How To Be Happier: Make A Break From Your Routine

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Sunday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

Lately, I've been feeling a little stale. My routine, which I usually love so much, is starting to feel like a run on a hamster's wheel.

Perfect timing -- I can keep my resolution to "Make a break in my routine" and also to Stay connected to my past by going to Kansas City this weekend, for my high-school reunion.

Kansas City is beautiful in the springtime. I can't wait to see my old high-school pals, one of whom is taking the same flight from New York City to K.C. so we'll have three hours to talk. And -- huge bonus -- my sister was five years behind me in school, so she'll be home from Los Angeles to go to her reunion at the same time (my parents are out of town, unfortunately).

I know that having a short break from my usual habits will re-invigorate my appreciation for my everyday life.

I'm off!

* I was so pleased to hear that one of my favorite sites, Gimundo, is up and running again. It went dark for a while, but now it's active again and better than ever, providing "good news...served daily."

* Interested in starting your own happiness project? If you'd like to take a look at my personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just email me at grubin, then the "at" sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. (Sorry about writing it in that roundabout way; I'm trying to thwart spammers.) Just write "Resolutions Chart" in the subject line.

Comments

[Stephen Anfield]

I like to think that not sticking to a routine is the joy of having been diagnosed with ADHD, but then again, I am reminded daily how routine-driven people tend to be.

I remember taking the Myers-Briggs and scoring really high in P (as opposed to J). I was told that a small percentage of the population are truly strong Ps, and it can be difficult because we tend to be flighty or just kinda do things on our own time without regard to other people's schedules.

I don't see it that way... I see it as we take the time to smell the roses (and smell again, again, and again...). Is this such a bad thing? I don't think so!

[Deborah Jiang Stein - Huffpost Blogger]

This is a good reminder.

As much as I like to poke playful fun at the happiness movement, I'm really all for it, and the benefits, and especially as 'happy" transforms into other arenas like content and fulfilled. As for breaking from routine, this one especially can make all the difference in helping one get perspective to appreciate "what is" and shedding what doesn't matter.

[dirtyice]

Was the truck injured?

[Jude55807]

Ever since I left the Dems for the Republicans I have been happier. Science confirms this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090518/sc_livescience/happinessisbeingoldmaleandrepublican

[me4you]

Happiness starts with you, try smiling at yourself (mirror) first thing in the a.m and see how your day goes. Not a sure fix but you are at least sprouting a smile to the most important person to youself first thing in the day. If you are wondering I do not remember to do this enough for myself but I thought I would share that tidbit ;)
Here's to YOU :o)

[James Stordahl]

Since retiring from USPS, I have finally been able to alter my routine in a number of ways. Just the fact of not having to rise in the morning at a certain time has helped by blood pressure. Sleep comes easier. Thoughts of doing good things arrive all the time. Caring for my grandchilden has moved up the ladder. Signing on to Facebook and MySpace has opened a whole new world. Statring tow blogs to journal my existence has helped clear the cobwebs out of my brain. The trivial arguments and frustrations that had built up during my postal service career have diminished, except for the damage done by two psychopaths that I was harassed by. That was financial and that speedbump takes time to overcome.

[fcsakes]

I just want one of those round things with the grass inside.

[fauve]

Me too!!!

[Marie-Elena15]

Thank you for your efforts! A break from routine is nice, sometimes helps us forget life's pressures for a little while. I agree that many of us need a happy distraction these days.

[Jerry Pecks]

Kansas City is beautiful in the springtime, but hellish in the summer. Cool article, looking forward to reading more. Go Royals!!!

[mummbleswers]

Pic on front page is funny. Wanna be happy? Walk in a giant green circle thingy.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

I'm not sure a break from routine necessarily leads to happiness. We need routines to give us structure at times. It really depends on what the routine is in the first instance.

[Bitsko]

An old trick old mine is to just pretend, like an actor would, that you're happy. Doesn't hurt.

[SteveDenver]

It was reported on NPR just a few months ago that studies were conducted where people were instructed to smile whether they felt like doing so or not. The simple truth is that it made them feel better. Those conducting the studies found that people encountered a better reaction from the world overall when they were smiling, which made the test subjects feel accepted, approved of and liked.

It's okay to take a break from routine, but the fact is that many people have routines that are so weak and are fraught with distractions. How about sticking to one's routine, saving time and rewarding oneself by not packing the newfound free time with more work?

[fcsakes]

Otherwise known as fake it till you make it. OR, whatever is happening, pretend that you're part of it.

[allison]

Fake it until it becomes habit (I think the rule is 21 consecutive days), then you don't even have to give it a second thought and the smile comes naturally and what a difference it makes for all. A smile and a friendly hi to most people changes their day also.

[zerotimes10]

Yes I agree Bitsko. Happiness is more or less a choice. Maybe its just a product of aging but I simply blow off most things now that I used to dwell on. I choose not to be pissed off or unhappy. Its not always easy to do this but it works well most of the time. Float above it all in your mind. :)

[CitizenMother]

Gretchen,

I used to read your Happiness Project postings but found your assumptions and your angel of vision really offputting. Not everyone has a wonderful set of supportive parents and siblings, a Big Guy, and plenty of money to jet off to wherever whenever. But we still find ways to be happy. I think you have more to learn than to share when it comes to the ways of finding happiness in a world unlike yours--the world in which most of us actually live.

[billthinx]

Great reminders! Thanks for this. Shaking up a routine. A change of scenery. Renewing old relationships. Finding new connections. Getting out to enjoy the flowers. These are simple things, most of them free or low cost, that can make a big difference in how we feel about ourselves and how happy we are. When all we do is the hamster wheel thing, especially in this economy, life can seem pretty dismal. As a business owner in charge of motivating my staff and keeping them productive and service oriented, I'm going to nudge them all to adopt their own Happiness Project.

[goldcoastsailor]

Never saw anyone I went to High School or College with again, not one reunion in over 40 years. Now that's happiness.

[ignorantwillyharper]

We've all sure been missing you though.

[Lvm]

LOl. Thanks for that.

[prog]

The people who were in my life at that time who were my friends remained my friends. The rest ran the gamut from acquaintances to annoyances. I've never understood the high school reunion impulse.