build habits and routines that foster autonomy. By structuring our week, we gain clarity and a little more control over our actions, reducing the influence of external pressures and increasing our capacity to act with integrity and purpose.
I find this to be a helpful tool; however, it doesn’t change the material circumstances around me. The following section explains more about a tool that helps me navigate the challenges of living in a society where making true autonomous decisions requires overcoming many different obstacles.
The Power of a Weekly Schedule: Your Key to Building New Habits and Routines
In our journey to build a life filled with purpose and autonomy, scheduling plays a pivotal role. While creating yearly, quarterly, and monthly calendars is certainly beneficial, the weekly schedule stands out as the most practical and impactful tool for habit formation and routine adjustments. Here’s why focusing on a weekly calendar can transform how you manage your time and align your actions with your values.
Why a Weekly Schedule?
- Manageable Time Frame: A week is short enough to give a clear perspective on how much time you have and how to allocate it. Unlike yearly or monthly plans that can feel overwhelming, a weekly schedule helps you make more accurate decisions about your time.
- Consistent Progress: Weekly planning allows you to take consistent, small steps toward your larger goals. By breaking down your actions into weekly increments, you can ensure that your daily activities align with your long-term values and objectives.
- Flexibility and Adjustment: Life is dynamic, and plans often need adjustments. A weekly schedule provides the flexibility to adapt to changes without feeling like you’re deviating from your path. It’s easier to tweak a weekly plan than to overhaul a yearly or monthly schedule.
- Routine Formation: Habits are formed through repetition and consistency. By planning your week, you can establish and reinforce routines that support your goals. Whether it’s allocating time for exercise, learning, social connections, or chores, a weekly schedule helps you integrate these activities seamlessly into your life.
Structuring Your Week
A typical week includes a mix of work, rest, movement, learning, social interactions, and maintenance tasks. Here’s how you can structure your week to balance these elements effectively:
- Work: When possible, Allocate 40-50 hours for work, depending on your job requirements. Use this time to focus on financial goals and tasks.
- Rest and Recovery: Ensure you schedule time for rest and relaxation. This might include sleep, downtime, and activities that rejuvenate you.
- Physical Activity: Incorporate regular movement into your week. This could be a daily exercise, walks, or any physical activity that keeps you mentally and physically ready to make good decisions.
- Learning and Development: Dedicate time to personal growth by immersing yourself in topics as if you were in a structured educational environment. Engage in focused sessions of critical thought, write papers, take exams, and broaden your understanding of the world.
- Social Connections: Plan time to connect with others in your community. These interactions are vital for emotional well-being and building a supportive community, which is essential for fostering autonomy in our lives.
- Maintenance Tasks: Don’t forget the chores and errands. Dedicate specific times for tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, and household maintenance.
The One-Hour Planning Ritual
To make the most of your weekly schedule, dedicate one hour each week to plan. Here’s a simple approach:
- Reflect: Look back at the past week. What worked well? What didn’t? Use these insights to inform your planning.
- Prioritize: Identify your top priorities for the upcoming week. Align these with your long-term goals and values.
- Allocate Time: Block out time for work, rest, movement, learning, social connections, and maintenance tasks. Be realistic about how much time each activity requires.
- Review and Adjust: At the end of the week, review your schedule. Adjust as necessary for the following week based on what you learned.
By using a weekly schedule, you simplify decision-making and reduce the pressure to make perfect choices in the moment. This method allows you to follow a well-thought-out plan, ensuring that your actions are consistently aligned with your values and goals.
Conclusion
Creating more autonomy in a culture and society that constantly undermines your ability to make autonomous choices is undeniably challenging. True freedom cannot exist without genuine autonomy. Autonomy must be a fundamental part of our definition of freedom, prompting us to rethink what we are truly fighting for when we seek “freedom,” as defined by institutions that often work to strip us of our autonomy.
The weekly schedule is a powerful tactic to help us gain more autonomy, become better informed, and make more informed choices. By structuring our weeks thoughtfully, we can ensure that we are in our best mental and physical health, enabling us to make the best autonomous decisions for ourselves and our communities. Together, we can strive to build systems and procedures that benefit us all, creating a society where true autonomy is cherished and upheld.
As we continue to bear witness to various atrocities around the world, take a minute to donate what you can and spread the word to help those being harmed. You can start here: Urgent Evacuation-Journalist Ahmad Ghanim & Family
