They are guidelines and may be modified for good cause by the monastic elders. Monastic habits shall be worn at all times by monks and novices while in public. The exceptions are for work at an outside job, or if you must frequent a location where your monastic habit would be unseemly and cause ridicule on your vocation. Monks may not spend nights alone away from the monastery. Traveling that necessitates overnight accommodations elsewhere should always occur by twos.
Monastic life is a life filled with structure and blessings.
When you meet each person, each day you should use the proper greeting and response. You should also use them on the phone. As you start your daily activities, and each individual task, you should ask a superior for a blessing to begin the task. This is not asking permission. This is an opportunity to have everything that you do, not only generally blessed, but specifically blessed by our Lord, through his Church.