Do Something Different
Have you ever noticed that you've become stuck in a bit of a rut? Things can sometimes start to be a bit monotonus, or even turn into one giant Groundhog Day...
Or maybe you've recognised a pattern where something you're doing doesn't seem to be working and perhaps it's time to try something else?
This thread is for sharing experiences of when we did something different - whether that's finding a new band to listen to, trying a new type of food, going to a new place, or starting a conversation with someone we haven't really spoken to before. Also if you want to do something different but aren't quite sure what to try, feel free to post and ask for some ideas! 🙂
Comments
Recently I have been trying to set aside some time to reflect on my day. I have been keeping at it for a few weeks now, but it is still very difficult to do sometimes. I basically just go through the events of the day and notice how I felt and if I am still ruminating over things. If I am, I make a conscious effort to solve the issue (if possible) or just be comfortable sitting with it.
I find it helps me move on from small mistakes that would have previously kept me up all night thinking about them. It also helps me notice how I felt during the day and helps put things into perspective.
I find it a very valuable skill to practise and really promotes the idea of not dwelling on the past and living in the moment.
@Alison5 I think taking time to reflect on your day is a really effective idea. I try to do that with writing a journal entry at the end of every day and it really does help, I find.
Today what I did differently was to apply for a volunteer position that my instinct was not to bother applying for because I thought I couldn't do it. I was proud of myself because I challenged that belief and applied anyway. I'll see how I go...
@N1ghtW1ng I'm glad you're trying! I'm similarly trying to take up writing again but I haven't written anything in so long and I tend to criticise my own work so much that it's proving difficult.
What kinds of things do you like to draw?
@N1ghtW1ng I'm a terrible drawer so I feel your pain but hey, practice makes perfect 🙂
Hey @Bay52VU cool thread! Sometimes it's so great to get out of your comfort zone and do new things, there's no better feeling than when you surprise yourself and realise you have and endless capacity for learning!
About two months ago I decided to cut down on all my sweets, basically, change up my diet without going on a 'diet'. I've made a lifestyle change now and I'm so proud of myself for actually doing it! I've always seen changing food habits as such a difficult thing to do but now I don't eat any refined sugar at all and have completely lost my sweet tooth. For someone who went from eating chocolate every day, I was completely stuck in my sweet cravings. I've tried all new raw treats now and found they are just as tasty as ordinary sweets, but better for me 🙂
Next venture, making raw treats from scratch myself! Wish me luck
That's a really big change to make.
.. I used to eat chocolate every day and then I found my teeth became too sensitive to the sweetness so now I can't eat it!
@StarLord that's a super healthy/great change to make, even if it was out of our control.
Are there other things you can't eat due to having sensitive teeth?
ah well, such is life
Last week, I decided to take a different bus home. And I'm glad that I did because now I know that i can take whatever bus I want home.
@Alicat changing up your diet is such a positive step to take! Wow, I really admire your ability to make that resolution and stick to it, and the idea of making your own raw treats! Keep us updated on how that goes!
Another thing I've tried is pushong myself to do at least one social activity a week, usually catching up with a friend. That might not seem like much but I often think my friends might be too busy to see me, so it's been helpful to challenge that mindset and affirm the fact that people can value me just as I value them.
Its amazing how changing little things in your routine make you feel so much better. For me latley its been setting an alarm, i often find that if i sleep in to late i feel unmotivated and in a negative mindset most of the day . Ive found that by setting an alarm for 9am everyday (still a decent sleep in) i am more productive and actually wake up feeling motivated. 😊
I'm still very bad at this because I'll often plan my sleeping around the latest possible time I can get up, but whenever I get up earlier and do something else before going off to do the thing that I had to get up for it makes a giant difference to how I feel once I'm at that thing.
It's a lot nicer to wake up and find something on netflix for a bit, than to wake up and go through the motions to get to work.
Wow cool thread @Bay52VU! I completely agree that trying new things is really helpful when you're stuck in a rut.
Something (really small, but still a thing) that I did a while ago was delete all my Pinterest boards full of sad quotes and soft grunge aesthetics and replace them with a 'Future' board with lots of pretty things and info. It made a pretty big change in my thinking, actually.
And to break my summer holiday habit of crying-and-hating-myself I'm planning a trip to the state library 🙂
That's a really good idea @Ally-Leesh-Jane! I'm glad it was able to help you 🙂
Awesome @lokifish :d Swimming is great 🙂 I haven't been swimming in aaages but still remember squad training in primary school which seemed to start way too early in the morning but I got to have a poptart afterwards 😛
I can relate to this sooooooo much!
For me, doing something different, even if it's a seemingly small thing, can make the hugest difference t my mood/self-esteem. For example, when I go to the library, I usually always park in the same spot because it's habit and I've been too nervous to try parking anywhere else. But the other day I challenged myself and parked in a different, more conveinent spot and I felt so proud of myself.
Thanks for the relatable thread @Bay52VU!
I signed up for swimming lessons the other week! It was really scary going for the first time but it's good for getting out of the house and looking after my body 🙂
I'd noticed that the trips to/from work on the bus were a time when my brain unhelpfully started bringing up negative stuff. I was lucky enough to move work locations to a closer spot, and the two things together gave me the incentive to start riding instead of getting the bus. Thanks to "doing something different" I'm now actually finding that the trip to/from work mentally chills me out a bit and takes the focus away from negative stuff. 🙂
