To Your Health February, 2011 (Vol. 05, Issue 02)

Share |

Change Up Your Routine

By Perry Nickelston, DC, FMS, SFMA

Rut [ruht]: noun, a fixed or established mode of procedure or course of life, usually dull or unpromising. Does this sound like your life? Are stuck in a rut, desperate to find a way to break free of your boring routine? Well, it's time to start adding some much-needed spice to your life.

So often we feel helpless and frustrated with the status quo of everyday living. Going through the motions and feeling a lack of control in your life can be disheartening. The good news is that you are in 100 percent total control. By taking responsibility for the decisions you make and the feelings you choose to respond with during any given situation, you hold the key to change.

Rule 1: Change Your Mindset

Many of the things you want to do, but are hesitant to do, lie just outside your comfort zone. We grow when we feel uncomfortable and challenged. Status quo may be safe, but it is also boring! The ability to take risks and open up your mind to new possibilities can be the most empowering combination for change you will ever learn. No risk, no nothing! Abraham Lincoln once said, "People are about as happy as they make up their own minds to be." Oh, how true that is. The next time you are in a situation in which you feel overwhelmed, anxious, angry, irritated or experience negative emotions, take back control of how you feel. Do not fall into the trap of instantly reacting to situations in your life; begin responding. At first glance, these words may appear to be the same, but they are vastly different. Reacting is a primal instinct attached with intense emotion; responding is a thought-controlled, principle-centered decision. So the foundational step in changing your routine comes from adjusting your thought process. Now let's get into some action steps for change. To help get you started in the mindset of change, here are some small, powerful ideas to kiss that rut goodbye.

Rule 2: Feed Fitness

The mind-body connection is undeniable. How you feel is directly related to how well you take care of your body. Exercise can be a love-hate relationship if you do it the wrong way. It does not take much effort to make a positive impact on your body. If you are not currently exercising, check out a local fitness club. The very act of joining and spending just 30 minutes or so four times a week, investing in yourself, will suppress that rut. If you are exercising on a regular basis, change up your routine by doing exercises you have never done before. Take a kick-boxing class, yoga, Pilates, weight-lifting, or begin training with a workout partner.

One of the best ways to add excitement to your workout is by training in different gyms. Drop by several fitness spots and try a workout session on new equipment in a fresh environment. (Most gyms are more than happy to let you try out their facilities with a complimentary workout pass, and your current gym chain likely has multiple locations in your area.) Who knows, you just might like the new place better than your current gym, and you will have the added benefit of meeting new people.

Rule 3: Explore New Ideas

Do you have a hobby you are passionate about? Would you like to share that passion with others? Do you want to start a new hobby? Then do it. For example, visit Meetup.com, a wonderful Web site where you can find like-minded individuals who are passionate about the things you love. Find locations in your area of groups and clubs related to just about any subject you can imagine. One of the most exciting parts about Meetup is that you can venture out into hobbies, topics or subjects that you may have been interested in learning more about, but did not know where to begin. This is an opportunity to meet new people and form friendships with people who share common interests.

Rule 4: Control the Clock

Change your normal routine of going to bed and waking up. Choose to stay up longer or wake up earlier to invest time in yourself. Take some much needed me time, free from interruptions of family, friends, roommates, television and the overall white noise of daily living. Take this opportunity to read a good book, listen to music, write in a journal, focus on your goals and map out your activities for the day. This is a time period with no pressure, deadlines, anxiety, or interference from anything or anyone. Make better use of your time and devote energy to improving yourself. When was the last occasion you had an hour to yourself without obligations? You can control how you spend this time. Feeling a sense of control over our lives fosters self-empowerment, self-reliance and self-confidence. What better way to control your life than by controlling your time?