Being Alert and Being Aware
Awareness is ongoing — I think it has to be. Alertness — is more temporary. It’s not sustainable. It requires more energy because it is heightened.
Being alert drains you. Being aware sustains you.
But — as with anything — it’s personal. I’m aware I need to eat better and exercise more. But if I’m alerted to that — either by my doctor or by some form of medical condition — I’m going to take action faster. But if it’s going to be sustainable, then I have to leverage that alertness into ongoing awareness.
Being alerted to something is the trigger. Maintaining awareness is the constant.
That’s why I don’t think the idea of making productivity built around making everything urgent is a wise move. It’s just not sustainable. If you do this then you also run the risk of making haphazard decisions — taking action for action’s sake instead of being more mindful with your actions.
I’m aware that I have my phone in my pocket because I have built the habit of bringing it with me everywhere I go. I’m alerted to the phone being in my pocket whenever it gives me some form of notification that I have allowed it to deliver.
There’s a distinction there and I think it’s an important one. I think that alertness and awareness work well and serve you… once you understand that distinction.
I hope this piece of writing has alerted you to that distinction so that you can become more aware of it going forward.
