In A Rut? Do Things Differently
Ah, ruts. We have all been there. You start to feel bored and things that you used to make your world sparkle now seem drab. When engaging in your daily routine feels like going through the motions. This is how I was feeling until I decided to shake things up by doing my morning run a little differently.
I love to run in the morning. I live by a beautiful park and the surroundings are usually enough to inspire me to get out of bed. But lately running has seemed more like a chore than anything else. Inspired by the character Allison in Yes Man I decided to take my camera on my morning run. This not only made my run go by quicker but also allowed me to bring creativity in to the running process. By the end of the run I was full of energy and eager to see all the blurry pictures that had resulted. The above picture is one of my favorites taken on my first photographic runs.
Changing the way I ran led to changing some other things. I took a different route to work and found a lovely art supply shop. I decided to do the bulk of my groceries at the farmers market on my lunch break and ended up creating 2 new vegan dishes with delicious ingredients I had never thought of before. I went to a different yoga studio and was able to get my yoga on at a deeper level with Punk Rock Yoga.
Some ideas for doing things a little differently:
* Take a different route to work * change up the way you do a favorite activity * Try an activity you have never done before * Add a spritz of essential oil to your laundry * Put your moisturizer in the fridge * Cook with a new food * Get up earlier or got to bed later * Treat yourself to something you usually think is too indulgent *use a purple sparkly pen to write * Make one of your favorite dishes at home * Go to a different grocery store * Write your journal entries in French * Go on a breakfast date * Change your ringtone to something inspiring * Paint a room a different color
Have you been in a rut lately? What are some things that you can do differently?
wanted to thank you for your comment on SWIM - it really helped.
And I love your list of suggestions to beat the rut!
Carolyn says
i LOVE this post, darling! and i love that you take pics on your runs. i hope you continue posting them. :)
Melita says
that is an awesome pic! you are right, sometimes it's the smallest thing that can spice everything else up.
Ellecubed says
Thank you all so very much for the lovely comments
City Girl: I am so happy to hear that my comment on SWIM helped.
Carolyn: I will definitely continue to post some of my run pictures.
Melita: "Spice things up" what a lovely way to put it.
Kiki says
Punk Rock Yoga sounds fantastic! Where do you practice that?
Breakfast dates are my favorite way to shake things up, even while slowing down that first, usually rushed, meal of the day.
So many good ideas to help us break out of our ruts. It makes me want to journal in Chinese, I have to say...
Ellecubed says
Kiki, you should definitely give journalling in Chinese a try. When I journal in French I find it helps me to delve deeper in to the language.
I do Punk Rock Yoga at a yoga studio here in Toronto called Union Yoga. You can find out more about Punk Rock Yoga here: http://www.punkrockyoga.com/
Revisionista says
LOVE this, elle!! especially how you're taking photos during your run like Zooey in Yes Man. (love that movie!!)
thanks for all the great ideas :)