Three Ways to Break a Routine

I've completed the first 30 days of my 365 Day Routine-breaker Challenge, and I've discovered that there are three ways to break a routine:

1. Do something you always do, but in a different way.

2. Do something new.

3. Deprive yourself of something you usually do or have.

I've had 13 days of switching things around; where I sit or sleep, what hands I use to perform various tasks, etc.

I added or did something new on 10 days. These were the most rewarding days, because they usually involved some creative endeavor. Some of these additions will be on-going, such as my new job and adding olive oil to my diet. I'm also on a redecorating and painting binge since getting my dining-room chair repainted.

I had seven days of deprivation, and these are definitely my least favorite days. Two items are tied for the worst routine-breakers so far: giving up my computer chair for a day, and not listening to music for a day.

Rob tells me I seem to have more energy and creativity since I started this project. Cool!

(The photo up above has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this post, but it looked naked without a photo. That's me on the Golden Gate Bridge next to a very important sign.)

Hello Sweet-hearts

Days 24-30 of routine-breakers

24: Rob and I called each other honey, dear, darling, sweet-heart, etc. for the entire day. It felt like we were in an Ozzie and Harriet episode.

25: No jaywalking. It took all my will-power to use the crosswalks.

26: I decided to take an entire week's break from the gym. I usually work-out 6 days a week, but my body's been needing a rest. I'm enjoying the extra time at home.

27: Brushing my teeth with the opposite hand.

28: I've been wanting an adult tricycle to carry groceries for a long time, but never even saw one at the bike stores. A friend of my son got one for Christmas and she let me try it out.

Talk about lack of maneuverability! I never realized how much movement comes from leaning to the side, which you can't do with a trike. Plus, you keep whacking your heels on the back wheels if you try to walk it. I no longer want an adult tricycle.

29: I've had three wishbones (2 turkey, 1 chicken) sitting on the counter for a few months, because I keep forgetting to get Rob to make a wish with me. I figured what the heck, who says I can't make a wish and pull both halves by myself? I can't possibly lose! That's what you call a Win-Win situation. So I made three wishes and broke all three by myself.

30: Usually when Rob is home from work, I cut loose and eat whatever I want. (Cookies, candy, popcorn, etc.) But I've been feeling a bit too well-fed lately, so I stuck to real food today.
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Because of my workout break, I've had extra time and energy to spend around the house. I got another dining room chair painted

and I've been doing a little bit of embroidery on the dull dining room curtains to make them match my colorful tablecloth.

Yesterday I fixed stuffed bell-peppers.

I still have two more days left of my break; I'll probably spend most of it in the kitchen.

Day of the Clown

I do not like clowns. At all. I'm not scared of them, I just think they're stupid, ugly and obnoxious. If you've ever been a clown, don't tell me.

For day 23, this is what Rob found on the dining room table when he got home:

He immediately knew it was my routine-breaker for the day. Whattaya think? Did I manage to totally swallow my hostility while creating this monstrosity? I really, truly tried to think nothing but happy thoughts while drawing it.

ANOTHER MIND-BOGGLING POST OF STUPENDOUS IMPORTANCE

Made you look!

It's really tricky coming up with attention-grabbing titles for my posts, especially when the contents aren't really that exciting.

Without further fan-fare, here are days 19 through 22 of my routine-breakers:

19: Because I work past my regular dinner hour, I now need to prepare dinner right after breakfast two days a week. On this day, I fixed pumpkin enchiladas:

Rob can pop one in the microwave when he gets home from work, and then I can do the same when I get home. And we've got left-overs for the next day! I love left-overs.

20: About two years ago I got a bum bottle of olive oil that was all dark and cloudy, and I felt queasy after using it. I've avoided olive oil ever since. I figured it was about time to give it another try, and made a simple vinaigrette dressing. Not my favorite, but it didn't make me sick, either. I will no longer consciously avoid using olive oil.

21: At the beginning of October, I planned to paint a dining-room chair. I sanded it and prepped it with masking tape, then the holidays happened, and I sort of never got around to doing it. This day I stopped procrastinating and did it:

22: No gum chewing. I avoid chewing gum in public, but I'm usually chomping on it while I'm home. I missed it.

First Post of 2011

Day 13: I do some warm-up exercises as soon as I wake up, which is when routines come in handy, because you don't want to think when you're half-asleep. But my brain was whirling and I woke up at 2am, so I decided to experiment. Came up with a new hip exercise which will be permanently added to my routine.

Day 14: I've been a tea-totaler for years, but when I did used to drink, I loved booze in hot coffee. With all the emphasis on drinking on New Year's Eve, I caved in and bought a bottle of Bailey's Irish Creme. There was plenty left over, so I had a cup for breakfast today, and then I had some more later on in a cup of hot cocoa! Happy New Year!

Day 15: My first full shift on my new job. Talk about a crazy time of year to start working at the YMCA! You have no idea how many people are signing up for new memberships and classes right now.

Day 16: I switched all the clothing around in my wardrobe. It used to be: Jackets, shoe-rack, pant, shirts. Now it's: Shoe-rack, shirts, pants, and jackets. No particular reason, just did it as a routine-breaker. 

