Routine versus Adventure

The foundation of Occupational Therapy discusses how important it is for individuals to establish and maintain a routine to lead the fullest life possible. The past couple of weeks I have been easing back into a busier routine I will have during the school year. Over the summer I set up a more laid back routine while I was not working. I pretty much knew when I would sleep, eat, take bike rides, run errands, get things done around the house, etc. To me, routines are safe and important. They are necessary to complete tasks and stay healthy.

However, this summer when I was able to mix things up a bit I realized the importance of adventure and change. Adventures in life are the moments that provide us with memories and the opportunity to experience new ways of living. When we stretch our boundaries and comfort zone bursts of growth jolt through us.

This summer I was probably able to relax more than I should have. I was also able to do yoga and spend time with people I care about. I feel like my personal strength continues to expand and along with that is understanding who I am and what I need to be happy. One of the coolest realizations I have each summer is the fact that I require adventure to feel happy and well balanced. This is a time when my work routine slows down enough so I feel like I have enough room in my life for "more!" Usually I address this feeling on a very small scale even though the bigger leap I take, the better I feel before and after the experience. The anticipation of planning a trip or something new and different and then reflecting back on it is almost better than the experience itself! So, I made an effort to plan trips to touristy spots and take bike rides in different places. The more new things I see and the more active I was, the better I felt!

It's almost as if, doing something new and different each day should be apart of my routine!