Life can become mundane. Even performing at a high level, you can still fall into a rut or routine. Let’s be honest, we “execute” life more often than we live it. We go through the motions. Not always numb to the world, but falling prey to the groove of comfort and execution.

It’s not that we don’t try, it’s just that we get comfortable and fight to stay in that level of comfort. Predictable comes without drama and stress. If we stay physically and emotionally “stuck”, then we get to make it through another day without having to deal with the shift and distraction. We say we embrace change, but we don’t.  We like everything to make sense, have a place and fall into that place.

My day starts at 5:30am. I got to the gym and then come home in time to see the kids off to school by 7am. I eat the same breakfast Monday through Friday and I am in the car at almost the exact time every day.  I work till around 5pm, drive home, make dinner, put the kids to bed, watch some TV while reading on my phone and fall asleep at roughly the same time.  Then, do it all over again tomorrow. I haven’t been woken up by an alarm in years because my body is used to the schedule. I actually pee at the same times every day. You can set your watch to the routine of my life and I bet many of you fall into this regimental pattern as well.

We get zombie brain.

You go through the motions. You get selfish and tune out a lot of outside noise and possible emotions. So many things are happening around you and you just continue to stare at the screen of your phone or on the TV. There’s more to feeling life than occasionally getting emotional at something you’ve read or watched.

You have to shake yourself loose from the steady hum of complacency and predictable execution. You have to give balance to your predictable actions and add spontaneity or life will do it for you.

Every year I get twenty days of vacation from my company and I have to (or my wife has to) force myself to take it. Not trying to be a martyr, I just enjoy my work and it’s hard to shake my zombie brain from its routine. When you enjoy what you do, you often feel like you’re cheating on your occupation by having fun doing something else. I told myself that I would do a better job of shaking my zombie brain this year. So far, I’ve cashed in more vacation time than I have in years and I still have plenty of days to spare. My work hasn’t suffered at all. Nobody truly misses me and so far we’re even more successful this year than we were last. I don’t think I will ever use all of my time, but it’s nice to know that it’s there if I need it.

#Tryharder to un-zombie your brain. Pull out of the groove of life and make yourself susceptible to distraction and potential new outlets of engagement. You either do it willingly, and on your own terms, or life will uncomfortably force itself upon you.