Day 17: I usually weigh myself every day, but I've been avoiding the scale the past few days to deny how many cookies I've eaten this past couple of weeks. I decided I won't weigh myself for the rest of the month.

Day 18: My morning routine is to take a shower when I get back from the gym, and then I slop around in my sweats until I have to leave the house. As soon as I dried myself today, I got fully dressed. Now I don't have to be embarrassed if somebody comes to the door.

I'M A USEFUL MEMBER OF SOCIETY!

I got a job! I've been trying for months to get a job at the fitness center of the YMCA where I work-out 6 mornings a week. I thought that I was going to be hired back in October because one of the employees was leaving for the Peace Corps. But then there was a snag in his paperwork and he said he wouldn't be leaving till the end of March.

However, there was a sudden vacancy at the front desk, and some of the employees who know me put in a good word for me, and there I am! I have a part-time job as a "Member Services Associate". I'm thrilled to have my foot in the door, as well as getting free membership. Oh, have I mentioned that it's only a 5 minute walk from my house?

Oh, yes, so I believe this counts as a routine-breaker for Day 12: Filling out my employment paperwork and getting my first hour of training yesterday.

Creativity as a routine-breaker, Part IV

Day 10: Every time I throw out a toilet-paper roll (into the recycle bin), I always think that I should do something with it. I never know what, but something. This day, I was inspired by something I saw on the internet, so my routine-breaker was to quit procrastinating and do the same:

Done with a combo of stickers and Sharpie pens. He now lives on a ledge above my dining room window.

Day 11: No music or radio today. This was torture! I usually have the radio or my music library on all day. I had the constant, nagging feeling that I was missing something.

Day 12: This one deserves a post of its own; stay tuned.

Day 13: I wake up at 4:10am in the morning, start the coffee pot, and then do some mobility/warm-up exercises. Because I'm half-asleep, I do the exact same routine every morning. This is when routines are really useful, because you can get things done without thinking about them at all. But last night my brain was racing (because of events on the mysterious day 12) and woke up at 2:00am, so I messed around with my warm-up and added a new hip mobility exercise which will now be permanently added to my routine.

Backyard Carnage, Routine Breakers Part 3

Days 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9

Day 5: Washing and drying dishes on opposite sides of the sink. I don't have a dishwasher; it's all done by hand. Switching the two sides is quite tricky, because there's not much space and I don't usually need to think about how to turn and move things to keep from whacking into the faucet or other dishes.

Day 6: I switched sides of the bed with Rob. (Sleeping, that is.) Isn't he a good sport?

Day 7: Merry Christmas to all! Instead of using my automatic coffee maker, I made all my coffee today by dripping it directly into my mug with a filter holder.

The coffee tasted great, and it was a bit stronger than usual, but it's a pain in the butt standing there and waiting to add more water as it drips, so I'm reverting to using my coffee maker.

Day 8: Sitting on the opposite side of the table while eating. No problem; I don't think I grew any new brain cells with this one.

Day 9:  I usually wait until New Year's Day to take down the Christmas decor,but I decided to do it early. Probably because right before the holidays, I bought a new tablecloth I really like.

A couple of days ago I was in the laundry room when I looked out the window and saw this:

Hawk? Falcon? I know nothing about birds. Let me know if you know what this is.

He was plucking and eating his pigeon for over an hour before he grabbed it in his talons and flew off over the fence.

Routine Breakers, Part 2

Days 2, 3, and 4

I really hated day 2! My routine breaker was to stand at the computer. I took the chair away so I wouldn't forget and use it. The morning was the worst part, because I usually stumble out of bed, grab my coffee, and blob out in the computer chair while catching up on emails and forums. Wasting time just isn't as much fun when you can't sit down.

I had to prop up the keyboard and mouse on boxes so I could reach them. I don't have a desk job, but I do generally spend 2-3 hours on the computer at various times throughout the day. I definitely cut down on my computer time because of this change.

Day 3 was a breeze. I'm left-handed, and I switched to my right hand for all of my eating and drinking. No problem; I was a lot more coordinated than I thought I would be, and it didn't require much mental effort.

Today is day 4: Putting on the toilet paper roll upside-down. Because I'm doing it intentionally, it's not bothering me nearly as much as when it happens on accident.

Breaking Routines

I found an interesting blog called Make Something 365, which encourages people to pick a theme and make something within that theme every day for an entire year.

I'm not exactly a crafty person. I have my moments, and can create something nifty once in a while, but I don't think I could keep it up on a daily basis. It did, however, inspire me to come up with a 365 day challenge. Every day, I'm going to break a routine. The one "rule" I'm making is that it has to be an intentional change. If I accidentally plow my car into a house or have unexpected guests, that doesn't count.

As you can see from the picture up above, today I'm wearing my watch upside-down and on the opposite wrist. I'm a compulsive watch/time checker, so I figured this would make me a little more aware of how often I do it.

I doubt that my routine-breakers will be exciting enough to blog about every day, but I will attempt to summarize at least once a week.