As I was editing photos for today’s blog post the first thing that came to mind was, “I am such a creature of habit. I am sooooo boring.” My Sunday was pretty much a carbon copy of many Sundays prior.
“Sleep in” until 8.
Eat breakfast.
Teach yoga.
Come home, eat, blog, clean.
Take yoga.
Come home, shower, eat a snack, do computer work and prep for Monday classes.
Eat dinner.
Watch TV.
I am predictable. I am patterned. I eat a lot of the same foods day in and day out and I am seriously thrown off if I don’t get three square meals in at normal meal times. I work out every day. I get cranky if I can’t fit in my workouts or make it to my favorite yoga classes. Routine is nice to a point but I’m starting to feel the itch to shake it up a little bit. My blog posts have become a little lackluster and could use some “oomph” in the content department.
On the food front, I’m going to vary my eats more and try new recipes. On the workout front, I’m blessed to have free gym and yoga access. I’m going to take advantage of my new position at Metro and try new classes and workouts. I’ve done a few CrossFit WODs and have really enjoyed them. Today we are launching a new strength and endurance training class – E3, along with spin and rowing classes. I’m going to make it a goal to try these new classes! I would also like to sign up for some races this spring to get me excited about running again. On the blog front, I’m making it a priority to start writing more educational posts. I would love to do at least one post a week about a workout, yoga or food topic and include more videos.
There’s a lot to be said for routine. It’s comfortable. It feels stable and that’s generally a good and healthy thing but sometimes being comfortable isn’t what helps your grow or feel inspired. Yesterday I encouraged my yoga students to seek out experiences that challenge you and I need to apply the same thinking to my own life.
So…here’s the day that sparked this post.
Breakfast. Plain Greek yogurt, bananas, Trader Joe’s Trek Mix Granola Cereal, Crofters, cinnamon and sunflower seed butter.
Lunch. Tofu sandwich with spinach, hummus and pepperjack cheese. Carrots, apples and a cookie on the side.
Post-yoga snack. A green smoothie with spinach, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, banana, almond milk and ice (inspired by Kelly’s smoothie post) and hot tea. I know the hot and cold is a little random but I was really craving a smoothie after my yoga practice but it was pretty chilly outside.
The most exciting thing to happen to my meals all day was when I decided to order sushi for dinner rather than make a random bowl of something from what I had on hand. Seaweed salad, super crunch roll and tuna nigiri. And then cookies. Always something sweet to finish dinner! It was the perfect end to a busy and active weekend.
Are you a creature of habit? Do you thrive on routine? Do you find yourself repeating a lot of the same patterns over and over again?
just out of curiosity, do you eat with your husband? How do you plan meals during the week with him? I’m having a hard time juggling going to the gym (i teach BodyPump!!) and coming home late. Any advice?
Cook in advance on the weekends — then you have stuff ready to go for those nights when you get home late! Or stick with really simple, quick meals like eggs, or put stuff in the crock pot. It’s definitely possible to eat healthy without having to put tons of effort in. 🙂
i agree with amy! also, meal plan and have all the ingredients on hand for easy dinners. make things that are simple and quick during the week and save more labor intensive meals for the weekend.
I am definitely a creature of habit and thrive on routine! I love a day off from work, but find that I get lazy on those days. I guess you could say I do better under pressure. 🙂
As usual, your food looks so good!
For years, I only ate oatmeal for breakfast. Then I switched to yogurt (Yoplait blueberry) and then moved on to Chobani Pineapple. And If I go out to eat for lunch, it’s usually the same place (Zoe’s b/c it’s generally healthy) and many times, the same entree. I do get into habits – but they’re usually bad ones. 🙂 But I’m working on it! Gym has FINALLY become a routine habit and I’ve been able to stick to my schedule. It’s so hard to stick to a good schedule when B travels all the time!
yay for gym routines! 🙂
I have a lot of feelings about patterns and schedules. I prefer to keep to one most of the time, and then really appreciate the times when I stay, or decide to be spontaneous. When the unexpected happens, I try to embrace the changes (not always easy, but I’m working on it!) That said, I LOVE this quote from Annie Dillard. Your post reminded me of it yet again, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do:
I have been looking into schedules. Even when we read physics, we inquire of each least particle, What then shall I do this morning? How we spend our days, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time. A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order – willed, faked, and so brought into being; it is a peace and a haven set into the wreck of time; it is a lifeboat on which you find yourself, decades later, still living. Each day is the same, so you remember the series afterward as a blurred and powerful pattern. – AD
i love that quote. thank you for sharing!
Although I’ve never consider myself a creature of habit, I do find that I work best when on a schedule. I’m like a baby- haha. I need to get in my 8 hours of sleep. I need to eat every few hours. And (finally!) working out has become a staple in my ‘must maintain for sanity’ daily routine. So I guess I actually am a creature of habit. I love getting away and mixing things up, but after a few days, I’m usually ready to get back to my day-to-day.
I’m looking forward to some educational posts! 🙂
I love that blue background behind your smoothie and a tea!
That’s a change already 🙂
haha – i know! i was like i HAVE to change this background when i was shooting that photo yesterday!
So, that’s perfect beginning! Now I know why I love you blog so much. I have a very similar life philosophy to yours. “What does not challenge you, does not change you”
I am definitely a creature of habit! I feel thrown off by similar things… Love eating at the same time everyday, going to the same workout classes every week. I switched it up in January by adding in more strength training and it has had such a positive influence on me – mentally and physically. As much as I love eating the same foods I am doing my best to switch up the fruits/veg I eat everyday… Telling myself I needs all sorts of different nutrients and colours in my diet helps! 🙂
Look forward to your posts to come.
i’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying strength training. i am a huge believer in it! yes, i need to vary my fruits/vegs a little more too. hopefully i can get better about that as more seasonable vegetables start to appear!
