Shake Up Your Routine

Get up. Eat Breakfast. Change into work clothes. Take the bus to work. See the same people on the bus. Go to work. Take the bus home. See the same people on the bus again. Eat dinner. Wash dishes. Relax. Go to bed. Repeat four more times before the weekend. This routine is a reality for many people with a regular 9-5 job. Although there is comfort in consistency, too much of it can be soul-wrenching and dull.

When your days start blurring together and you can’t distinguish one day from the next, you are in a rut. You need to shake things up in your life and change your routine. When you are in a rut, you probably feel bored, tired and unmotivated. Your everyday tasks are accomplished, but you get little satisfaction from them and often don’t even remember doing them.

So how exactly can you vary your days when you are stuck at a 9-5 job? There are many small things that we all can do to add spice to each day. By introducing small changes in your schedule, you will begin to look at things differently, feel more invigorated and refreshed. While most of us need to work for a living, it doesn’t mean we have to become drones.

Get more sleep

Studies show that people who are well-rested not only are more efficient at work, but also enjoy their jobs more. Start by going to bed a half hour earlier and work in small increments until you reach your desired hours of sleep.

Take a different route to work

If you drive, walk or bike to work, take a different path to work. By taking the same route to work every day, your eyes and mind become accustomed to your surroundings and can be less alert. People often get in car accidents not on unfamiliar roads, but rather on the roads closest to home. If you take some form of public transit, try taking an earlier route and get off at a different stop than you normally do.

Try something different for lunch

We all have our favourite spots we frequent for lunch, or pack the same sandwich if we are brown-baggers. Try that new food joint you’ve been eying. Pack a salad instead of a sandwich. Invite a friend you don’t normally see to meet you for a lunch date. And if possible, take a brisk walk for a few minutes to clear up your morning cobwebs.

Take the night off

If you cook dinner every night, try cooking enough for two meals so you can relax at night. Or better yet, try a new restaurant or get take out.

Get a new look

Often people’s appearances reflect their inner self. I’ve often marveled at how some people have clung onto the past with dated fashion and hairstyles. If you have been sporting the same ‘do for more than 5 years, perhaps it is time for a change. Unless the clothes you are wearing are timeless (such as a black pea coat or white t-shirt), clean out your closet to get rid of items you have not worn in a year or more. Invest in a few basic pieces and update your wardrobe with new shoes and accessories. A fresh look can help put some spring in your step.

Clean your work area

De-cluttering and re-organizing your desk or work area can do wonders for your concentration and productivity. File away items that have already been addressed; toss items that have outlived their usefulness. A clean work area will provide a much-needed boost to your regular routine.

Re-arrange furniture in your home

Sometimes all it takes is a different furniture layout in a room to make it seem brand new again. This is also a good time to spruce up those things that need repairing. Make a conscious effort to only fill your home with the people and things that you love.

Try a new activity

Sign up for that yoga class you’ve always been talking about. Start a new book club. Enroll in dancing lessons. Trying something new gives you something to look forward to and is a great chance to meet new people and get inspired about life.

Do a self-inventory

Are you spending a lot of time doing unnecessary tasks? Are you setting aside meaningful activities such as spending more time with family and friends for things that aren’t important to you? Are you unhappy at your current job? If you answered yes to these questions, it may be time to consider making some life changes.

“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.”
~Anais Nin, author