If your days have been filled with obligation and routine for a long time, you might suddenly realize that you can barely discern one day from another anymore.
The only way you can tell the difference between Tuesday and Saturday is that your work schedule or the kids’ extracurricular activities are slightly different. Furthermore, you might not remember the last truly fun or exciting thing you experienced in your memory.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Of course, there will always be responsibility, but amidst that, you can find ways to make your days brighter and more memorable once again.
8 ways to truly notice each day and break the monotony of everyday life:
1. Don’t wait until your to-do list is complete to prioritize joy.
My partner and I are both terrible at this kind of thing, so changing this behavior is a work in progress for both of us.
We were both raised with our predecessors’ rather strict work ethic, which stipulated that pleasurable rewards were only permissible after all the chores, duties, and other responsibilities had been taken care of.
And while this is laudable on many levels, it also means that we often realize that we haven’t done anything fun or rejuvenating for quite some time.
For example, we’d been wanting to take the kayaks out this summer, but had so much work to do that by the time we had cleared our plates enough to go have some fun in the river, it was already too cold to get out on the water.
As such, we are getting in the habit of reminding ourselves that there will always be work to take care of. And if we prioritize that over joy every day, we will miss out on actually living the beautiful life we have in favor of a never-ending slog of obligation.
When you have the opportunity to do something special on any given day, take it. The dishes can wait, but the sunshine won’t.
2. Break up the monotony of routine with variety.
If your days have been full of work and home life obligations, it’s possible that you’ve fallen into a rut — especially with everyday necessities like meal planning and routine activities.
For example, you might have gotten used to meatloaf Monday or taco Tuesday because these plans don’t require even more decision-making than usual. And you always do pizza and a movie on Saturday night because that’s what you’ve been doing for the past 20 years.
While routines can absolutely be dependable and keep life moving a bit more easily, they can also make days, weeks, and months rather boring and uneventful. Before you know it, years have passed by in a monotonous slog.
This is why it’s so important to mix things up every now and then. Mix up your exercise routine and prioritize a new hobby. Try making recipes from different cuisines, visit local attractions or seasonal festivals, and take advantage of all the wonder each season has to offer
3. Take every opportunity to marvel at nature’s beauty.
Every season has beautiful days that encourage us to bask in nature’s glory. Although some seasons come with certain challenges (like mosquitoes the size of Yorkshire terriers in mid-July…), there are ways to get around every potential discomfort.
Is there going to be a bright, clear night in the depth of winter? Then get yourself an inflatable kid’s pool, and fill it with blankets and cushions. Bundle up, make a thermos of hot chocolate or tea, and curl up in that little nest to watch the stars. If you’re far enough north, you may even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis.
Or pack a picnic and head off into the woods when they’re resplendent with autumnal finery.
Whatever the season, take every opportunity to enjoy the beauty around you whenever you can.
4. Celebrate whenever you get the chance.
If you look up any date online, you’ll find a celebration associated with it. Seriously, try it.
Either do a Wikipedia search or check out sites like the National Day Calendar or Days Of The Year website.
When I did, I discovered that September 15th is International Cheese Toast Day, for example (which is spectacular), and September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arr, matey!
Fill your calendar with the dates and events that appeal to you the most, and celebrate them in whatever ways will brighten your world and lighten your heart.
They can keep you going when you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, as even the most dismal days can fly by when you know that you have something delightful to look forward to shortly.
5. Create a big goal to work towards.
When your days blur together into an unremarkable slog, mix them up by choosing a big goal to work towards.
Depending on your personality, this could be anything from a personal physical fitness achievement to a big creative project or an important trip. There are so many categories of goals to choose from.
Having a significant goal in mind keeps your days from blurring together because you can work on it bit by bit in different ways until all the puzzle pieces come together.
A triathlete can alternate their training on different days, for example, or a quilter can create different parts to sew together later. The variety prevents this endeavor from getting boring, and also gives you something fun to keep you occupied during your downtime.
6. Reconnect with good people in your life.
I recently read something online about how adult friendships are basically people texting each other “I miss you, we should hang out” every few months, forever.
We often get so weighed down by the drudgery of day-to-day life that we neglect the important connections we have with the amazing people we adore.
As such, make a point of coordinating regular meet-ups with your favorite people. If you don’t have a lot of free time to disperse among many different friends and family members, see if you can host occasional meetups where you can all spend some quality time together.
For example, have you ever had a soup potluck party? Try it sometime: everyone brings a different soup to share, and people get to curl up with cozy deliciousness while having wonderful conversations and catching up on each other’s lives.
If big social gatherings aren’t your thing, even a brief catch-up during your lunch break or taking a walk with a friend can keep you connected whilst simultaneously breaking up the monotony of everyday life.
7. Make a commitment that breaks you out of your rut.
A lot of people who experience their lives blurring into perpetual sludge can only break free from the bland repetition when something forces them to do so.
As such, making a commitment that you can’t back out of can be an effective way to break up your days and bring more light into your world.
For example, one person may benefit from adopting a shelter dog that they can cuddle and walk daily. Another might do well with regularly scheduled volunteer work for a cause that they feel strongly about.
The importance of holding to this commitment is what makes them adhere to it: other living beings depend upon them, and they don’t want to let anyone down.
And every time they partake in this endeavor, something new happens: maybe they see beautiful sunrises or sunsets while walking the dog, or meet new people to connect with while out and about.
All of these experiences contribute to their days being significantly brighter and sweeter instead of merging into misery.
8. Regularly mix up your home decor.
Another thing that can contribute greatly to ennui on many levels is to be surrounded by sameness all the time. For many people, the only time their surroundings get changed up is when they put up a Christmas tree or shove furniture around to vacuum thoroughly.
But decorations aren’t just reserved for December. Decorating the house seasonally at any time of year or to celebrate other festive events can make your days much more colorful and exciting.
Alternatively, changing your home’s aesthetic completely can shake you free from the rut you’ve gotten into. You don’t have to spend a fortune or waste what you already have, as there are plenty of ways to upcycle or redress what you already own.
Final thoughts…
None of us knows how many summers or winters we have ahead of us. This isn’t meant to be depressing, but rather to inspire you to enjoy your days as thoroughly as possible.
Having a regular routine and comfortable sameness may keep stress levels low, but they can also make a beautiful life as dull and blurry as dishwater.
Carpe diem and try to do something special every single day, even if it’s as simple as trying a new coffee syrup or exploring a random Spotify playlist.
Fill every day with as much light as you can, as often as you can, because you’ll never get this time back.
