Most people living a routine-based life find that their days fly by.
Why? Because when everyday looks similar, your brain doesn’t have to work as hard; It has the luxury of going on autopilot and letting the subconscious drive.
This also means that fewer memories are made during these routine-oriented days because each day appears relatively the same. Therefore, many people retain memories of their youth because each day brought something new. New experiences, new challenges, new opportunities.
Could breaking our routine and switching to a freedom-based lifestyle with diversity in our day make us feel like we’re doing a lot more in the same amount of time? Some might even call this living more and working less.
Becoming Less Routine-Reliant
One of my favorite thought leaders, Tim Ferriss, has been encouraging people to switch to a more freedom-based lifestyle since 2007 when he wrote his New York Times Bestseller: The Four-Hour Workweek.
Ferriss’s concept of the 4-hour workweek uses the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. The basis of this principle is that 80% of output is contributed by 20% of input.
So, spending your time effectively on 20% of things that get you 80% of your results or focusing on the things in work that result in the most progress allows one to free up their time to spend it chasing novelty or living a life that is less based on routine and more on enjoyment.
One of his most notable quotes is:
“Doing something unimportant well does not make it important.”
But how can we better escape the routines that we have spent years getting comfortable with? We can start by understanding what is holding us back.
Is Mentality Holding Me Back?
There is a reason so many of us find comfort in a routine. Life of routine is a life of predictability. We learn what works for us, and we do it repeatedly which theoretically helps us to minimize stress. And as humans, we naturally avoid stressful situations.
But does a routine-based life REALLY mean a STRESS-FREE life? Do you ever get those days where you wish for more?
Breaking free from a life of routine is intimidating, and sometimes even terrifying if you are someone who has been living in one for decades.
But I think it’s time we ask ourselves:
“Is a life with limited stress worth it when it means giving up new experiences and memories?”
Here's how we can start to break this mentality:
Understand your routine
Personal life – How are you spending your time away from work? Are you finding that the routine at home is necessary or comfortable?
Work life – Who sets your schedule? Is the way your days are structured necessary to your work outcomes?
Ask yourself what would add value to your life, today
What do you wish you had more time to do?
What memories are you “saving” for the undefined day when you won’t have to work as hard?
How can I break my routine as a business owner?
Oftentimes, business owners find themselves wearing many different hats and doing things they genuinely dislike with the “just need to power through.” And “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done” mentality.
But overwhelming responsibility can lead to a packed schedule and routines that are not fulfilling.
Let’s problem-solve, shall we?
Determine what things you truly enjoy and plan for more of that in your day
Think about how you can offload work to others so that you can focus more of your time doing what you enjoy
Remind yourself that your business will benefit from an owner who is fulfilled in life. Your overall well-being impacts your mood, and will, in the long run, impact who wants to work with you.
How can business owners offer more for their employees?
For those of you reading this and thinking that you would love to change your routine up, but your schedule is at the mercy of your employer, this section is for you.
We all know that the COVID pandemic has drastically changed the way people work. There is a new wave of flexibility in your day-to-day with many companies offering a work-from-home option.
But as an employer, you may be concerned that increased flexibility and work-life balance for your employees could mean that you’re not going to get the outcomes from them that you’re paying for.
You might be interested in some stats.
A 2022 research study by Voucher Cloud found that the average office worker is only productive for two hours and 23 minutes each day, meaning they spend a massive amount of time wasted at work. The same article said that employees spend about 32% of their workday on Facebook.
As more and more companies introduce flexible schedules, they are finding that employees are still able to accomplish the same tasks while increasing employee satisfaction with the work they are doing.
What do you think?
Does a 40-hour workweek really lead to career fulfillment? Or are we better off as both employers and employees following a work schedule that is not centered around a monotonous routine?
Whatever you may feel about this topic, I want to encourage you not to save your memory-making years for retirement. Let’s focus on how we can optimize our days to make them more notable. We’re only promised one life, after all.
I think it’s possible, do you?
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