Retreat from Daily Routine

Matrix Key: Health and WellBeing - Vacation and Time Off - Away from your Daily Environment



“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”  - Terry Pratchett

Have you ever caught yourself driving down the street and realize you have no idea where you are going or why?.  Maybe you drive past a new business that just opened and ask yourself "where did that come from?  How come I didn't notice that before?"  Our systems are hardwired to develop habits – essentially to put things on autopilot so our brain can conserve energy for other activities.  Which is a great for efficiency and many redundant daily activities like brushing your teeth.  These habits serve us poorly when they shut off access to new ideas or cause us to stop interacting with the world around us.

At these moments it is important to give your brain a vacation and reset.  When you distance yourself from a situation you are able to look at it differently, discovering new solutions and understanding.  Interacting with a different group of people, especially if you travel to a foreign country, brings new appreciation for the people who surround you every day.

In the WholeLife Matrix, I identify four keys and benefits to snapping yourself out of a brain dead rut:

1.     Travel
2.     Getting Away
3.     Change of Scenery

The change can be as simple as taking a different route to work for a few days, or as involved as a trip to a foreign country.  So go ahead and expose yourself to new sights, smells and sounds and wake up those sleeping sensory mechanisms!  Your brain will thank you!







0 comments: