I don’t know about you, but lately I feel like I am a slave to routine. Don’t get me wrong, I love having a routine and often relish in the monotonies of day to day life, but it feels as though I haven’t had an escape or break in weeks and it’s starting to take its toll. I wake up early each morning, I go to work, then I head to the gym, have a shower, whip up something for dinner and eat whilst attempting to blog, read, or catch up on TV, and then head to bed to do it all over again. Every. Damn. Day.
Work has been pretty hectic, so I’ve been away working on weekends, and it makes it pretty hard to switch off and unwind. And when I do plan fun things in the evenings or on the weekends, I end up cramming too much into one day and over doing it, which results in me lying comatose on the sofa for three days thanks to a sickness bug and virus. I sometimes feel like I’m trapped in this daily cycle, and at the moment I am definitely not nailing that work-life balance. It’s so hard when you are ambitious and want to succeed. However, there’s only so much juggling of your job, gym training, blogging, book reviewing, and wanting to socialise that you can do with just 24 hours in a day.
One of my goals for this year was to be more spontaneous and I’m not quite sure I’ve nailed that just yet. I still plan my life around every minute detail, which is satisfying but equally frustrating sometimes. What I have done, however, is booked a three week trip to New Zealand that I’ll be heading off on in just 50 days – and it cannot come quick enough! We’ve hired a camper van and will be travelling from the South Island up to the North, exploring every little bit of the country we can whilst there, and I think it’s going to be the refreshing change I need to refocus and break free from the cycle I’m currently in.
In the meantime though, I have 50 days in which to spice up things up a little. I’m really looking forward to the lighter nights, which means we can actually socialise instead of feeling like we should be hibernating, but I am going to make a conscious effort to do three things in order to break free from routine:
- Visit three new places in the next 50 days: it doesn’t seem like much but my weekends are completely choc-a-bloc over the next few weeks with work and plans with friends. However, I’m making a conscious effort to explore more of what’s on my doorstep, as well as places further afield. I’m definitely going to make an effort to get out of Cardiff for a change of scenery when I can though, and I want to visit new places in Cardiff too.
- Plan something different and fun for one weeknight each week: I’ve gotten into a really good pattern of doing this, and I want to keep going with it. Whether it’s a date night with friends, going to the cinema or meeting up with family, I always like having things booked in the diary.
- Book a mini break/day out: finally I want to book a mini little getaway before I head off to New Zealand, even if it’s in the form of a spa day back in West Wales. I feel like an escape from reality, by lying in a pool of bubbles all day, does everyone a world of good.
Lots of love. xoxo
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I also tend to plan everything! Hopefully, I’ll be able to be more spontaneous this year as quite like you I fell exhausted of planing every single detail!
Mariya | http://www.brunetteondemand.com/paris-fashion-week-fw19/
Author
It can become quite exhausting can’t it?! xx
I think it is so good to break routine every now and again!
Danielle xx
https://www.fashionbeautyblog.co.uk/
Author
Definitely! 🙂 Thanks for reading. xx
I wish I was more spontaneous but I can’t get do it 🙁 have to know every detail all the time! x
Author
I think most of us are that way! xx
Wow how exciting you’re off to New Zealand, it looks like such an incredible place and it’s definitely on my travel bucket list xx
GemmaEtc.com
Author
I am seriously excited! xx
Totally get where you’re coming from with this Jessie – I’ve been stuck in a routine since January but luckily I’ve got some exciting things planned!
Lucy | http://www.lucy-cole.co.uk
Author
Yay for exciting plans! xx
I’m terrible for routines, I much prefer to keep things in it and I annoy myself haha. Like the idea of 3 new places though! xx
Author
Hahah I’m terrible too! I’m trying really hard to mix things up a bit 🙂 xx
Jetting off to NZ sounds amazing with the camper van!!
Kathleen / http://www.madeinthe1990s.co.uk
Author
I honestly can’t wait! xx
I know exactly what you mean! I feel like I have switched things up a lot this year – I still work 9-5 in my job, but I now attend x3 AM hit classes and 3 evening boxing classes. I’ve also started getting my nails and lashes done, and I’ve been on a few mini breaks this year too. Am I skint as a result? Yes haha, but am I making memories? Definitely! 😀 xxx
Author
You may be skint but it sounds like you are really taking life by the horns and are loving it and working on yoruself in the process! You go girl 🙂 xx