Bring Spontaneity Back to Your Life

Singing a song I wrote from scratch. Chasing the dog in the backyard. Swinging on the swingset and then exploring behind the huge pine tree. Pretending there were magical fairies in the flowers and trying to catch them while wearing a crown. Then it was time for Polly Pockets (Back when they were ridiculously small and a definite choking hazard). Finger Painting, coloring, bike riding. The number of activities were endless. I couldn’t wait to get out of bed and get the day started. There were more things to do than I had time for, and every day was different.

When you think back to childhood, think about the penchant for adventure. Every day offered a new chance to play, to make believe, to explore, even if you were at home. There were countless activities completed in a day at whim. Your heart’s desire led a lot of your choices (and also the parental figure in your life). But the sky seemed like the limit, magic was boundless, and you knew exactly what you loved to do.

Fast forward to adulthood, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel down. We chain ourselves to the 9-5 desk and pride ourselves on routine, day in and day out. We eat the same foods. We dress in the same styles, do our hair the same way, wear the same makeup. We schedule our bathroom breaks and our water breaks and take the same roads to work. We do what make sense and what saves time. We come home, carry on our routine. And we wonder why we end up feeling a bit lifeless.

Mixing It Up

One of the simplest mood (and life) boosters I’ve ascribed to in recent years is to mix it up. It really is that simple.

I know it would be great if mix it up meant we could all sell our house, buy an RV, and travel the world without a job. I know it would be great if we didn’t have to do chores, if we had an endless wardrobe budget, and if we didn’t have to worry about things like feeding our family. Still, I think there are practical ways you can add some spice to your life and some excitement.

You don’t have to have a travel budget to explore and to adventure. Some of the things I’ve done in recent years to mix it up and bring back excitement:

1. Go to a new coffee shop.
2. Try new restaurants, or order something new at your favorite restaurant.
3. Pick out a shirt, a dress, or an accessory that’s something you normally wouldn’t.
4. Try a new hairstyle, even if it’s temporary.
5. Pick a local spot to explore you’ve never been to.
6. Go to a festival you’ve never made time to go to.
7. Go on a picnic at a local state park on a weekday.
8. Try a new recipe from Pinterest for dinner, something you’ve never made before.
9. Mix up your walking route or your route to work for a change.
10. Schedule coffee with a friend for a weekday when you normally wouldn’t.
11. Take a class you’ve never tried before.
12. Pick one thing from your bucket list and schedule it, even if it has to be a year out so you can save funds. 
13. Learn something new! I joined MasterClass for a while to listen to some classes by the experts.
14. Volunteer somewhere! Helping others really can help you get out of your rut.

But what if you need a big change?

Sometimes, the little, tiny changes can make a difference and help us find our spark again. But sometimes, if we’re being honest, we need something more drastic. 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to mix up our routine, we still feel blah. Sometimes, we dig deeper and realize our dream, our house, our town is making us miserable. And those big changes can be TERRIFYING. Tune back in next Monday when I’ll chat about tips for making a BIG change and how to make it less scary (I left my teaching career after TEN years, something I never thought I’d do). 

Be sure to revisit Blog #1 about why rediscovering the magic in your life matters and blog post#2 about how incorporating positive media into your life can make a huge difference. And if you're looking for more inspiration, come join me on Instagram for more advice, inspiration, and motivation!

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