A Vaccine for the Doldrums

It’s natural to feel down at times.  We all get little melancholy when things are not going our way or things just seem a little mundane.  While I fall into patterns of how I run my day, I get a wee case of the humdrums when things are TOO routine.  All the days seem to blend together – wake up, shower, go to work, eat lunch, go home from work, eat dinner, watch a little TV, read, go to bed, repeat.  Your little groove quickly becomes a rut if you let it.  So, don’t let it.

Take moments in your day to mix things up.  It’s not just a boredom buster but much more important than that, it can build mental acuity.  When we fall into habits in our lives, especially unhealthy habits, we fail to really activate the brain and fully engage in our day.  Have you ever driven to work only to get there and not really even remember any details about your drive.  If I were to ask you what you were doing last Tuesday at 10:00 could you identify it off the top of your head or would you have to go back to your planner and see what resonates?  Our brain goes on autopilot during the redundancy of the day.  Few dendrites are grown and we’re not challenging ourselves.  We aren’t growing.  Not only that, we are uninspired.

So, let’s look at ways to avoid the monotony and routine of the day.  try one, see how it works.

1. Plan a trip.  I know it’s the “Days of COVID” but it won’t last forever.  Look up interesting places to go and the things you can do while you are there.  If it’s an all inclusive, cool.  They are relaxing and a nice entry into international travel but plan an excursion that stretches you a bit and introduces you to the culture.  Next time, step out of the safety of the all inclusive and rent a place – there’s a lot of fun to be had there!
2. Go for a long walk – not your typical walk around the neighbourhood but a walk that stretches your knowledge of your community.  Find a cool wetland or sanctuary.  Go to the river valley or the mountains.  Stretch your muscles a bit and drag a friend along with you.  There’s nothing quite like fresh air to get your mind working properly.
3. Connect with someone you haven’t seen in a while.  Remember your old University crowd?  Maybe this is a time to reach out and see how they’re dong.  Find out what adventures they’ve had.  It’s fun to catch up and it may just push you to try something a little new for yourself.
4. Throw a bomb in your school day.  Rather than follow the routine of the day, have a day  outside when every subject can be done in a outdoor setting.  Everyone wins in these situations; you and the kids!
5. Become an expert in one area.  Dedicate yourself to one thing that you want to learn about for an hour a night.  I’m currently trying to learn Spanish.  Everyday I spend a little time on it  and sure enough I see myself making progress and can’t wait to test it as I plan my trip to Central America.

There is a lot of ways to give yourself a lift, even in these days of COVID.  You only get one kick at this life, so make it worthwhile!

Keep on learning and growing!

Dave