For me, it comes down to the difference between a routine and a rut. They feel distinctly different, so it’s not hard to decipher which I’m in. I personally LOVE the routine of my Sundays (sleeping in, a spinning class, church, bed early) and would never want to change it!
i agree! there is a huge difference between routine and rut. i definitely feel like i’m in a bit of a rut with some of my eats and workouts so i’m happy to be getting back into my yoga practice and trying crossfit now!
I’ve just started CrossFit and love it! Can’t wait to hear more about your thoughts on the workouts!
i’ve only done a few of the workouts but it’s a fun way to mix it up!
I’m definitely a creature of habit, but being in a long distance relationship has really pushed me to become more flexible. At first it was really stressful to be away from my schedule, a gluten-free kitchen, and my gym. But, over the past year, I’ve learned to adapt and it’s made me a much more relaxed person!
oh wow – i can imagine being away/out of routine would be more complicated if you are gluten free. it’s great that you’ve learned to be more flexible and go with being out of routine sometimes.
I am definitely a creature of habit! If i don’t have a routine, I don’t feel right. What kind of bread did you use for your lunch? It looks amazing!
it was great harvest dakota bread. one of my faves!
I’m a creature of habit as well. I try not to be rigid but there are just some things I really think I “need” in order to thrive. That said, I envy people who really shake it up and go with the flow. A little bit of each would be good 🙂
Don’t be too hard yourself, dear. Your accomplishments are pretty spectacular. If you feel the need to branch out and turn it upside down I’m sure you can make that work for you as well.
Love love love your blog! Don’t change too much 😉
thank you so much for the encouraging words. i’m just talking little changes…switching up some of my food choices and blog format from time to time! 🙂
Thank you for this post!! I was looking at my daily eats and workouts and I thought to myself…”I’m getting so bored. If I eat oatmeal one more day this week, I will go out of my mind” haha!
I decided to change it up yogurt bowls, pancakes, waffles something different everyday. Variety is the spice of life and we have to have fun with our lives.
I am definitely a creature of habit, I get cranky too if my workout are changed. (I thought I was the only one) But I’m learning to just go with the flow and not let things bother me.
I’d love to see more educational posts…I think it would be fun 🙂
By the way, Can you recommend any yoga dvd’s that you enjoy? (I know a class would be the best but sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow for it and It would be nice to have an alternative)
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great day! 🙂
I too am a creature of habit- my body just thrives on it. I read somewhere that people who are more health-aware generally are habitual by nature, because it makes it easier to stick with healthy habits. This makes sense to me. You’re right though, shaking things up now and again are definitely good, but it’s nice to have a routine to fall back on when things are too busy for originality. That way you’re guaranteed to at least keep taking care of yourself.
i LOVE my routine but i do need to try to make small changes here and there in my eating/workout habits just to branch out. i feel like i fall back on the same things over and over but i agree that being habitual about healthy things is good!
Such a great post!! I can totally relate — and it’s a good reminder for me that I should think about changing my eats and work-out routines! With work and long school hours, it’s so easy to just go through the motions and to eat the same thing day after day, but I bet my body would appreciate the variety and diversity more 🙂
Looking forward to the upcoming educational posts!
Have a great week!!
MC
Agreed! I am also a creature of habit! I branch out every now and then, but I always come back to my favorites. Can’t wait for some educational posts! 🙂
Creature of habit, but I like to try new workouts and stuff. I just feel most comfortable about what I know, but when you think about it we all started something new and became accustomed to it so trying something new can start a new great habit!
I am definitely a creature of habit and someone who thrives on routine. I need to learn how to be more flexible as sometimes that routine and those habits trip me up!
This post is so YOU (from what I know of you through the blog, of course!) What I mean is that you’re always striving to do more – challenge yourself – improve – you name it. I love that you don’t just go w/ the flow because things are easy or comfortable — you break the mold of blogs out there. That is a very good thing!
thank you! i’m not looking to like totally turn my life around but i just feel so patterned right now and like i need to branch out a bit more and mix it up!
I totally agree with jennyv. You probably think you do the same boring things but from my perspective (and other readers) there’s nothing boring about it! If you were such a creature of habit you’d still be at your old job and would not be teaching yoga. 🙂
love it! thanks for the reminder! 🙂
I am such a creature of habit… and I get pretty grumpy if something throws off my schedule. I def need to learn to have more of a “go with the flow” approach to things!
Yep, I’ve been there! Shaking things up can be so invigorating. I really look forward to more of your educational posts!
I will definitely be looking for the educational posts! I need to learn to slow my mind down and chill out, and I’m finally ready to try yoga again, so any advice/insight on getting outside of my busy head will be great!!!!!
i get so many yoga questions so i’ll definitely try to get some of those “educational” posts done first.
I am the OPPOSITE of creature of habit. These days I am craving more stablity in my life. Nearly 3 years ago I left LA, my friends, my family and my whole life and moved to Barcelona. There I met my partner and together we live in the Netherlands (Amsterdam). He loves to travel as well so each month we go somewhere.. January we were in Belgium, last month we were in Madrid and this morning we just came back from Paris. It is fun and quite romantic but I miss my old schedule of favorite yoga classes and familiar take out dinners… its funny how the grass is always greener on the other side!!
wow – how amazing that you moved like that and have made it work! i can see where you’re craving more stability but it sounds like you’ve had some great experiences!
I would love to see some more education/informational posts on your blog. I enjoy your everyday life posts as well, but it seems like with your experience and education you have a lot you could share.
Just stopping by to tell you that I miss you! (I’m such a bad commenter these days.) You are looking gorgeous as always. 🙂