I'm passionate about my schedules and routines. They keep me sane. They keep me motivated. They keep me on track to the goals I've set for myself.
This summer, my plan was to work two jobs, keep up with my new fitness plan, and -- oh, wait, that's it.
After about a month of this burnout routine, I found myself in a rut. The gym was starting to feel like a chore, my work days were long and unfulfilling, and I was lacking any sign of my usual creative, inspired, motivated, self.
In June, I went on one of the best trips ever with four of my girlfriends to Asheville, North Carolina. For a week, I didn't have to work, ate whatever I wanted, and didn't stress about working out. I enjoyed time with my friends, stayed up late, drove all around town, tasted all the vegan food the city had to offer, and most importantly I didn't follow my routine for five days.
That's right. Five days. And the world didn't come crashing down because I wasn't working out every day and working 45 hours a week. Amazing.
After the trip, I found my fire again. The break had me feeing ready to jump back into my routine, instead of dreading my day to day. It had me inspired, and filled me with new creative ideas, sparked by the gem of a city I had just visited. It put my goals in perspective, and had me thinking about my future. I felt fulfiled- and happy.
I tell this little story to say this: have your routine, but make sure you break it too.
Routines are important. They are the foundation for the way we live, learn, work, and succeed. Having a solid morning, night, or daily routine plays a huge role in staying motivated, crushing goals, and reaching dreams, but nobody can live the same day Monday through Friday, every week, and then repeat.
So, if you're like me, I challenge you: if you're in a rut, break your routine. Plan a trip with friends, go visit your family, take a long weekend to yourself. From one "routine freak" to another, I promise that you'll come back feeling refreshed, inspired, and more ready to get sh** done than before.
