If you’re tired of going through the motions day after day, here are 7 super simple & actionable tips for escaping a monotonous life without changing careers.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be living this exact life—married to my high school sweetheart, raising 2 beautiful kids, wrangling 2 giant fluffy dogs, working from a cozy home I love, and running a business that’s pulled in over half a million dollars… oh, AND taking a 5-month road trip across the country in a skoolie we converted ourselves—I would’ve thrown a damn party.

(And not just a “have a few friends over” party. I’m talking balloons, confetti, and maybe a hired DJ.)

From the outside, it looks like the dream life. And honestly, it is the dream life. But somewhere along the way, I got… bored. Not in a “send help, I’m spiraling” kind of way. More like a “if I have to vacuum up one more tumbleweed of dog hair, I might set this house on fire just for a change of scenery” kind of way.

It was the monotony of life that got me.

Wake up. Get the kids out the door. Do my workout. Make coffee. Sit at my laptop. Pick up the kids. Cook dinner. Run them to their sports. Vacuum. Collapse into bed. Repeat.

Day after day. Like I was in a real-life version of Groundhog Day but without Bill Murray to make me laugh about it.

And here’s the thing—it wasn’t hard. I wasn’t burnt out. I was just… trapped.

Like my 5-month-old puppy when I put him in his crate and he stares at me like, “But I want to run! I want to play! I want to smell new smells and pee on every tree in the neighborhood!”

That’s exactly how I felt. Everyone around me was content just laying on the couch while I was over here Googling things like:

“Sell all your belongings and live in a van—pros and cons”

“How to train for a triathlon in 3 months”

“Where to buy a $1 abandoned farmhouse in Italy”

I was ready to blow up my entire life just to feel something different. But, you know… uprooting my family’s perfectly lovely existence just because I was bored seemed a tad dramatic.

So instead, I had to figure out how to shake up my monotonous life without dragging everyone I love along for the chaos.

Because here’s the truth: We get one shot at this life. And I refuse to get to the end of it and think, “Wow, I really nailed folding laundry and meal prepping for 40 years.”

That fear of regret? It’s the same thing that pushed me to quit my job and start a business, convert a skoolie and travel for 5 months, take up mountain biking and jiu-jitsu, foster kids, sponsor refugees… and basically say yes to anything that makes me feel alive.

So if you’re sitting there, banging your head on the wall, wondering if this is all there is… you’re not alone.

I see you. And I’ve been where you are.

Which is why I’m sharing exactly why this problem exists, the antidote to a monotonous life, and the mindset shift that helped me stop fantasizing about moving to a goat farm in Portugal. Stick around, because at the end, I’ve got 3 key questions to ask yourself—and a workbook that’ll help you shake things up and start living with intention again.

Related post: How Mindset is Keeping Your Business Stuck

Why Life Feels Monotonous (And No, You’re Not Just Being Dramatic)

Here’s the deal: Life used to be exciting because it was full of firsts.

• First grade.
• First job.
• First kiss.
• First apartment where the fridge wasn’t full of takeout containers and questionable milk.

But eventually… you hit all the “big life milestones,” and then… nothing. No more firsts.

Now it’s the same house. The same job (or a new one that gets old just as fast). The same partner. The same kids with the same behavior that makes you question your parenting skills on a daily basis.

And instead of chasing new experiences, you’re chasing the bottom of a laundry basket that never empties.

Add in the thrill of adult responsibilities—paying the mortgage, cleaning, cooking, making sure your kids don’t grow up to be tiny sociopaths—and it’s no wonder that life feels monotonous.

And here’s the kicker: Even when you DO throw something wild into the mix, that eventually becomes monotonous too.

Don’t believe me?

Two months into our 5-month road trip across Canada, even that started to feel repetitive. And I know, I know… there’s privilege in being bored while living out of a skoolie and hiking across the country. But I’m telling you, after 20 lakes and 47 mountains, I started waking up thinking, “Cool… another breathtaking view.”

The truth? The monotony of life isn’t something you can completely escape. But that doesn’t mean we just give up and resign ourselves to autopilot.

No, my friend. You fight back. And I’m about to show you how.

Related post: 7 powerful ways entrepreneurs boost their energy and create motivation

The Antidote to a Monotonous Life: 9 Ways to Shake Things Up

1. Learn Something Brand New (And Feel Like a Hot Mess Again)

I started jiu-jitsu this month.

