SunDay Forecast - March 5th
Welcome to the SunDay Forecast (on a Tuesday), the weekly blog where we look at the week ahead and chat about general designer lifestyle topics. Last week, I talked about a recent ARE (Architectural Registration Exam) fail, and how I came back from it to pass 2 tests later on.
It’s the beginning of March, which starts to mark the transition from Winter to Spring. Each year, this transition is always exciting to me and reminds me on how to transition myself from the slow, dark, Winter months, to the brighter, fuller days of Spring and Summer. I always find myself becoming more focused and energized during this time of the year. I am looking for ways to better myself and reset my routine to something more beneficial to what I want to accomplish.
Revising your own routine takes some self-reflection and honesty about what is most important to you. I think it's important to have a few main personal goals that drive your routine and directly benefit the path to your goal. This could be anything from eating healthier, getting in better shape, working towards building a company, or even something like relaxation and time for hobbies. Simplifying these goals is also key so you aren’t trying to do too much, and creating unrealistic expectations. It starts with looking at your current routine and identifying areas that are not aiding in achieving your goal. Maybe this is too much screen time, or maybe it’s how you transition from work to your home life, and seeing how you can make this time even more productive.
At the end of the day, we are all searching for what makes us happy, and I think that identifying a few of your ideal goals and finding slots of time each day to work towards those, whether it's 15 minutes or 2 hours, lets us actually see those things come to fruition. It’s the day to day steps, and mundane routine that allows us to build up habits and see results, because nothing really happens overnight.
I have started to do this process as we transition from Winter to Spring, and I think it will really help me get to where I want to be for the remainder of the year. Since I am starting a new job soon, this time period is serving as a great transition period for me to change things up and start a new routine. I am structuring my time to work towards a few different things, including becoming a licensed architect, writing blogs and social media posts, adding physical activity to my day-to-day, and a healthier diet.
Finding the energy to focus on all of these goals is one of the hardest things to do on a daily basis. Some days I know I will be tired and not interested in doing physical activity, studying for exams, or making a healthy meal. These are the days where it's important to push through, and rely on your built-up routine to get you through it. If it truly is a habit, it should be easier to muster up the energy to do it, but as you build those habits there is sure to be some road bumps.
With that being said, it is also important to listen to yourself and take breaks when needed. After a long period of pushing yourself, it’s okay to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the fruits of your labor! This week, I took some much needed rest and time off from studying and pushing myself to do more with my time after work. I had been constantly studying with my free time for 2 months, and having free time was a little strange, but it felt like I needed a reset from this grind, and I think it helped energize me to start back up again.
The balance of an ultra productive routine and taking breaks when needed is tough to figure out, but if you can get it right, I think it makes for a really rewarding and enjoyable life and one that you can be proud of yourself for.
This week, I am resetting my routine and preparing to start my new job next week. I am enjoying the final week in my current position, and tying up loose ends.
Monday: Vibe of the Week
Tuesday: Sunday Forecast (on a Tuesday)
Wednesday: Begin studying again
Thursday: The Daybreak Blog
Friday: Last day at current position
Have you made any adjustments to your daily routine lately, or is there something you would like to add to it during this transition from Winter to Spring? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear about it!
