Changing routine to spark motivation ✍️
We have a saying in Dutch, "verandering van spijs doet eten" which translates as "a change is as good as a rest".
A change in routine or doing something different can be as refreshing or motivating as taking a break.
I've been doing a lot of running in the past months. I had to. Running half and full marathons require some level of commitment. Next year, I'll be running another marathon, and as I've set an ambitious goal, I need to commit to my training as of now.
But here's the issue, as the season is changing, it's getting cold and dark in the evening. So although I have my goal, each evening I need to battle my motivation to get out of the door. For some runs, I already changed to morning or afternoon running, but due to family obligations, I can't do it for all.
Coincidentally, I received an offer for a free month of Zwift, the virtual biking and running platform. I have a compatible bike and trainer, and thought, "why not?".
And I'm happy I gave it a try.
My motivation skyrocketed!
Biking is different from running, but while doing it, I can work on my fitness. So if I can't run during the day, I know I can do something else that will help me reach my goal.
As a nice bonus, when I do these indoor bike trainings, I can catch up on all the movies and TV shows I've not been able to watch yet.
In parallel, I was struggling with writing (I did it either via my phone or Mac). By changing where my drafts are stored, as well as the tool to access them gave me a refreshed motivation to write.
In reflection, routines don't have to be fixed.
Whether it's in sports, daily life, or creative projects, a small tweak in routine can reignite your passion and motivation. Every so often, the best changes come from the unexpected—like a free month of Zwift or a simple app setup for writing. By staying open to these shifts, we give ourselves the chance to rediscover excitement in the things we love, making the journey feel fresh all over again.