And let me tell you… I have never in my adult life been so physically close to strangers. There’s something about having a sweaty grown man try to choke you out that really humbles a person.

But every Wednesday, I show up. Because it’s new. It’s exciting. And it reminds me that I’m still capable of learning, growing, and doing hard things.

If your monotonous life has you feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, learning something completely new will jolt your brain back to life. Pick something foreign to you—beekeeping, archery, mastering a Rubik’s cube—and let yourself be terribleat it. The goal is to feel clueless and uncomfortable. That’s how you know you’re doing it right.

2. Challenge Yourself Physically (And Feel Like a Badass)

There’s nothing like pushing your body to do something it didn’t think it could do. Whether it’s running a 5K, taking up mountain biking, or signing up for a kickboxing class where you’re convinced you might not survive… the mental satisfaction that follows is worth it.

I recently joined a kickboxing class, and I leave every session feeling like I barely survived—but grinning like an idiot the entire drive home.

If life feels monotonous, physical challenge is a surefire way to snap out of it. And if you can do it with a group or a friend? Even better. Accountability = consistency.

3. Meet New People (Yes, Even If You’re an Introvert)

When was the last time you made a new friend?

As kids, we’re thrown into new classrooms and new friendships constantly. But as adults? Months can go by without having a real conversation with someone who doesn’t already know your grocery list by heart.If your monotonous life has you feeling isolated, it’s time to break out of your bubble. Put yourself in new spaces. Join a club. Go to a networking event. Reconnect with an old friend. Yes, it’s awkward. Do it anyway.

4. Tackle a New Project at Work (And Make Your Brain Sweat)

Even running my own business started to feel monotonous. Write content. Coach clients. Write emails. Repeat.

So I threw a curveball at myself and decided to launch my first paper planner. It was fun. It was energizing. It made everything else feel less boring.

If life feels monotonous at work, find a project that pushes you in a new direction. It’ll breathe fresh life into your routine.

5. Get Creative (Even If You Suck At It)

Listen, I’m not a naturally creative person. I literally need Pinterest to tell me what colors go where. But I ordered a paint-by-numbers set, and even though it’s taking me 3 months and I’m only halfway through, it feels good to engage a different part of my brain.

Creativity is an underrated antidote to a monotonous life. Try something new. Build a shelf. Learn to sew. Make those fancy charcuterie boards you see on Instagram. Creativity sparks joy. And joy breaks up monotony.

Our minds and bodies crave new experiences. We feel fulfilled after taking on a new challenge, even if that’s as simple as reading a new book.

ANA MCRAE

6. Add Micro Changes to Your Routine (Because Small Shifts = Big Impact)

You don’t need to blow up your life to add excitement. Switch up the little things.

• Work from a different spot in your house. Or better yet, go work by a lake.
• Try a new podcast. It’s like inviting fresh thoughts into your brain.
• Eat something different. I swapped my usual smoothie for eggs and toast one morning and you’d think I was dining at a 5-star restaurant.

Micro changes disrupt the monotony of life just enough to make things feel fresh again.

Related post: 7 Powerful Questions for Planning Your Week

7. Set New Goals (And Give Yourself Something to Chase)

Here’s the thing: A monotonous life happens when things get too predictable. So set some bold, exciting, slightly terrifying goals that stretch you.

And if you don’t know where to start? Do a life audit to figure out what’s working, what’s not, and what lights you up. Then map out your goals. (PSA: My Intentional Life Planner is perfect for this.)

Bonus: Shift Your Mindset (And Appreciate the Stability)

Let’s be real: Feeling bored of your monotonous life is such a privilege. It means nothing catastrophic is happening. And that’s worth being deeply grateful for.

So, while you’re shaking things up, don’t forget to appreciate the stability that gives you the space to even think about monotony.

Related: 3 Personal Development Books To Inspire Personal Growth

3 Questions to Shake Up a Monotonous Life

I’ll leave you with 3 questions to ponder:

1. What sounds fun or exciting to you right now? What’s stopping you from doing it?
2. What’s one new event, class, or activity you can add to your calendar this month?
3. What do you already love about your life that you can be grateful for today?

Drop a comment and tell me what’s helping you shake things up—I’d love to hear from you. And who knows? Your story might just inspire the next 6,000 people who read this.

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