Have you ever felt as though your life has shifted into autopilot? Your routine is starting to get rudimentary. Somehow, you have checked into a flight that is on autopilot to a destination called Boredom Island. Nothing significantly has gone awry for the last few months cruising at an altitude of least resistance…until suddenly you’ve crash landed on Boredom Island.
What is Boredom Island?
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This energy draining state of being causes a lack of motivation surrounded by guilt of what you could be doing.
How did this happen? I won’t use the excuse of being a Taurus to defend my laziness, but could laziness be the instigator? In college, every semester was the hunger games. In the Peace Corps, every day was either a fun adventure or a journey to figure out what made you sick. For years, I have believed that I was born internally driven when my ambition was actually driven by stress (eustress). If I mentally had no complaints, was I simply becoming comfortable? Did this contentment in one aspect of my life leave the scales unbalanced?
My saving grace came during my only day off in months, besides the weekends (one-year probationary period…I know).I finished watching an episode of Real Housewives of Potomac when I decided I should be more productive.
Too hot to leave my apartment, I decided Michelle Goldstein’s Power Yoga was the way to go. During yoga, the Michelle asked “What is the intention for your practice today?” and immediately I thought “To become refreshed”.
For weeks, I’ve been grappling with motivation and discipline. I haven’t blogged since May or recorded a vlog since April. I was struggling to come up with something that was worthwhile or important. Something that could be relatable. I became comfortable with the routine of going to work and going home that I lost my edge. Life is cozy and I took advantage of the banality. If there aren’t any stressors directing me, then what unsolicited impactful advice could I possibly provide?
While excelling in certain aspects of my life, I’ve allowed satisfaction to turn to boredom. Instant gratification from doing well in my career distorted my lack luster efforts at other circumstances that challenge me. The possibility of failure scared me and I became content with only doing what I know I can do well. And there it is. I need to look fear in the eye and dominate.
During my yoga practice, I realized that I cannot get somewhere physically if I’m not prepared mentally. I realized I needed to challenge myself rather than let fear win and wait for outside factors to motivate me.
re·fresh/rəˈfreSH
Verb
1. To give new strength or energy to; to reinvigorate
How does someone refresh their mentality?
Be open. What is something healthy you can do to disrupt the dreariness?
I know one thing that is not rejuvenating is trying to change EVERYTHING at once and EXPECTING to prosper INSTANTANEOUSLY.
Adjusting to a new routine takes time. Internalizing that realization can be difficult. Make mistakes. Failures happen and are just an opportunity to try something different. The only road blocks are those beyond our control. Motivate yourself. Keep forgiving yourself. And remember, baby steps are still steps forward.
