WELLNESS--While I am a big advocate of people keeping structure and routine in their life so that we can stick to important tasks such as exercise, meditation, and family time because regularity breeds healthy habits, I am also a believer that sometimes we just need to take a break from our day to day life.
Have you ever noticed how enjoying a vacation can give you a whole new perspective on life? This is because we take time away from our daily routine which gives us a renewed outlook on everything around us. Periodically snapping out of repetition is not only important, it may be vital to our health and long-term wellness.
When we fall into a routine, we stop paying attention and we go through the motions of life without trying. We close off to synchronicity and new experiences because we are running on auto pilot. We neglect to stop and smell the roses and our experience can become boring and monotonous.
Just as our body and health require a detox or vacation from food, we too are in great need of hopping off the hamster wheel and taking a time out. We might be ready to try new things, push ourselves outside of our comfort zone, take a road trip, or simply have a nap. And we should do it being fully aware and conscious.
Creating a spiritual practice for example is important but sometimes that too can become mundane and habitual which takes us out of the newness of the experience. Balance is the key. Create a life where you have a certain amount of structure while also shocking your system just a bit by introducing something new or by doing the same thing in a fresh way.
Sometimes it’s much easier staying with what we know but it also creates blinders to the wonderful excitement and novelty that life has to offer. Try saying YES more and NO a little less. When somebody invites you out to an event that seems disinteresting, why not try it anyway? You may surprise yourself. New people and unique opportunities are the only way that we can grow in life and although it’s often uncomfortable, we usually end up feeling amazing afterwards.
Engage a friend and commit to trying something this week that involves meeting new people and trying a different activity. Challenge your body, mind, and emotions. Perhaps you can visit an area of your city that you have not seen or join a meetup group of like-minded people or simply attend a free lecture. Or perhaps it’s time to start putting feelers out for that new job you’ve been talking about for years.
We can all get bored and disillusioned at times and the best solution is to shake things up and watch what happens. Life has plenty to offer so if we’ve hit a wall we have the power to change that. Find the inner motivation and self-love, pick yourself up and transform your experience. While things won’t always shift overnight, you’ll most likely make some new acquaintances and learn new skills with a renewed sense of optimism and zest along the way.
(Jay Bradley is a Youthful Aging, Wellness & Lifestyle Expert Living in Los Angeles. http://www.JayBradleyLifestyle.com. He is the Best-Selling Author of LIVE LOOK FEEL, The 12-Week Guide to Live Longer, Look Younger & Feel Better!)
-cw
