I’m on vacation. And I’m doing things a little differently. For starters, I’m sleeping late. I’m not exercising like I normally do. I’m eating potatoes and pasta. I’m lingering over meals and enjoying the view. I’m trying foods I might not normally eat at home, and I’m letting food be part of the experience rather than something I need to think too much about. And you know what? I’m okay with it. Actually, I’m really enjoying it.
I’m sharing this because I know how difficult it can be to let go of our routines, even temporarily, and to trust ourselves when things look a little different. I understand that struggle because I experience it too.
I think what I’m enjoying most isn’t the fact that I’m “breaking” my usual habits. It’s that I’m somewhere new, and I want to experience it. There are new foods to try, a different culture to discover, and a different rhythm to my day. I don’t want to be so focused on doing everything the way I do it at home that I miss the experience of being away.
For a long time, it’s easy to believe that our routines are what keep us on track. Exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep. These are all the things we know make us feel good. And they are important. But I’m realizing that the real goal isn’t to become so attached to those routines that we can’t step away from them. The goal is to build a life where we can trust ourselves when we do.
I’m not going to pretend I’m completely comfortable with everything being different. I’m not. But I’m learning that it’s okay to be out of my comfort zone. I can walk because I want to explore somewhere, rather than because I’m trying to get my steps in. I can have a day where movement looks completely different. None of this means I’ve lost my habits. They’re still there.
When I get home, I’ll return to the routines that make me feel good. But I won’t be doing those things because I need to make up for this week.
Maybe there isn’t anything to “get back on track” from. Maybe there is no track. There’s just life.
Sometimes life has routines and structure. Sometimes it has spontaneity, long lunches, and foods you didn’t plan to eat. Sometimes you’re at home doing the things that make you feel good, and sometimes you’re somewhere completely different, taking in a new culture, a new experience.
I want room for both.
My friends and family sometimes tell me I’m very “disciplined,” but I’ve been thinking about that differently too. Maybe what looks like discipline from the outside is really just that I’ve found things I genuinely enjoy. I like having routines. But I also really like discovering new things. And I don’t want my healthy habits to become “rules” that stop me from enjoying life.
One little FYI: I’m taking next week off from the blog because I’m going to keep enjoying some time away. 😊 I’ll be back soon, probably happily back to my normal routines, with a few more stories, foods, and experiences to share.