Bored? Time to Shake Up Your Routine

I recently ran into my old friend Clare at the library.  After exchanging updates, I asked Clare what was new in her life.

“I’m taking a math course,” she said.  “And I’m loving it!”  She excitedly shared her notebook, which was filled with scribbled math equations.

“Wow!” I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. “Are you taking this as a prerequisite for a degree?” “No, I’m just doing this because I want to,” replied Clare.

Initially, I questioned the wisdom of spending a beautiful spring day in the library working on math problems.  But then Clare shared an interesting observation that moved me.

“You know why I’m doing this?” she asked.  “I love that the answers are black and white. I love having clear steps and a defined process to follow to solve problems. There are no gray zones.  You are either right or you’re wrong.”

She elaborated, “As a parent, your life is so fractured. This is orderly and I am really enjoying that.  One plus one always equals two.  The answers are definitive, not ambiguous.”

Clare then told me about another friend who had enrolled in a chemistry class. Like Clare, she found formulas and equations a welcome change from the on-the-fly thinking that dominated her parenting years.

I was impressed.  Not that I would ever want to take chemistry or algebra again (once was more than enough, thank you) but it takes courage to go back to school “just because.” Taking classes helps these women stay sharp, relevant and engaged.

Their example is worth emulating. I’m not saying you need to go back to school to study math or physics.  But all too often, we slip into boring routines as we age. We read the same types of books, engage with a select group of friends and eat at the same restaurants, over and over again. And that limits our opportunities to grow and learn.

So next time you’re feeling stuck in a rut, find a way to mix things up. Do something —anything — to bust out of your routine. Try a more difficult exercise class, sign-up for a volunteer gig, talk to a neighbor whose political views differ from yours, attend a lecture on a topic you know little about. You’ve got little to lose and it could spice up your life in surprising ways no math skills required.