You’re hanging out on the couch, watching tv, eating snacks and wondering when life is going to be more interesting. It all feels so boring. You’re bored with your mate… bored with your daily routine… and frankly, the truth is that you are likely bored with yourself.
How do you counteract that familiar feeling of habitual living when change sounds like it requires so much effort and energy? It is truly a dual-edged sword. Do you choose a boring daily ritual that offers only a few exhilarating experiences? Or do you choose getting out of your comfort zone and finding palatable steps to change?
1. Change does not have to be drastic!
You don’t have to leap from the couch to bungy jumping off the nearest bridge. You can start by taking one step at a time. Start by planning a tiny step to mix it up tomorrow. Having a plan in advance will make it more likely to carry it out. Don’t announce it – keep it to yourself.
Suggestions: At the time that you would normally succumb to a day of being a couch-potato, schedule a walk with a friend, a hair appointment, take your laptop to the nearest coffee shop, or spend that same time fixing your hair, makeup or going about your morning routine differently. If you generally eat eggs, try yogurt and fruit. If you are hooked on coffee each morning, try making a delightful fruit smoothie.
It won’t take much to get excited about experiencing each day differently. Take each day at a time until the new habit of exploration takes hold.
2. If you think your life is boring, your mate and friends probably view you that way as well.
You cannot easily feign mysterious, adventurous, or exciting when you have little to offer in conversations and shared experiences. So if your relationships are less than stellar, take a look at yourself from others’ perspectives. You may be the common denominator in the stale relationships.
Suggestions: Make a list of things you would like to do and select the best person to share the activity with. Movies, theaters, gardens, museums, concerts, new restaurants, local attractions, day trips… there are always so many things from which to choose even if you live in a small town or subdivision.
3. Create a Topic Guide and Become a Good Listener
If you’ve been paying attention, you will be very aware of the interests and hobbies of your partner and friends. You should be able to make a topic guide off the top-of-your-hear.
If you aren’t very aware then you probably haven’t been paying much attention or showing much interest… which is not generally considered the sign of someone who is known as empathetic, curious, or interested. Getting out of your own way by getting interested in others is very fulfilling, particularly when your interest is genuine.
GET CURIOUS about others and their lives. Ask questions and listen. Talk about yourself less.
If you are completely baffled as to how to become a better listener, sign up for an Active Listening course. There are plenty of online courses on Udemy.com and several other online courses, many of which are free and many of which have nominal fees. You might be surprised at how thorough and fun it can be to learn a new, extremely useful skill. You will see a difference in the quality of your relationships, its a promise!
Bottom Line
Einstein had it right: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same result. HELLO – W
AKE UP and Smell Your Reality! EVERY second… every moment is alive and ripe for the taking. Don’t squander your freedom.
