While routines are beneficial, we tire of them when they become ruts or involve potentially harmful behaviors. If what you’re doing is not working, do something different.
I’ve found that there is something refreshing and energizing about breaking routine, enjoying the novelty of something different from the norm. Today I test drove a motorized scooter and enjoyed riding down the streets of Decatur, reminded of how empowering it can be to learn something new and travel down an unexplored path. One such activity can even have a snowball effect, allowing you to tap into even more of your ideas, innovation, and creativity.
I learned in graduate school that change tends to occur in bursts. One slight shift can interrupt what you’ve become accustomed to and remind you that change is possible. For instance, when a client is stuck in a cycle of bingeing and purging food, I encourage them to identify the steps that routinely occur in the cycle and try to shift something at any point, even just a little bit- to break the usual cycle. Under stress, we tend to return to what is familiar even if it is not beneficial, but we don’t have to. One small shift can lead to other small shifts, and eventually a significant shift. What step can you take today off of your routine path that may spark some changes for the better?
