The Value of Monotony
One common trait we all share as humans is physical deterioration. Whether accelerated by activity or simply by the speed of time, the human body requires constant maintenance. It is throughout these periods of personal rehabilitation where the value of monotony is put to the test. Physical ailments can lead to mental ones and vice versa. This potentially vicious cycle can be caused by any number of variables that the rehabilitation process presents. The way to combat these dark periods is communication and consistency. It takes time and participation to realize the potential benefits of any input and therein lies the Value of Monotonous activities. The ability to walk into new situations that will inevitably require failure as a path to success, also requires engagement with the routine of monotony to understand where our weaknesses lie.
Monotony is defined as tedious repetition of a given routine, and no one is immune to the potentially negative impacts that a monotonous routine may present.
Why is this framework of activity seen as only mundane? Why do so many people struggle to deal with the inevitable? Why isn’t failure seen as a more valuable component to success? Monotony is a valuable work and education tool that requires an open perspective on learning something new.
The value of monotony can be incredible when you approach it as a marker of consistency as well as a stepping stone to forward progress. Any amount of success is predicated on encountering new information, evaluating the value of the information, and applying these new variables to a routine. This is why when we step away from our routines, we see that our lives are small periods of monotonous activities with little adjustments from time to time, very much like the game of Baseball. Baseball is a game of adjustments, and the amount of work that goes into becoming a better player never stops. Baseball players develop routines from the time they begin playing. These routines typically begin by emulating others’ and slowly develops into its own unique cycle of preparation. Like many other challenges in life, excelling in baseball often requires long periods of monotonous activities. Whether refining one’s swing, strength, footwork, glovework, etc. repetition is the filter activity of positive progress. I accumulated years of valuable growth as a player through the surgery rehabs I required to stay on the field. The first surgery I had that truly gave me an opportunity to learn this lesson was UCL Reconstruction(Tommy John). My PT during this rehab truly helped me understand the value of getting better incrementally by always monitoring small periods of monotonous activity with an insightful eye on your goal.
The tools that can help us succeed can absolutely be destructive when applied incorrectly. Monotony is not only a valuable tool, but an enormous part of reality. Understanding the value of repetition can only provide the opportunity to use it as a valuable tool.
