You spend your life doing things. Some of the things you do make themselves happen, and some don’t.

Sweeping the floor, even if you don’t love doing it, will eventually make itself happen, because you’ll get annoyed by walking through filth every day.

Same with things like getting groceries, sleeping, taking out the garbage, and getting dressed. Whether or not you’re excited to do these things, not doing them quickly becomes intolerable, so they get done.

Certain activities also make themselves happen out of habit more than necessity, such as flipping on the TV, slipping out your phone, or checking email. The mind and body are primed to do these things without conscious effort.

We can call all of these self-triggering actions default activities. You’ll do them unless you try not to, because they’re the actions the current conditions of your life drive you to do. You’re not going to let the years slip by without ever getting around to buying groceries or tying your shoes.