Cycle

To move in or follow a regularly repeated sequence of events.

This wasn’t the first definition that came up when I searched “cycles.” It was actually the fourth. However, I believe that this definition makes the most sense in regards to how most of us interact with cycles.

As I've grown older, I have learned to respect those who are regimented. I admire people with the discipline to wake up every morning and workout before work. Similarly, anyone who regularly meal preps and brings a well-balanced, home-cooked meal to work for lunch each day is impressive. Anyone that has a chore list or morning routine has got it all figured out in my eyes.

Pinterest has become a tool for people like me to learn unnecessary organizational tips and crockpot recipes to seemingly appear as if we have it together. We all have our routines, some more strict than others, but I don't think we think of them as cycles.

Cycles dictate a large portion of lives. On a grand scheme we encounter weather cycles, and the seasons changing and bringing different temperatures and norms that dictate how we dress, act and play. On a more personal level, we have things like our work schedule that commands our time and how we balance our careers and our lives.

If we think about this in the context of the definition above, it can make our lives seem very repetitive. We wake up, we go to work, we come home, we go to sleep, and on and on into oblivion.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the routine of our day-to-day lives. It can get boring if you let it. We get stuck in our cycles that are important and necessary but can become bland quickly.

Take some time to switch it up this week. Do something you wouldn't normally do. It doesn't have to be expensive or outrageous, as long as it momentarily breaks your cycle. It's good to challenge yourself and break out of your comfort zone.

Cycles are easy and they keep our lives on track, but they can also keep us from adventure and new experiences. Enjoy cycles, but don't be bound by them. Doing new things keeps your mind sharp and your spirit young. Don't let your routines and cycles dictate your life; use them as a framework, but make sure to stretch that frame every now and then.

-          Bria