When we fall into a routine, we can become overly complacent. This works well for some people, but not so much for others. Forward-looking and always in search of ways to liven up my career and marriage, I fall within the latter group.
I accept routine up to a point, but eventually it begins to grate on me a bit. I like to feel as though I can look forward to something bigger and better. In the context of my marriage, this means doing new, spontaneous things with my wife -- say, visiting a particular destination for the first time, trying out different foods and restaurants, and partaking in new outdoor activities.
Many people say that once the wedding and honeymoon are over with and people finally have to live like a married couple, it's not all peaches and cream. Well, I can attest to that.
Marriages, just like relationships, take a lot of work. Once the novelty of a relationship wears off, people need to put in a considerable degree of effort to keep things fun and interesting.
Too much routine isn't conducive to a healthy, thriving relationship. Like everything else in life, routine in small doses is okay, but following the same pattern day in and day out can make one or both partners grow bored.
The same applies to one's career. Doing the same tasks each and every day not only puts a lid on your professional growth, but it hampers you from getting your creative juices flowing.
Studies show that people are happiest in jobs that afford them free creative expression -- whether it's to solve a pressing financial problem or design a new corporate brochure. Unfortunately, factors like red tape and unceasing politics sometimes prevent us from being able to exercise our creativity fully. (I deal with this firsthand in my day job.)
Routine can make us feel like we're stuck in a rut -- spinning our wheels, so to speak -- in both our jobs and relationships. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Be spontaneous in your marriage or relationship, and encourage your partner to do the same. For example, don't eat dinner at the same exact time while watching the same exact show every single day. Surprise the other person with a candlelight dinner -- on a week night. Explore different restaurants, activities, destinations, cultures, and activities. I assure you that you'll inject a good dose of excitement into your relationship in no time, the boredom and routine slowly fading away.
At work, always be on the lookout for new learning opportunities. If you find yourself without much to do, ask a coworker if he needs a hand on a big project. Tell your boss that you'd like tasks that are more challenging in nature. If all else fails, look around for other jobs within your company -- or outside if it.
Don't let routine put the brakes on your contentment at work or in your relationship or marriage. Variety is the spice of life -- use it to your advantage!
I accept routine up to a point, but eventually it begins to grate on me a bit. I like to feel as though I can look forward to something bigger and better. In the context of my marriage, this means doing new, spontaneous things with my wife -- say, visiting a particular destination for the first time, trying out different foods and restaurants, and partaking in new outdoor activities.
Many people say that once the wedding and honeymoon are over with and people finally have to live like a married couple, it's not all peaches and cream. Well, I can attest to that.
Marriages, just like relationships, take a lot of work. Once the novelty of a relationship wears off, people need to put in a considerable degree of effort to keep things fun and interesting.
Too much routine isn't conducive to a healthy, thriving relationship. Like everything else in life, routine in small doses is okay, but following the same pattern day in and day out can make one or both partners grow bored.
The same applies to one's career. Doing the same tasks each and every day not only puts a lid on your professional growth, but it hampers you from getting your creative juices flowing.
Studies show that people are happiest in jobs that afford them free creative expression -- whether it's to solve a pressing financial problem or design a new corporate brochure. Unfortunately, factors like red tape and unceasing politics sometimes prevent us from being able to exercise our creativity fully. (I deal with this firsthand in my day job.)
Routine can make us feel like we're stuck in a rut -- spinning our wheels, so to speak -- in both our jobs and relationships. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Be spontaneous in your marriage or relationship, and encourage your partner to do the same. For example, don't eat dinner at the same exact time while watching the same exact show every single day. Surprise the other person with a candlelight dinner -- on a week night. Explore different restaurants, activities, destinations, cultures, and activities. I assure you that you'll inject a good dose of excitement into your relationship in no time, the boredom and routine slowly fading away.
At work, always be on the lookout for new learning opportunities. If you find yourself without much to do, ask a coworker if he needs a hand on a big project. Tell your boss that you'd like tasks that are more challenging in nature. If all else fails, look around for other jobs within your company -- or outside if it.
Don't let routine put the brakes on your contentment at work or in your relationship or marriage. Variety is the spice of life -- use it to your advantage!
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