A pillar to an enriched existence is integrating appropriate doses of variety into established routines.
Routine is valuable in automatizing beneficial habits. Variety is helpful in keeping the brain agile, increasing one’s attention during an activity, gaining new perspectives, and simply giving flavor to experience. 🙂
I’ve never done a numbered list on the blog, so now’s the perfect time to switch things up. 🙂
Here are 11 suggestions for fusing variety with routine:
#1)
Routine – Take daily Morning Walk
Variety – Take Late Night Walk, or take Walk in different part of neighborhood
#2)
Routine – Brush Teeth
Variety – Brush Teeth with opposite hand
#3)
Routine – Drive to Work
Variety – Budget 5 minutes to drive longer, alternate route, (or take St. Charles Streetcar).
#4)
Routine – Play all major scales on instrument
Variety – Start on top note of top octave and descend
#5)
Routine – Go to gym on Tuesday night
Variety – Go to gym on Tuesday night with brand new playlists on iPod
#6)
Routine – Journal in your computer
Variety – Journal handwritten
#7)
Routine – Text your friend to make plans
Variety – Call your friend to make plans
#8)
Routine – Drink coffee upon awakening
Variety – Upon awakening, go outside and do 25 jumping jacks, then drink coffee
#9) Do a spontaneous one minute dance right now
#10)
Routine – Enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning in the house
Variety – Go to a coffee shop at 7 AM on Sunday, and read one of humankind’s greatest philosophers
#11)
Routine – Read Joel’s new blog post
Variety – Read Joel’s new blog post, then email him with specific feedback about the blog
: )
