Step Outside of Your Usual Rut

Step Outside of Your Usual Rut
By Irene Roth
We all get into sulks and ruts. And this is especially the case for chronically-ill individuals who experience a lot of pain and fatigue all the time. Life just seems to carry on in a monotonous fashion, with nothing ever being different.
One of the best ways to get out of the rut of the usual and monotonous is to take steps to change things up a bit. You may want to take on a new habit. Or, go out with a new friend for a while. Or, pick up the phone and call someone that you wouldn't try before.
When everything that we do is the same, our life can seem like a prison of sorts, where everything follows exactly the same patterns to the minute.
So, here are a few things that you could do to change things up for yourself:
1. Plan to do something different once a week. Schedule it into your planner so that it happens.
2. Buy something nice for yourself that will put a smile on your face-that could be a bouquet of flowers or get some new nail polish.
3. Give yourself a new manicure.
4. Go for a pedicure.
5. Buy one new garment for yourself-something that puts a smile on your face.
6. Read a book that is inspiring and that puts a smile on your face.
7. Take a course or workshop to improve your life.
8. Go for a walk-even if it is a short one-if you get a beautiful day. By walking once a day even for a few minutes you will feel more alive and inspired.
9. Go to the movies-either alone or with a friend. Just don't go with any family members-people you are always with.
10. Ask a friend if she would like to join you for a coffee. If not, go for a coffee yourself to your favorite spot. Sit in a comfy chair and enjoy your coffee, sip by sip.
11. Become proactive with your health-if you don't feel well take it easy. Don't push yourself past your pain. This will help you to feel more alive and inspired.
12. Avoid stress as much as this is possible.
13. Accept things more-even if things are awful!
14. Smile often, even if it is for no apparent reason.
15. Groom yourself-look good and take steps to feel good.
By taking these steps, you will feel better and get out of the rut of the usual and mundane.
Individuals who do this find that they feel better, experience less pain, sleep better, and feel more in control of their illness. Now that is a winning combination to living well.
Irene S. Roth writes for teens, tweens, and kids about self-empowerment. She is the author of over thirty-five books and over five hundred online articles. She also has four hundred and sixty published book reviews both online and in print. In addition, she has several books published about living well with chronic illness. Please double click on this link to read about one of them: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/689182
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