Taking up a new activity can be great for breaking a rut and adding a little extra spice to your life.
The Psychologist Rich Walker of Winston-Salem State University looked at about 30,000 event memories and over 500 diaries, ranging from durations of 3 months to 4 years, and he says that people who engage in a wide range of experiences are more likely to retain positive emotions and minimize negative ones than people who have fewer experiences.
A little over two years ago, I was still in school and was used to sticking to the same routine day in day out. My mornings would usually go like this.
Wake up --> Shower --> Brush teeth -->Wake up my room-mate --> Eat Breakfast --> Brush Teeth --> Go to Class.
It was always the same. Nothing changed and this became really boring. The problem is I was already integrated into the whole system and if anything did change, like me waking up a bit late or I didn't brush my teeth. It usually ended up in a chaotic chain reaction that left me tired and extremely stressed at the end of the day.
It kept happening over and over again until I decided enough was enough. I was going to take up something new that would break the rut, keep me relaxed and add value to my life while still keeping my schedule intact.
I also adopted the slogan "I'm willing to try anything at least once" especially when it came to food, relationships and opportunities. After all, if you choose to close yourself up to new things, you choose to close yourself up to new possibilities.
This is the list I came up with back then although I have added a few more which are really good and you should consider.
Art
Art is all about self expression. It allows you to dig deep within yourself and produce something physical. It brings out your inner most emotions and puts them down on paper or within a piece. A sculpture for example. I had always been into drawing so this was a great fit for me. Taking some classes actually enhanced my love for it and also allowed me to focus on the more emotional side of art. It was relaxing and stress relieving.
Yoga
Yoga has so many benefits and advantages for those who take it. It helps you get in touch with your body, restores your balance, is healthy, gives you flexibility and is extremely relaxing. It also helps you achieve a better sense of self.
Yoga has so many benefits and advantages for those who take it. It helps you get in touch with your body, restores your balance, is healthy, gives you flexibility and is extremely relaxing. It also helps you achieve a better sense of self.
Meditation
Meditation bring serenity, clarity and bliss. It is an activity that can help re-examine your life, control your thoughts, increase creativity and emotional stability. It's as easy as sitting comfortably and focusing on your breathing. Taking a few minutes of each day can not only help you relax. It can also help give you a deeper understanding of who you are as a person.
Meditation bring serenity, clarity and bliss. It is an activity that can help re-examine your life, control your thoughts, increase creativity and emotional stability. It's as easy as sitting comfortably and focusing on your breathing. Taking a few minutes of each day can not only help you relax. It can also help give you a deeper understanding of who you are as a person.
Reading
As like most teenagers growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of reading. Then only time I would actually pick up a book was when I had to study and that was it. If a book was going to be made into a movie, I saw no point in reading the book! I would rather wait for the movie. That was until for some reason I was forced to read John Grisham's "The Testament" and I couldn't put that book down. It gave me a new found love for reading.
Reading can be very relaxing. All it takes is finding out what genre of books you might be interested in and going for it.
As like most teenagers growing up, I wasn't a huge fan of reading. Then only time I would actually pick up a book was when I had to study and that was it. If a book was going to be made into a movie, I saw no point in reading the book! I would rather wait for the movie. That was until for some reason I was forced to read John Grisham's "The Testament" and I couldn't put that book down. It gave me a new found love for reading.
Reading can be very relaxing. All it takes is finding out what genre of books you might be interested in and going for it.
Cooking
It's a good skill to learn especially if you're doing it with someone you love, like your wife or girlfriend. It's also a heck of a lot of fun too and surprisingly, it's not as hard as you think. There are so many things you can learn to cook and you can also experiment a bit too.
It's a good skill to learn especially if you're doing it with someone you love, like your wife or girlfriend. It's also a heck of a lot of fun too and surprisingly, it's not as hard as you think. There are so many things you can learn to cook and you can also experiment a bit too.
Karaoke
A karaoke night with friends on a weekend is a great way to relax and break a rut. It's a time you can just let your hair down and sing some of the songs you love.
A karaoke night with friends on a weekend is a great way to relax and break a rut. It's a time you can just let your hair down and sing some of the songs you love.
Photography
Photography, like general art is great method of self expression. You also capture the beauty of the world and the people in it, in your own unique way. You are able to get in touch with life and appreciate nature for what it is. It's easy to start as well.You don't need to go and buy an ultra professional camera like a FinePix F550EXR (for those who know what I'm talking about), any simple camera will do.
Photography, like general art is great method of self expression. You also capture the beauty of the world and the people in it, in your own unique way. You are able to get in touch with life and appreciate nature for what it is. It's easy to start as well.You don't need to go and buy an ultra professional camera like a FinePix F550EXR (for those who know what I'm talking about), any simple camera will do.
Jogging
A good jog can not only be healthy, it can also help you get your mind off things and also help you know more about your body. You'll know your limits and feel better about yourself.
A good jog can not only be healthy, it can also help you get your mind off things and also help you know more about your body. You'll know your limits and feel better about yourself.
Learn a New Language
Great skill to learn and also an opener to doors of opportunity. You never know, it could even save your life! Check Out This Story.
Great skill to learn and also an opener to doors of opportunity. You never know, it could even save your life! Check Out This Story.
Fishing
Sometimes, nothing beats just relaxing in the great outdoors. I recently took a trip with a group of friends and spent 5 days by a lake and it was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. The highlight was of course taking a boat out and fishing. We got to know a lot about each other and ourselves while competing over who would catch the biggest fish.
What about You?
What activities would do you take to relax? What activities do you want to take up? Which activities would you recommend?
Sometimes, nothing beats just relaxing in the great outdoors. I recently took a trip with a group of friends and spent 5 days by a lake and it was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. The highlight was of course taking a boat out and fishing. We got to know a lot about each other and ourselves while competing over who would catch the biggest fish.
What about You?
What activities would do you take to relax? What activities do you want to take up? Which activities would you recommend?
