Friday 15 October 2010

Renovate Your life: Rewiring Your System



Dearest Devotees,

Oh the ever present rut (and the constant battle to avoid said grueling rut)! Some of you have joined me in this life renovation project because you have the desire to reignite the internal fire that is your zeal for life, a fire that has been snuffed out by the dull stress of your daily routine. If that is the case, then this post is definitely for you.

Over the past couple of months I've noticed just how important it is to "rewire your system" by changing up your routine and doing something out of the ordinary every once in a while. It stops you from becoming to focused on the little grievances you have to endure in the course of your day, and helps you step back and see that there is so much more to life. Personally, it also gives me something to look forward to in a week, because even though I am now spending a lot more time doing creative work that I love, I've realized that it can quickly become boring if it is all that I do. Also doing things you don't normally do opens your eyes to new things and these things could inspire you.

You could easily rewire your system by doing any of the following:

1. Change up your morning routine:

Include things you would make you want to wake up in the morning. For me that involves me making my routine look this:

  • Wake-up and stretch
  • Pray
  • Meditate and/or do Yoga
  • Blast "Waking up playlist" while checking emails and plan for the day.
  • Cancel one thing from my to-do list (preferably something that would make my day too hectic)
  • Choose to do 1 thing from my wild card list (something random and cool that would make me really excited to do in that day)
  • Bathe, dress, eat healthy breakfast and leave for the day.

2. Make a date to face a fear and keep it:

Take a trampolining class if you're afraid of heights. Take a swimming/diving class if you are afraid of water. Do karaoke if you are afraid of the stage. Facing yours fear builds self-esteem and reinforces the idea that you are capable of doing much more than you give yourself credit for.

3.Change your personal style. Radically:

Are you a pretty conservative dresser? Embrace your quirky side. If you were previously a pretty expressive dresser try out a more minimalistic approach to your style. It's not so much what style you try in as much as it is the excitement of the change. Changing your style could influence you to change your lifestyle as well as your perception of self. By dressing more conservatively you might begin to see your self as more levelheaded and responsible or by dressing more originally you might begin to see yourself as more creative. Changing your personal style could lead you to know more about yourself.

4.Plan a weekend getaway:

Block out a weekend to get away from your usual place of residence and don't let anything stop you from going. Plan your schedule as best as you can around this time, and try to accomplish enough things beforehand so that you can go away with as few worries as possible. You don't have to go anywhere truly exciting. Sometimes being in the same place for a long time is enough to make us feel bland. A weekend away, spent with family, friends or even on your own should cure you of your bland feeling and get you seeing things in a new light.

5. Go to the park, playground, library or movies spontaneously:

Some day, after a particularly hard day of class/ work, wind down afterwards by visiting the park or seeing a movie. Or get together with a small group of friends and go to your neighborhood playground after dark. Honestly who says your childhood is gone?

6.Go on an artist date:

Do something to enrich your artistic soul like going to a photography gallery or a nearby art museum. See if you can find free viewings or special student or member discount rates if you are still in school. Especially if you a student interested in the arts, this is the best time to explore everything because of the amazing student discount rates.

7. Redecorate your inspiration board:

Set out an afternoon to update your inspiration board and include things that inspire you now and goals that you are working towards today. Having these things somewhere you can see them regularly, enables them to become embedded in your subconscious and helps you to begin to work towards them.

8. Recreate your schedule:

If you are anything like me, the best way to remember to do something you find important, be it exercise, studying, attending classes/work, or hanging out with friends is to make it an actual part of your schedule. When I decided I wanted to make exercise a priority I signed myself up for dance classes and put them in my schedule. I have been dancing every week for the past 6 months. I used to only put classes and other "official" activities on my schedule but by including other parts of my life in my schedule I've given them more importance and as a result of this, I am closer to becoming the well-rounded person I want to be.

I hope these ideas help you inject more fun into your days.

Love you all and Stay inspired,



P.S. So let me know what you think. How do avoid the dreadful " rut" ? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.

7 comments:

Dr. Cheryl Carvajal said...

Food helps fix the rut for me. Trying out a new dinner--or even some food I've never had, like Greek yogurt or some funky cheese, makes my life just a little different.

I find I am always fine-tuning my schedule, though, paring down what stresses me out and trying to make time for what I love.

Kathryn said...

I love these ideas, and about your Criminal Minds comment, if Reid ever left the show, I would not watch. I love him!!

Anonymous said...

I would really appreciate telling us what's on this Morning playlist of yours and what these 'Wildcards' are - they sound super interesting :D

D. said...

This post is absolutely amazing! I am trying it tomorrow!

Jul said...

Great ideas! I especially like the idea of playing with my personal style. I generally dress to not get noticed, and it's interesting to change that every once in a while.

One thing I like to do to keep my schedule interesting: when I write my morning pages, I ask myself what I can do to make today a really amazing day. I brainstorm until I come up with at least one thing I actually stick on my to-do list.

ellie said...

I so love these ideas..I must try them...or at least one.

Krissy (Shimmer Like Gold) said...

Great post, lovely. Definitely something I needed to hear right now, too, as I'm most definitely in a rut. Ick.

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