Positive ways to shake things up

By Brian Maynor

 

Do you ever feel stressed out when life is too calm, peaceful or routine?

If so, you’re not alone.  A lot of us seek the security of the mundane when life feels crazy, but after a while we need to shake things up again.

I like to think of routines as a cocoon.  They make us feel safe, secure and relaxed because we know exactly what to expect, but if we stay in them too long we begin to feel anxious, stressed unfulfilled.  We need some surprises in life to keep it interesting and challenges to grow.

It doesn’t always take a crisis or milestone event to shake up our lives.  Here are some positive and gradual ways we can bring excitement, challenges and rewards back into our lives:

1.   Learn something new.  Whether it’s earning a degree or a new hobby, we all have things we wish we could learn, but put off for one reason or another.  Now is the time to seize the moment.  Regardless of how much time we have to devote to it, there are countless ways we can fit learning something new into our lives.

2.   Take that a vacation.  As someone who just spent a weekend at the beach, I can personally attest to how invigorating it can be to just step away from our everyday surroundings, even for a few days.  I always find the most beneficial vacations are the ones where we do as little as possible.  We have enough schedules, agendas and deadlines in our daily routines, why carry them over into our down time?  Vacations are meant to be respites and moments in time when we can escape and exist outside of our everyday reality.  Stop putting it off and schedule a getaway today.

3.    Do something that scares you.  This is one of the easiest ways to bring some excitement back into life.  We’ve all had to do it at one time or another, but we may have forgotten the rush we feel afterwards.  Facing a fear not only gives us an adrenaline rush, it also gives us a sense of accomplishment, bolsters our confidence and motivates us to tackle more fears.  Just because we do it once doesn’t mean it has to become our new favorite hobby.  We don’t have to keep doing it to reap the reward.  Once is all it takes.

4.    Volunteer.  One of the best ways we can grow is by giving back to others.  Where we choose to help out doesn’t really matter, so we are free to choose one cause that speaks to us, or bounce around from one opportunity to another.  The act of giving back is what’s important.  It reduces our stress, helps us detach from our problems for a while and reignites our appreciation for the blessings we have in our own lives.

It’s perfectly normal and helpful to retreat into our routines, but it’s not helpful to stay there.  At some point, we will begin to either crave something new and exciting or start feeling stressed out and anxious over this sense of lack we can’t quite pinpoint.  Shaking things up can be both fun and rewarding, especially when it’s intentional.  But these are great ideas to incorporate into life even if we aren’t feeling stagnant or bored.

 

 

 

I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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