When is it Time to Change Up Your Routine?

Photo by Vianney CAHEN on Unsplash

Sometimes our routine feels old and stale. It feels like you're spinning your wheels day after day, hoping for different results but receiving the same results again and again. This lifestyle is the definition of insanity. Not good.

But you can fix this simply by changing up your routine.

Awareness is the first step to being able to change your routine. If you’re not aware your routine isn’t helping you, then you won’t be able to fix it.

Here are the 8 signs to look out for: 

1. You feel burnt out

Burnout is common when you're chronically stressed out from your routine.

It makes you feel depleted and mentally exhausted, making work extremely difficult to do.

It's like your car running out of gas, so you try pushing it each day to work… This would be insane. So why are you trying to force yourself to do your routine when it’s clearly not working for you?

2. You're doing too much

Doing too much makes you feel pulled in a million directions, never being able to focus on 1 task.

Plus, the disappointment of not completing tasks will stress you out, leading to burnout.

Don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s not worth your time to do a ton of things with low focus. Instead, focus on a few tasks that move the needle closer to your goals. Put your best effort into these few tasks.

3. You're not having fun

Your daily routine should incorporate fun, it keeps your life exciting.

If it doesn't, then you won't enjoy your routine. This makes it difficult to stick with the routine long-term. If you can’t stick with your routine long-term, then something needs to change to help you stick with it.

Find tasks you enjoy doing. See if you can make your current tasks more interesting and enjoyable. Gamify them to make these tasks become an adventure.

4. You have no time to do anything

If you never have time to take care of tasks that randomly pop up, such as needing to get your car fixed, then you're doing too much. Neglecting these tasks adds up over time. You need to be able to take time to address these random tasks as needed.

Plus, incorporating spontaneity into your life keeps it fresh. It keeps your life interesting. If you never break out of your comfort zone, then you’re missing out on a lot that life has to offer.

5. You're stressed out

If you're chronically stressed, then you're on a one-way trip to burnout land.

Stress negatively affects your physical and mental health. 

Take care of yourself, you've only got one body and mind.

6. You're not doing your tasks with intent

If you're going through the motions, it's a sign you're not enjoying your routine.

Your routine should give you the energy you need to complete your tasks, not zap it.

You should look forward to doing your daily tasks. Enjoying your tasks makes it easier to focus on them. It’ll be easier to get into the flow state, where your attention is solely on the task at hand. And time passes by quicker than you realize.

7. You procrastinate often

Procrastinating is a sign you're unable to focus on your tasks. You’re having a tough time getting started on them. Your brain doesn’t want to do them.

This often comes from not enjoying these tasks. But it's also a sign the barrier to entry is too high for your tasks.

Try making your tasks easier to start. Or reduce the time you spend on them. 

8. You're not receiving the benefits of your tasks

If you've been doing your tasks for a while and you're not making progress, it's a sign something needs to change.

If you're not receiving the benefits of the task, then why are you even doing it?

That being said, make sure you don’t quit tasks too soon. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to months for you to start receiving the benefits of the task.

Wrapping up

Your daily routine should make life enjoyable.

If it isn’t, then you’re most likely going to be dissatisfied with your life. You’ll hate doing your tasks, work, etc. This is a sign indicating you need to upgrade your lifestyle.

If you’ve experienced any of the signs listed above, consider reflecting on why you’re experiencing them. Determine if you need to make changes to your routine. 

Making your routine fun creates a great life.