Let’s face it—it’s easy to become a bit bored with your daily routine. No matter how much you like your job, love your pets or family members, or how happy you are in general, the dreary boredom of your day-to-day schedule can get to you. That’s okay!
It’s normal to be a bit bored with your daily routine after a while, particularly if you haven’t shaken things up for some time. However, you can mix up your daily routine starting today with the following nine ideas.
Try a New Coffee Type
One of the easiest, and most effective , ways to shake up your daily routine is to simply try a new type of coffee.
“If you make coffee at home, try a new flavor of beans, or if you are feeling more adventurous, pick up a French press coffee maker so that you can create coffee using a new process,” says Christy Pyrz, Chief Marketing Officer of Paradigm Peptides. “There are so many different types of coffee to try that you can have a new flavor each week for years and still not taste them all!”
Regardless, trying a new coffee type introduces something fresh to your palate, plus it gives you something to look forward to in the morning. Trying something new, whether big or small, is a great way to get the creative gears turning in your brain and get you out of a rut. Worst case scenario, it’ll help you appreciate the staples you’ve been using all this time.
Eat Something New for Breakfast
Similarly, try eating something new for breakfast once in a while, even if it’s not everyday.
“You can try a new breakfast once per week by ordering something from the café on your way to work or whipping up something new in your kitchen if you like to cook,” says Brian Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of ARENA CLUB.
Eating something new for breakfast has several benefits:
- It’s a small adventure that nonetheless introduces a bit of excitement of the day right at the start.
- It gets us in the mindset for more experimentation and creativity throughout the day.
- It doesn’t hold a lot of weight. Even if you don’t like your new breakfast, you can grab a granola bar or something else to snack on if you don’t enjoy your new meal.
You can even combine your new breakfast and new coffee together if you are feeling particularly adventurous!
Experiment With a Different Commute Route
Heading to work on the exact same route during the exact same time daily can be tiring and even depressing.
Lionel Mora, CEO of Neoplants says, “Even if your commute is scenic, it can be boring to look at the same trees or mountains over and over again. Consider experimenting with a different commute route if you have enough time to spare.”
Take public transit to shake things up or take a different street to work while listening to a new song. These little touches can introduce a bit of color and variety to your life.
Plus, who knows? You might discover that your new commute route is a little faster than your usual way. You’ll never find improvements to your daily routine if you don’t experiment!
Talk to Someone New at Work
When you finally reach your destination, you don’t have to settle into the same boring routine you’re accustomed to. Instead, you can branch out from your normal peer group and talk to someone new, preferably from another department or another part of the workplace you never visit.
Talking to someone new at work:
- Opens you up to a potential new friendship—you never know who you might hit it off with!
- Helps you develop contacts throughout the workplace, which can assist you with your professional endeavors.
- Mixes up your daily routine in the most human way possible: speaking to someone brand-new!
Rachel Roff, Founder and CEO of Urban Skin Rx says, “It’s always a good idea to talk to someone new at work at least once per week. If your work has a small staff, extend this philosophy to other people you might meet, like workers at your favorite restaurant or even people you notice on public transit.”
Sign Up for a Class
Alternatively, you can sign up for a class to enjoy on your days off or during the evenings after work. Signing up for a class enables you to learn a skill or hobby, which is great for meeting people, expanding your recreational skills, and bolstering your self-confidence. More importantly, it mixes up your daily routine in a concrete, long-term way.
“Most classes will have you meet with the same people once or twice per week for months. Thus, this could be a great way to mix up your daily routine without having to think of something completely new to do each day,” says Ubaldo Perez, CEO of Hush Anesthetics.
Want to switch up your daily routine and build some skills for the future? Consider going back to college or applying for a certificate program if you have time. Completing either of these programs will boost your resume and give you plenty of variety in your daily schedule for at least several months, if not years.
Take a Trip on the Weekend
Your weekends don’t have to be dull repetitions of each other, either. In fact, you can spice things up by taking a trip on the weekend. If you have a car, consider going to the mountains, beach, or even downtown to visit some restaurants or shops you have never patronized before. If you don’t have a car, use a company like Zipcar to rent one, or buy a train ticket to head out of town for a few days. If you have friends or significant other, invite them along.
“Taking a trip is a great way to refresh your mind and enjoy some much-needed relaxation, particularly after a stressful stretch of time at work,” says Zach Goldstein, CEO of Public Rec.
Try a Clothes “Theme” for Each Day
If you want to switch up your daily routine regularly, try to plan out a special clothing theme or aesthetic for each day of the week. Take a long, hard look at your wardrobe and decide the following:
- Whether you have any clothes that thematically coordinate with each other, either in terms of style, color, or both.
- Whether you can put together some good outfits for each day of the week.
- What those outfits might say about your personal style and aesthetic.
At its core, this idea is about being experimental and creative.
John Berry, CEO and Managing Partner of Berry Law says, “If you try a clothes theme each day, you’ll start each day with something fresh, and you’ll give your coworkers something to talk about with you when you finally reach the office.”
“This is a great way to introduce a bit of variety into each day, especially if you already like fashion and clothing experimentation,” says Andrew Adamo, VP of Bullion Shark.
Find a New Hangout Spot
You can also identify and start frequenting a new hangout spot, whether it’s the park where you can eat your lunch in peace outside the office or a place to hang out with friends after work.
“A new hangout spot introduces you to new people and sensations and gives you the opportunity to try new things, like novel drinks or food,” says Sumeer Kaur, CEO of Lashkaraa. “If your friends aren’t on board with finding a new hangout spot, you can always venture out on your own!”
New spots prevent us from getting too far into a rut or routine when we are outside of work. It’s important to always look for new places to enjoy your free time, as most of our lives are scheduled around or constrained by of our workplace obligations. Don’t allow your time outside of work to be similarly constrained.
Call a Friend or Family Member
Lastly, do yourself a favor and give a friend or family member a call at least once per week. Ideally, you should call a friend or family member whom you don’t see very often or that you may have lost touch with.
“Building and maintaining relationships is an important part of having a well-rounded life, and it’s key to your mental and emotional health,” says Andrew Meyer, CEO of Arbor. “Calling a friend or family member introduces some variety to what you do each day. Plus, it opens up discussions for future family visits, hangouts, or vacation plans.”
Conclusion
There are plenty of ways to mix up your daily routine and bring a bit of spice back into your life. Whether you work from home, head to the office, or stay at home to take care of family members, try integrating these ideas into your daily routine. Odds are, you’ll feel reinvigorated and more invested in your life in no time.
