Sometimes we get stuck in our ways. Routines can be nice to have and even great in some situations but when we get stagnant or rigid, this can prevent us from living our full lives. Merriam Webster defines “Living” as “having life.” Hopefully, if you are reading this, you have life within you but to live fully is different. A person's fully lived life is different from every other person on Earth. It is up to you to decide what your perfectly lived life consists of. That's a huge question to undertake and answer. To help get you started, Abbot asked people all over the world what a fully lived life consists of and recurring themes include Presence, Gratitude, Holistic Well-Being, Generosity, and Positivity.
If you feel like you have been stuck in a rigid routine or not living fully, maybe it’s time to “spice up your life.” To do this try throwing some of the ideas below into your daily routine. Make it a goal to have 5-7 new things in your life every week (or 1 new experience a day). Remember it’s ok to be nervous to think that you won’t “love” the new experience but the important part is that you tried something new.
The ideas below, have been created with the Five recurring themes from Abbot in mind.
Go Buy a Plant: Ask the store clerk for help finding an appropriate plant and equipment needed for the space in your home. Taking care of someone or something can be very gratifying.
Volunteer: Click Here to find ways to volunteer and give back to your community. This is an easy way to find meaning and by volunteering regularly, you can keep this in your weekly routine.
Cook From Scratch: Click Here to find Recipes and try a dish outside of your comfort zone!
Go on a Walk: Go on a 30 minute walk somewhere you have never walked before. Maybe visit a park or part of the city you have never explored before?
Go Eat at a New Local Restaurant
Learn to Draw or Paint: Click Here to pick a video to learn how to draw from
Bake Cookies and Deliver to a Retirement Community: Call a retirement home in your area and ask to talk to the social director. Ask the social director if there is a time you could come give out homemade cookies and speak with community members.
Write a Letter to a Friend or Family Member: Let them know why you are thankful for them and remind them of a funny story or memory you share.
Read a New Book: Go to a book store and ask for help picking out a book. This book can be on any topic or of any genre. Take at least 20 minutes a day to read it and then try to find another book!
Journal: Take 15 minutes to write, draw, scribble and just let it all out. Write or draw everything on your mind. You can include things you are thankful for, proud of, things you need to do, goals you have for yourself, or anything that pops in your mind.
Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Turn on some music and just dance!
As mentioned earlier, change is hard and scary but it's vital that we are not merely “living.” If you feel like you have been stuck in a rigid routine that is boring or if you feel like you are existing rather than living fully, please reach out to Danielle Feerst OTR/L by clicking here to book a Free 30 minute consultation. She has years of experience working with young adults who struggle breaking routines or who are looking for ways to add meaning to their life. Danielle can work with you or your child to achieve independence, develop and maintain meaningful friendships, hobbies, and more depending on your or your child's personal goals/needs. Along with her Peer Mentors, Danielle and the rest of iElevate have several other ideas on how to spice up your life and daily routine. In addition, you can connect with us on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you have any ideas for future blog posts, feel free to message us on any of our social media accounts or email us at ielevatesc@gmail.com .
Written by Madison Gies, Peer Mentor/Coach, OTDS