For many people, everyday life means one thing in particular: Habits and rituals that make it easier to cope with the daily grind. However, we recommend variety. You just might be surprised!
Eventually it happens. You create a routine for your life. You know how to upset the people with whom you share a bed and a table, how to appease them once more, and even how to delight them. You prefer Italian food and only opt for Chinese on occasion. You no longer listen to the radio but rather acquiesce to the songs you already know. You already know that you like them.
That is comforting. You notice how complacent your life has become. But this can also be dangerous. Because now it will just be business as usual, most likely for quite some time. Marvels that turn your world upside down, knock your socks off or make your heart race are few and far between.
ROUTINES ARE FANTASTIC. WE CERTAINLY COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM. BUT NO ONE CAN BEAR TO LIVE IN A ROUTINE FOREVER.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest how damaging that can be. People who only take the fastest route to get from A to B will start to believe at some point that everywhere else is just like in their own filter bubble. And they never grow to reach their full potential because nothing ever befalls them that could encourage them to evolve. That is regrettable for the world. It could sorely use inhabitants who interact with one another instead of just living side by side. It is even more regrettable for yourself. After all, life would become so much more passionate and exciting if you were to subject yourself to a stimulating climate every now and again.
TIPP: ASK A 16-YEAR-OLD WHAT KIND OF MUSIK HE LIKES AND LISTEN TO IT ATTENTIVELY.
This is why you should dare to look beyond your own nose, quite literally. Try not to always each lunch in the same restaurant where everybody knows your name, but rather five streets up, even if there are only vegan burgers or hellishly hot curry. With the people with whom you share your table and bed, change sides in bed and places at the table in order to gain a new perspective. Ask a 16-year-old what kind of music he likes and listen to it attentively. Take a different route to work than usual, talk to colleagues about whom you did not know very much, besides the fact that they exist. Sit down in a church, even if you are not religious. Or visit concerts at which you are the oldest person in the room.
These are all minimally invasive actions that do not require you to overcome any particularly difficult barriers. If things go well, you will learn that life is full of pleasures in which you did not previously allow yourself to indulge. If not, at least you will learn that things were perfect just as they were. Having this confirmed from time to time can also be reassuring.
BREAK OUT OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE WITH THESE SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS:
PETER PRASCHL
Peter Praschl, born in Linz, Austria, in 1959, has lived in Germany since 1988. As an author, he contributes to the Culture section of German Sunday newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” as well as the cooking column in GQ magazine. Highly recommended is his contribution Essen zur Geisterstunde (Meals around the witching hour). Furthermore, he contributes to “Nido” magazine, dealing with children’s issues, and “Cargo” film magazine discussing videos that nobody watches but him. Praschl and his wife and two daughters live in Berlin
PAGE TURNER: OUR GUIDES TO HAPPINESS
Live different – live better – live smarter: Our guest authors dare questioning trends and offer inspiring tips
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Eventually it happens. You create a routine for your life. You know how to upset the people with whom you share a bed and a table, how to appease them once more, and even how to delight them. You prefer Italian food and only opt for Chinese on occasion. You no longer listen to the radio but rather acquiesce to the songs you already know. You already know that you like them.
That is comforting. You notice how complacent your life has become. But this can also be dangerous. Because now it will just be business as usual, most likely for quite some time. Marvels that turn your world upside down, knock your socks off or make your heart race are few and far between.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest how damaging that can be. People who only take the fastest route to get from A to B will start to believe at some point that everywhere else is just like in their own filter bubble. And they never grow to reach their full potential because nothing ever befalls them that could encourage them to evolve. That is regrettable for the world. It could sorely use inhabitants who interact with one another instead of just living side by side. It is even more regrettable for yourself. After all, life would become so much more passionate and exciting if you were to subject yourself to a stimulating climate every now and again.
This is why you should dare to look beyond your own nose, quite literally. Try not to always each lunch in the same restaurant where everybody knows your name, but rather five streets up, even if there are only vegan burgers or hellishly hot curry. With the people with whom you share your table and bed, change sides in bed and places at the table in order to gain a new perspective. Ask a 16-year-old what kind of music he likes and listen to it attentively. Take a different route to work than usual, talk to colleagues about whom you did not know very much, besides the fact that they exist. Sit down in a church, even if you are not religious. Or visit concerts at which you are the oldest person in the room.
These are all minimally invasive actions that do not require you to overcome any particularly difficult barriers. If things go well, you will learn that life is full of pleasures in which you did not previously allow yourself to indulge. If not, at least you will learn that things were perfect just as they were. Having this confirmed from time to time can also be reassuring.
BREAK OUT OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE WITH THESE SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS:
PETER PRASCHL
Peter Praschl, born in Linz, Austria, in 1959, has lived in Germany since 1988. As an author, he contributes to the Culture section of German Sunday newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” as well as the cooking column in GQ magazine. Highly recommended is his contribution Essen zur Geisterstunde (Meals around the witching hour). Furthermore, he contributes to “Nido” magazine, dealing with children’s issues, and “Cargo” film magazine discussing videos that nobody watches but him. Praschl and his wife and two daughters live in Berlin
PAGE TURNER: OUR GUIDES TO HAPPINESS
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