Oh, hi friends!
Do you need to change up your environment?
I'm the first to admit I looove a cozy little routine. At 10 a.m., I'll sit here. Later, I'll go over there. That’s usually the end of the routine.
But when we play these loops without thinking, the familiar can become the routine and the routine can cast a shadow over sparks of creativity.
When I was commuting, I'd always get some fresh thoughts on the subway, from the people around me or a new playlist or, usually, an inscrutable marketing campaign.
New stimuli, new ideas.
It's harder, I know, to get out the door, go somewhere new. Will it be too loud? What if I forget my headphones? That and it's, like, raining or cold.
But we push ourselves all the time.
We can gently push ourselves to approach our space in a new way, a way that doesn't reflect what we've always done, but where we wish to go.
And on a leap day — a whole extra day! — making the choice to break the routine feels like a intentional nod to the future.
Yes, you say, this is where I’m going.
Ahhh. The joys of mixing things up! I'm with you 100% on this. As someone who prefers having routines, the value of novelty isn't lost on me. The times when I do shake things up, the positive outcomes are undeniable.
The most obvious way for me to change things is by taking a trip or visiting somewhere new. I love being somewhere different because it changes my perspective and opens my thinking. However, we can only sometimes jump ship. Even experimenting with slight variations in your day can have a similar effect.
I attended a virtual conference last week. One of the ideas that surfaced was about introducing micro-changes into your day. It adds novelty to a small task or situation to help with activation and engagement. Think of writing in your journal with a purple glitter-covered pen, going to a coffee shop to write your blog post, or brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand.
These tiny disruptions to your routine can increase interest, add the fun factor, and also open up your mind in new ways.
Happy disrupting, Kara!
Good morning, Kara! Nothing will throw you off your routine like a Monday morning after Daylight Saving Time change. Ugh. - LOL