How to Break Free from Routine and Discover New Opportunities for Growth

All too often we allow our busy work schedules and tasks to rule the day. We are drawn to our phones, tablets, or our computers in the belief that something very important will be waiting for us. We believe an immediate response is required. Timing and urgency are sometimes driven more by our imagination than reality. Because of that, we make assumptions about what we can do with our time. It narrows our thought process and our exploration of what could be possible.

It is amazing what can happen when a change in situation or unplanned event forces us to see things a little different. It opens our eyes to new possibilities. I fell into this category for sure - I had a fairly specific routine I would follow on most days of the week. It began with checking email, planning for work related communications, follow up calls, or reviewing reports. I believed that was the order in which things needed to occur and that a specific amount time needed to be dedicated to it.

Feeling the need to make a change, I upended my routine. I would instead spend this weekend morning working in my yard instead of the usual, review, plan, and communicate first. What I found was crazy to me. I really enjoyed that break from routine. I also discovered that there was time to do both if I chose. I was able to really get away from work to spend time in my yard with my son. I allowed my mind to wonder and not focus on anything specific for work. Sure ideas floated in and out while I was out there, but it was never, “I must stop to check email.” When I finally succumbed to the heat of the day and finished up the yard, I found a few things that I was clearly taking for granted previously.

It Is Not About Time

I spent two hours in my yard and realized that the day was still young and that I would have more than enough time to get caught up on the other work things. In fact, I would be more focused on those because I had a clearer mind and actually more energy. What I recognized was that time was never the issue. It was about my priorities and limiting my thinking to what I had always done previously. We all have the same amount of time, it how we use it that makes a difference. Don’t let time be an excuse for not exploring new avenues to get things done.

Value Tangible Results

We may sometimes underestimate the value of being able to take a step back and SEE what we have done. This is especially true if our leadership role is much more about leading people and strategy - more distant from the actual day to day front line. It was such a nice feeling to finish in the yard and see what I had accomplished. As an added bonus it was time spent with my son. We enjoyed a moment of how nice it looked and was something we could take pride in together. We cannot lose sight of the value of hard work and the tangible results that come from that. For yourself, take a moment to enjoy when you complete something you have done. As leaders, when we see the fruits of other peoples hard work, we need to recognize that and share in their moment of pride and accomplishment.

Explore New Possibilities

How many other routines and assumptions was I making that limited my thinking? What else was possible if I opened my mind and options? Could I look at time differently? Could I find new ways to adjust my routines? Or could I change the order in which things were completed to experience more within the same given time limits? When we open ourselves to alternatives it will likely to make us more productive, more energized, and more creative by finding ways to try new things and experiencing more.

Challenge yourself take look at your routines and commitments and ask some tough questions about how you spend your time. What paradigms could be shifted and what would that mean to you? Choose to break out of old habits and thinking, “that’s what I’ve always done”. You may find that you are learning in different areas, experiencing new adventures, and expanding your horizons in a big way. The possibilities are endless.

What will you do to try something new in your routines?

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Photo by Rémi Müller on Unsplash