When life feels like too much of routine, choose a new pastime and turn it into a short term challenge. If you can find a few hours a week then why not fill them with something you have always fancied trying, it shouldn’t be something that could cause you any pressure, so best to avoid something linked to work or day to day household activities, this is about pure fun with no strings. Let yourself go and choose whatever you want to try as long as you can realistically commit to learning and doing it regularly.
The challenge of learning something where you have no pressure will allow you to just enjoy the experience and grow. For example if you decided to take up the guitar from scratch, you could commit to learning and practicing until you can play your favourite three songs to a small audience of friends and family. No need to set a time limit as the idea here is to reduce stress and pressure but to make the challenge exciting enough to carry you through times when your time priorities are competing.
Brainstorm all the things that you will need to do to get you to your goal and then put them into a list and get going. Search online for the best types of equipment to start with, read reviews, look up local classes or buy a tutor programme for your PC. Once you have worked out how you will learn and develop, make your purchases immediately and get started that week. If this challenge turns out to be more than your budget can stretch to then find something new straight away that fits.
The start of anything new will seem strange and if you have never done anything like it before then you may feel low on confidence and tempted to just stop trying. The trick here is to keep trying until you feel yourself progress. If you stick with it you will, without any doubt, improve and feel more confident. Over time you will sense your excitement and eagerness to get back to your new challenge and as you talk about it with your friends and colleagues you will feel a sense of energy.
The saying, “a change is as good as rest” is never more true here, if you shake things up and change the outlook of your week by doing something you find fun and which allows you to grow then you will reduce your stress just by engaging your mind to find ways to improve and conquer a challenge that you maybe missing in your work or home life.
