Comfortably Uncomfortable
Breaking the routine requires discomfort. I started to write this little article during a month-long journey across Southeast Asia
Escaping the Comfort Zone
Breaking the routine requires discomfort. I started to write this little article during a month-long journey across Southeast Asia, covering Bangkok, Siem Reap, Manila, and Denpasar. Why such an extensive trip? The answer lies in my habitual overwork and skipped holidays, leaving me with an accumulated need for a break. But it was more than just a vacation; it was an escape from the depression inducing Finnish winter and a tiny plunge into the realm of unknown. My little trip gave me an opportunity to distance myself from the daily routines, and look things from a different perspective. It’s now been a month since I came back from the trip, and now it’s time for some reflection, and looking at the root causes for this situation.
The Struggle of Routine
The first rather obvious question is the why. As in, why did I actually need such a long break from normal day-to-day life? Answer is that my normal daily life has become a repetitive cycle centered around work, characterized by hitting the snooze button too often, doing long hours at the office, and evenings drained of energy. Weekends offer little respite, filled with household chores and maybe some video games if the energy level allows. Though routines usually bring structure, they've become my only mode of operation, a place that's too safe and stifling. It's time for a change.
Travels like these are pretty much the one and only thing that breaks my routine. With 30+ countries visited, some actually multiple times, travel consistently pushes me out of the dreaded routines. But it's not just about seeing new places and having some time off; it's also about challenging myself, about doing things that make me uncomfortable. I have a strong tendency to always do everything safe, in my own little comfort zone.
The Paradox Between Perfectionism and Inaction
This blog isn’t just about travel experiences and silly surface level epiphanies related to them, it is a reflection of a deeper, ongoing internal struggle. The second question is also another why question. Why isn’t there life outside the routine? My introspection is pointing at the pursuit of perfection and constant improvement, coupled with a fear of starting anything less than perfect, has led to a state of paralysis. It has led to over-working at work, but underachieving in normal daily life.
I've realized that inaction and the quest for perfection are no longer sustainable. This article and this platform marks the first step in a new direction. This article rather raw and unrefined, and quite short, but that's exactly the point. I'm sharing parts of my little journey and thoughts I've never shared before, while it may cause some discomfort.