5 Ways to Bring Back the Woo-Hoo in your Weekday!
As the festive season comes to an end and we settle into the more normal pace of life, we all tend to feel a little blue. Winter in our part of the world tends to bring out the wild child in us, where we all tend to let loose a little bit, making social events our top priority. We promise ourselves that we’ll make up for it once the new year starts… And here we are, February already, facing the stack of neglected work and responsibilities.
“The work and responsibilities we have in our life are most often ones we have chosen for ourselves”
Getting back into routine may not sound so fun but the work and responsibilities we have in our life are most often ones we have chosen for ourselves. We choose to have kids and want to be loving, caring parents to them, just like we choose to explore and develop ourselves through our professions.
So instead of thinking that a start of a new year is only about being super responsible and productive again (boring?!), we can keep that wild child within us throughout the year. Here are a few tips to beat the boredom as you ease back into the mellower swing of things.
1. DISRUPT YOUR ROUTINE
“Every single moment is entirely new, and it’s our folly to not see it as such”
Just because we live a life of routine doesn’t mean every moment has been lived before. Every single moment is entirely new, and it’s our folly to not see it as such. Shake up the regular school run routine by perhaps grabbing your favourite coffee, or stopping at the bookstore with the kids. Be open to not doing things as you usually do, even if you have perfected your routine.
2. SIGN UP FOR THAT CLASS!
“Instead of waiting for that ever-elusive time when you will be less busy and bogged down, explore new experiences now”
Pakistan is coming out of its shell and we see so many different events and activities being offered. Instead of waiting for that ever-elusive time when you will be less busy and bogged down, explore new experiences now – like taking up painting or finally signing up for that new fitness class or going to that concert happening over the weekend. Instead of letting your social calendar be a rotation of the same commitments and same faces, notice what catches your interest and explore it!
3. SOCIALISE MINDFULLY
“Recognise the blessing of a slower, less busy lifestyle by spending time with people mindfully”
Let’s be honest, while all the parties and meeting all the out-of-towners is fun, winter season can also get a little draining. Recognise the blessing of a slower, less busy lifestyle by spending time with people mindfully. Notice the people whose company you actually enjoy and spend more time with them. Reach out to people you newly connected with and develop new friendships.
4. START A GRATITUDE JAR
“The habit of remembering, recognising and noting the positives on a daily basis allow us to generally develop a more appreciative outlook”
As you may have heard (and read time and time again), the attitude of gratitude is a real game changer in living a happy, fulfilled life. One thing I took up recently is making note of something good that happens to me on a weekly basis and putting it in a jar. Of course, once a week is probably not enough; if you can, write down something good that happened to you that day before you sleep every night. The habit of remembering, recognising and noting the positives on a daily basis allow us to generally develop a more appreciative outlook towards everything. Its also fun to reminisce and go over some old entries and read what mde you happy say, 6 months back!
5. DON’T WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND FOR ME-TIME
“If some irritating chore or work pops up over the weekend, we feel annoyed, almost cheated out of our rest time, ready to explode with frustration on anyone who crosses our path (no? just me?)”
Our lives tend to be a little regimented, in the sense that we have designed weekdays to be super busy, schedule-based and generally about the go go go and weekends as a time to rest. So, if some irritating chore/errand or work pops up over the weekend, we feel annoyed, almost cheated out of our rest time, ready to explode with frustration on anyone who crosses our path (no? just me?).
What has helped me is taking some time to myself in the weekdays also. Take out some time to indulge mid-week. Perhaps book a manicure right after work, or maybe a movie/date night on Thursday. Anything really that can help you relax and enjoy your time, to get you out of the perpetual chasing the weekend mentality.
“Take out some time to indulge mid-week. Perhaps book a manicure right after work, or maybe a movie/date night on Thursday”
Having a happier Monday to Friday is all about being more present and exploring ourselves in each moment. Pursue your interests, be indulgent with yourself, and always, always find something to be grateful for!
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