Change Your Life In 2018 - April Challenge: Change Your Routine


If you’re just joining in, the “Change Your Life In 2018” series is my quest to make some small changes this year.  Rather than setting easily forgotten resolutions I wanted to focus on 12 changes that would help me learn and grow as a person.  I’ve chosen to focus on one change per month so that it could not only become a more manageable goal, but I have a better chance at making these new habits as well.  I hope you’ll join me in the challenge!

If you want things to change, you have to change. 

This is so very true, but easier said than done.

One of the reasons I wanted to break down my 2018 goals into 12 months, was so I could develop a new routine, in hopes of making changes to my life.  Routine can be a very good thing.  It can help us remember to exercise, get daily tasks done, get ourselves to work on time, remember to pick up the kids, etc.  It's structure and we thrive on structure, don't we?

But we can also become very routine about our thoughts, our schedules, where we go, and who we engage with.  There is comfort in routine, but if you're trying to make significant changes to your life, your routine needs to get shaken up.  In order to change your routine, you may also need to change your priorities, or, it could be you want to change up your routine because your priorities have changed when you set your goals (last month).

There are a number of ways you can shake up your own routine.  Some of them super simple and some of them more drastic.  Some examples are:
  • Change where you get coffee in the morning.
  • Change your morning commute.
  • Sign up for a class to learn something new.
  • Do something completely different than you typically do after work.
  • Socialize with different people at work and/or after work.
  • Do volunteer work.
  • Do something that scares you.
  • Get more/less sleep.
  • Watch less tv and instead, use that time to work toward a goal.
  • Change your exercise routine/start an exercise routine.
  • Speak up honestly about what you think.
  • Stop comparing your life with anyone else's.
  • Stop trying to multi-task and begin single-tasking.
  • Make kindness a habit.
One of the best changes to make to your routine is to believe that change is possible.  Stop fearing what could go wrong and instead, get excited about what could go right.

My routine has changed significantly this past month.  I'm taking advantage of that to try and set a few good habits in place as I establish a new one.  One of those habits is to start my morning with 15 minutes of gratitude and visualization.  Gratitude for what I have and visualization of where I want to be.

What about you?  Have you thought about changing your routine?


Next month’s topic is: Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone



Find the introduction to the series here: 12 Things You Can Do To Change Your Life In 2018

Find January's challenge here:  Letting Go Of Regrets
Find February's challenge here: Figure Out What To Do With Your Life
Find March's challenge here: Setting Goals & Chunking Them Down 




3 comments

  1. I definitely thrive on routine, but don't want to be in a rut, either. I am always learning new things through my gardening and networking with other gardeners keeps fresh ideas stirring. I also just subscribed to two new magazines which I hope will give me the visual inspiration I am looking for.

    Here's to learning and growing all life long! ;0D

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  2. So many changes, so many options. Must give this some serious thought. I recently read an article that linked increased intelligence (and decreased chance of Alzheimers) to those who welcomed change and got out of their old routines.

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  3. Daisy - yes!! I love it that you are always trying to learn new things. It sounds like you achieve the perfect balance of routine and new!!

    Donna - that sounds interesting. It makes sense though. Change of routine is stimulating and always keeps you on your toes. Thank you for sharing this!!

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