If, like many, the past year has been a fairly tame, static one for you, with little to look forward to and a persistent cycle of endless monotony, there’s no doubt that you’ll be itching to try out some new things and change up your life to invite some excitement in. Despite the Covid variants making the rounds, it appears that life will begin to slide back towards some form of normality over the course of the summer (although holidays abroad will most likely be limited), which makes this the perfect time to enact some switch-ups to your life and routine.
Everyday routines, while beneficial, can quickly become dull and tiresome. With the vast majority of the world’s population having been in lockdown, however, this boredom with routine has increased tenfold and been the driving force behind the general sense of lethargy and apathy that has set in for some. Lack of passion, drive, and motivation can not only have a detrimental impact on your mental health, but it can also affect your physical wellbeing, so making some changes could benefit both your mental and physical health after what has been an incredibly challenging year for us all.
If you’re looking to add some new excitement to your life via small changes, we’ve collected a list of ways you might harness this restlessness for the benefit of yourself and others – find out more below!
Career Switch
Perhaps one of the more drastic changes you can make in life, switching up your job or career path could be just what you need to break the pervasive monotony you might be feeling after an uneventful year.If your job is literally just that – a job to pay the bills – and you have the urge to do something more meaningful, or something that is more of a career or vocation than a job, there are plenty of options available to you.
The first thing you should do is write down every career path or position you’ve ever found interesting, regardless of the requirements to access it. Then you need to get yourself into research mode! Look into the various ways you can get a foot in the door (whether it’s online courses, evening classes, workshops, or a set amount of experience that’s needed prior to application), salary expectations, average hours, and work satisfaction.
If nursing has always been a vocation that you’ve found yourself interested in, for example, but you want to maintain your current job so as to remain financially afloat, there are plenty of entry routes, including online courses that allow you to choose how and when you learn– click here for info. Or, if you have a more creative endeavor that you would like to pursue, you could open your own Instagram or Etsy shop to test the waters with your items and see how viable it would be to build a business based on that.
Once you have all the information you need, you can start to make inquiries and really boil down your decision.
Home or Garden DIY-Project
This one is more for those who have inevitably become sick of seeing the same four walls and outdoor views over the time spent in lockdown. For those who find change exciting and uplifting, suddenly finding yourself trapped in your home with nothing to break it up may have left you feeling uninspired and flat, which is why having a look at the various posts online regarding innovative and fairly simple DIY home and garden projects could be exactly what you need!
From simply moving your furniture around to feng shui your whole vibe, or a complete restyle and decoration, to building a mini veggie plot in your yard or constructing a willow centrepiece, there are plenty of ideas to take your fancy!
Get Involved in Local Projects and Politics
With politics, politicians, and community-based agendas coming to the fore during what has been an incredibly tumultuous year, finding a way of getting involved could be your way of giving back to your locality.
This could include: canvassing for local politicians whose aspirations and agendas you wholly believe in; getting involved in food drives or soup kitchens; helping out in local children’s homes or elderly care centres; cleaning up your local area, including children’s play areas; or lobbying for changes that will benefit the locality. You could even work with others in your area to create a community-centred event, such as a picnic, music and arts event, a street party, or cook-out, to bring everyone together again!
Not only will this sort of change benefit those around you – particularly those who are most vulnerable and lack a voice – it will help you to feel good, giving back to your community and creating a sense of togetherness.
Join a New Class
Whatever your interests are, it’s likely that there’s a class nearby that caters to your preferences at times that suit you.
You can look into local fitness groups – boot camps, beginner and intermediate dance classes, parent and baby workouts, yoga, or swimming, to name but a few – try to find something more niche, such as coding, archery or blacksmith groups, or learn a new creative skill, such as life drawing, creative writing, drama groups, and photography.
This will help to change up your now-boring routine and add in some regular events or sessions that you can look forward to and learn from at the same time!
Learn a New Hobby
If you’re an avid follower of social media – TikTok in particular – it’s likely that you’ve come across some activities that you’re intrigued by and would like to learn. With individual exercise required in many places over the past year, there has been a huge resurgence of bygone individual activities such as embroidery, plant rearing, roller skating, skateboarding, and cycling.
Depending on the level of challenge you want to set yourself (and the weather outside), there are loads of new hobbies you can try out to see which gets your adrenaline pumping and endorphins flooding your brain.
If you feel like your life has become a little stale and samey, why not try giving one of these ideas a go? You never know how much it could improve life for you and your loved ones, as well as the wider community – and you could very well find yourself inspired to embark upon a new path in life that will challenge you in countless beneficial ways!
So, what are you waiting for? The future awaits!
