7 Ways to Escape the Daily Grind and Get a Fresh Perspective
After a couple of weeks where the kids were sick, we finally had a weekend with no high fevers, and no trips to urgent care. Whew.
We didn't make any plans and stayed close to home, and it was so nice.
A highlight was simply getting the kids outside and walking them halfway up the grassy hill behind our house, where we lolled in the late-morning sun. When my husband finished his farm work, he joined us.
The kids rolled around, tossed grass all over us, and searched for pine cones. My husband and I soaked up sunshine and their antics. Simple. And perfect.
I'm starting the week so refreshed. This feeling is the best. It's like a combination of being:
rested,
energetic,
optimistic,
grateful;
and with a fresh perspective.
I so love this feeling that it has me thinking that I've got to make it happen more often. There really are lots of ways to cultivate it in life.
Here are my ideas how:
1. Take a trip.
This is the classic way. Whether it's a two-week vacation or an overnight getaway, this one pretty much always works to give you a quick dose of newness along with the renewed pleasure of sleeping again in your own bed, and getting back to your usual routine.
2. Take a mini-vacation.
Don't have the money or time for a getaway? Take a mini-vacation within your everyday life. Make a short list of what you love doing on vacation and then make it happen for yourself in one small and meaningful dose. For me, it's sprawling out in the grass and watching the clouds go by. (Want more ideas? I wrote a whole article on this tactic.)
3. Go to work (or school) a different way.
I have a friend who, on his bike commute to work, always tries to take a slightly different route every single day. When I discovered this about him, I was surprised. I never did that.
I was also surprised by how adamant he was about this daily habit. He's super creative, and had a very creatively demanding job at IDEO. To him, this type of habit was vital to keeping his ideas and thinking fresh.
Shortly after, I started walking home from my job some days instead of taking the bus or riding my bike. (This was back when I lived in Portland.) It was quite an urban hike -- and yes, it had a big impact on me and my mood, to see my city and to end my day in a totally novel way.
4. Make a date with a friend and do something out of the ordinary.
First, pick a friend who you always enjoy hanging out with. Then find something you can do together that you usually don't do. For example, if you always go out to dinner or drinks, meet for a morning walk. Go to a workshop to learn a new skill. Take a silly or slightly intimidating class at the gym together. This is super refreshing for couples too.
5. Start a new hobby.
I'm a huge believer in making time for your hobbies (so much so, I wrote a separate article about it too). I see a similarity between the positive effects of sabbaticals and pursuing out-there / I've-always-wanted-to-do-this hobbies. The reason why you feel called to do this is because it's tied to your idea of who you want to be. Follow that inner voice and do it.
6. Go on retreat.
Sign up for a marvelous "everything is taken care of for you" retreat. Or create your own DIY retreat, for precisely your own purpose and budget. One of my clients had a 30-minute art retreat first thing every Saturday morning that jumpstarted his creativity. Schedule the time for yourself (and don't give it up!) and plan what you'll do with it. Add some extra touches to make it feel special, like yummy food, a beautiful location, or other indulgences.
7. Climb a mountain.
There's something built into our human spirit and psyche where "getting up high" = "seeing everything in a new way (sometimes even yourself)." When you also have to make a physical effort to get up high, and you get lots of clean air into your body, you're pretty much guaranteed to get that wonderful compound feeling that I described earlier:
Rested - Energetic - Optimistic - Grateful - A Fresh Perspective
Ahhhh, it's the best.
How do you re-generate freshness in your life? Do you have a tip or trick to add to my list? I'd love to hear it.
And what about this week? Where in your life can you court some novelty and a refreshed perspective?
