Routine Isn’t Sexy: Choosing to Live, Not Just Survive

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to slip into autopilot. We wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, go to work, hit the gym, scroll on our phones, go to bed—and repeat. It’s comfortable, sure. But after a while, it feels like something’s missing.

I read a piece in Vice where therapist Esther Perel explained that one reason people cheat isn’t always about wanting someone else—it’s about wanting to feel alive again. That hit me. How many of us are “faithful” in our relationships, our routines, and yet completely disconnected from what lights us up?

Routine isn’t sexy. Familiarity can be grounding, but it can also become numbing if we don’t check in with ourselves. Keeping the spark alive in relationships and in life takes more than just “being there.” It’s about feeding your mind, body, and soul. It’s about doing more than existing.

So, here’s my challenge:

• Try something that scares you a little.
• Schedule joy, not just obligations.
• Nurture yourself the way you do your plants, pets, or kids.
• Allow yourself to be surprised.
• You deserve a life that feels alive, not just a list of boxes checked.

Here is the article on Vice if you want to take a deeper dive: https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-is-the-real-reason-people-cheat-according-to-a-sex-therapist/

Remember to be kind to yourself and get out of the routine.
Photo cred: ​https://unsplash.com/@khyeonie18

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