5X ANTI-BORING IDEAS FOR MORE FUN IN YOUR LIFE
Those with a driver's license driver's license will surely recognize this: you drive from A to B and arrive at your destination only to realize that you can't remember large parts of the journey. You had the vehicle under control the whole time and, thank god, arrived safely, but it feels more like someone else was behind the wheel. That, my friends, is called the autopilot. And that idiot doesn't just grab you during a drive, but everywhere: at home and at work. Every single day.
Why do we spend such a large part of our lives on autopilot? Well, because that's how our brain works. It turns out that when you have little energy, you're more likely to slip into zombie mode. Do you feel like you could use some energy this winter? Want to get out of that zombie mode? Then I suggest you open the book ‘Wake Up!’ by Chris Baréz-Brown. He gives you 52 tips, anti-boring ideas, and exercises to get more out of your life. And you know what? Because I'm not the worst: here are 5 of his tips in a row:
1. Live on 5 euros a day
If your daily budget is no more than 5 euros, you have to think carefully. What do you want to eat and drink? Which purchases are necessary and which are not? What counts as a real reward and what just fulfills a short-lived need? Maybe you'll decide to walk to that appointment instead of taking the bus or car. There are people with money and there are people who are rich. Just try it for a week.
2. Make time. Literally.
If you can't organize your own time, you're no longer in charge of your own life and lose a sense of involvement. Hello autopilot! Not too crazy that you start to pop up. Make time every day this week, even if it means scrapping ‘obligations’. Maybe you need to cancel an appointment or come up with a few as an excuse. You can also decide that your house doesn't need to look spotless this week. Be creative and see where you can free up a few hours to really enjoy. And, make sure to spend that time entirely on yourself, otherwise it won't work.
3. Plan a digital detox
Honestly, how often do you see that technology has a huge impact on our lives and social media can be quite suffocating? That's why it's time to handle this better. Try putting your phone aside for a weekend, delete apps like Facebook and Insta from your phone if you can't resist the temptation. Really, it helps to be ‘in’ life again. I recently did this challenge.
4. Express your appreciation
We all have something that makes us unique and special, but often those traits get buried and we lose a bit of our shine. We tend to focus on the negative, while a deeper connection truly makes us a lot happier. Choose someone today and tell them what you appreciate about them. It doesn't matter what it is.
5. Do something big
Ask yourself what you can do to completely change your life. What do you really want to do? What seems incredibly exciting to you? What would make you feel like you're really living and not trapped in a system where the autopilot is gradually getting more attention? Write down your wildest ideas and wishes. So, what's holding you back now? Take that leap.
Goodbye, autopilot! Feeling motivated? Then you're ready for the whole book, trust me.
