Maybe you’ve gotten a bit too comfortable nest-building during the pandemic and are wondering how to break your routine. A quick trip can yield big results!
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when routine goes bad
I’ve written several posts on the benefits of developing a routine and how it can help us be more productive by providing structure to our days. And I’m sticking to that idea.
Read a few of the posts here:
Build Good Habits Through Daily Journaling
In addition to providing structure, routines are also very comforting. When things go haywire, we gain solace by knowing that at 5 pm we’re going to have a glass of wine and then we’re going for a walk before reading our favorite book after which we’ll tuck ourselves into our just-right comfy bed with our weighted blanket and fluffy down pillows. Knowing what we’re going to do when brings a sense of power.
We may not be able to control what’s happening in the world, but we CAN control our routine!
And this past year has given us all plenty of opportunity to develop routines, right? With limited travel and social interaction, we’ve been able to spend loads of time arranging things just as we like them. For enduring the confusion, doubt and fear of the pandemic, we’ve rewarded ourselves with comfort in an attempt to create order in a world that seems increasingly out of control.
so what’s the problem with having a routine?
I’ve always considered myself a spur of the moment person — ready for an adventure at the drop of a hat. This year, though… Well, it’s shown me that even a proudly impulsive person can become a creature of habit given the right (cushy) environment.
I mean, I really LIKE getting up at the same time and going through my routine from drinking lemon water and writing morning pages, then on to coffee with David and working on the blog. And I love my ridiculously plush down comforter and perfectly plump pillows. Months and months of doing the same things at the same times have helped me get better at them and to get more done. So what’s the problem?
The problem for me came when I realized that I was getting nervous about an upcoming trip. In the past I would’ve been ecstatic — after all, traveling is what I love to do! After a year of staying home, why was I feeling so hesitant? It was when I considered packing a box of the tea-I-now-drink-EVERY-NIGHT (and order in bulk) that I realized I had to make a change. I had become so comfortable, so reliant on my routine that I was thinking I couldn’t function without it. I was actually feeling fear and the dreaded “oh, it would just be easier to just stay home” feeling. Time to break out!
what i’ve done to break out of my routine
Traveling is a super easy way to break your routine. In fact, it’s kind of adapt or die! This college-touring trip to the Northeast with my daughter has been just the ticket to help me break out of my routine. Here are a few things I’ve done:
- Rented a car through Turo (a peer to peer program) instead of using a national chain. So far this has been a great experience, and I loved getting to meet the car owner (aka a new friend) as soon as we arrived in Boston.
- Chose an inn rather than an Airbnb or hotel. This doesn’t seem like much, I know, but I’ve become so reliant on Airbnb that it was something (for me) to break out of the routine. And golly, I’m so glad I did! If you’re in Boston be sure to check out the super charming Longwood Inn.
- Dropped my bag and went walking! This is my absolutely favorite thing to do when traveling — to set out, turning right or left, following my instincts and my eyes (and sometimes my nose if there’s a bakery in the area!). Hoping, hoping that I’ll stumble upon a public park where I can sit on a bench in the sun and people-watch. It’s always an adventure!
- Bought some groceries at a Trader Joe’s that was on my route. Since the inn has a full kitchen, I wanted to pick up a few things to make my schedule more flexible (and, yes, to save a few dollars!) I bought: a different brand of coffee, a bag of oranges, a baguette and Boursin cheese, sparkling water, a small container of milk and some herbal tea (NOT the kind I normally drink 😉 Since coffee is a vital part of my home routine, I’ve chosen on the trip to drink tea for breakfast and coffee in the afternoon. Radical, I know, but we’re going for small wins here!
- Left 3 nights of our trip open — as in, with no hotel bookings. The way I figure it, not being blocked in to a certain city at a certain time allows us the flexibility to go where the wind blows us. Truthfully, it will probably blow us on the expected route, but you never know!
Even a short weekend trip can take you out of your comfort zone and help you break routine. Plan the basic structure of the trip, yes, but try to leave time open for spontaneity. Being open to change and chance is vitally important for our mental and emotional health so why not slow down, poke around, see what you see? Maybe you’ll even discover some new ideas that you want to incorporate into your routine when you get back home!