Being a parent, I've become aware of how important routine and schedules are for children. They need a place to come back to. They need a safe structure so they can explore the world around them with confidence, and know that this and this and this will happen, and we will always be there for them.
But let's be honest. Routine and schedules can be boring at their best and stifling at their worst for an adult. I've started to look for little releases throughout my week to break up the routine that my children need to thrive and grow. I've made some observations about my own daily routines and tried to do them differently every once in a while. It makes me live that moment just a little more intentionally, and brings a tiny bit of zest to my everyday tasks. They might sound silly, but they do help me notice what my small patterns are, which helps me to practice noticing what my big patterns are. A change of any size, at it's best, can broaden our minds, open our hearts, and make room for great things to come in to our lives.
Here are some little ways I've tried to live my day differently in the tiniest way.
*Shave my left leg first, instead of my routine right
*Unload the dishwasher "backwards" (silverware last?!)
*Fill the dog's water bowl first, then her food bowl
*Put my lipstick on before my mascara
*Choose my jewelry first and build an outfit around it
*Lay out my clothes the night before so I have two more minutes to stay in bed, breathe and get mentally prepared for my day
*Drive with the radio off
*Eat an omelette for dinner, appetizers for lunch, pasta for breakfast
UPDATE: Thought of a new one:
*Write a blog post that's not about food :)
*Write a blog post that's not about food :)
So, tell me: What do you think? What will you do to make a tiny change?
