Something Different
I have a 'field trip' from work tomorrow. It's not everyone's idea of exciting, but I'm quite happy about it; I'm attending a trade show in London. A good few of my colleagues are like, "Ehhhh, another trade show.", which is fair enough. But for me, it's a chance to do something completely different, see some interesting things and pick up a few trinkets. (Mostly pens and rulers with big logos on them, but still.) And attending is definitely *something different*.
I so often find myself craving 'something different'. Routine, for me, is tough. 'Same old, same old' just kills me. When there's no variety I find myself just bored and feeling like I'm spiralling downward. But when I get to do something different -- wahey!
It often seems silly in a way, because sometimes the 'something different' can be a job that's repetitive, or even a task that someone else would find boring or dull. But, to me, the 'different' part seems to be the key. I'll often happily do an administrative task (not my normal line of work) even for an enitre day, just because it's a change.
That's one thing I really enjoy about my job -- there's often a lot of variety. One day I might be out at a site doing a set job, another day I'm in the office fixing whatever puzzle comes up next, another day I'm writing up documentation, and so on. As long as things keep changing, I'm usually a pretty happy bunny.
So roll on, trade show! I'm definitely ready for a little something different!
Change One Thing
Yesterday I read an interesting article on the BBC Website. It appears, according to this article, that our fascination with celebrity diets dates back as far as the 1800s. (It's an interesting article that I've linked to here -- have a read!) And it's at this time of year that many of us become focused on things we want to change: lose weight, cut down drinking, stop smoking, start exercising, eat healthier, etc.
And while these are all good ideals to pursue, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of trying to do too many things at once. We start the gym and begin a diet, while also taking a month off from drinking, and so on. And most times we fail. Why? Because while multi-tasking can be a useful skill, it does split your attention. Yes I can do two things at once, but can I do them both equally well at the same time? And can I keep them both going for a long period of time?
It's the same when we try to make all these changes at once. Changing one thing is difficult; changing so many things at once starts to feel impossible. And usually, in the end it is. You do really well for a week, possibly two. But then, maybe you skip the gym a few days. And then that becomes a week. And eventually you're paying for something you no longer do. And meanwhile, you have a few (extra) snacks here and there, and that becomes everyday, for several weeks, and then your diet is blown. And your friend invites you out to pub for a drink, and you ask for a Diet Coke, but then they say 'Go on' and you're gone. :-o And so it goes. Before you know it, all your good intentions bite the dust. It happens that way with a lot of us every January.
Well not this year. This year I've decided to do something different -- change one thing. Actually, the idea wasn't originally mine; I saw it on an advert (see it here - thank you, Boots!) a few years ago. But still, it's a good one. If you focus on changing one thing in your life, you can work on making a positive change, and then transferring that change into a good habit, hopefully one for life.
I know what I'm going to change -- what's your one thing?
About Me
Leanne BennettI'm an American living in England, married to a Brit and the mother of three children. I work for the local council, building and maintaining servers and networks for primary schools.
I think my background, my citizenship, my experiences and my location give me a unique take on life. Herein are my musings on such...
