If youâre anything like me, you love the comfort of routine: visiting the same coffee shop every morning, driving the same stretch of road to work, putting on the same jacket when you step out the door.
But sometimes, without even realizing it, you can get too attached to the process, and the motions get too stale.
Disclaimer: Iâm not unhappy with my daily habits, but sometimes, they get mechanical.
This month, I tried out a few new patterns and little changes to my days: taking a different street to the same grocery store, going for a run in the evening instead of the morning, parking in a different parking spot than normal when I go places (everyone has âtheirâ parking spot, right?). These kinds of changes can throw you off balance, but I think thatâs the cool part! I wanted to alter my perspective and consciously feel and choose what Iâm doing instead of walking through the motions.
Here are some of the things that happened.
I started off with taking a different route to work some days. Along the way, I saw different wildlife (a blue heron and a falcon, for example). I saw different people doing different activities. I had to think about where I was going (success!).
Another little, but refreshing change I made was adding fresh fruit to my water bottle. Itâs reviving and awakening. It reminds you that youâre here, right now, drinking water, bringing your mind back to the present. I highly recommend strawberries and lemons to start.
A third change I made to my daily routine was learning and practicing a musical instrument, the mandolin. I had never committed to learning an instrument before, but itâs already been worth the change. Not only is it difficult, but it completely removes you from where you are. They say you can learn anything in 15 minutes a day, and you never know how learning something new can inspire the other moments of your life.
One time I went totally astray of my comfort zone. I was craving Chipotle, but mostly just the fajita veggies topping. I donât know if youâve had them, but theyâre the apex of grilled bell peppers. âI know this is a weird request,â I meekly prefaced while ordering, âbut can I have a bowl of only fajita veggies?â Not only was the staff unfazed (that was a little disappointing), but they gave me the whole bowl of veggies for free (not disappointing). And all because I veered away from the ordinary.
Finally, I also realized that reworking my routine doesnât need to be all about me. Itâs just as important to think outside the box or self. Buy someone flowers. Smile at a stranger. Tell someone something you like about them.
I will probably drift back to my normal routine. But I love how doing the same things in a different way can show you another angle, another part of the 360 degrees of your life.
