Breaking up the monotony

[busymama77]

How do you do it? My routine is the same every morning, I do close to the same stuff at my work every day and even my evenings are turning in to the same - although, this week, I got to go running a couple of times while DH got dinner ready and fed the kids. That was super nice.

But everything else is driving me batty. How do you break up the monotony in your life?

Weekends are a different story. We're ALWAYS doing something different each weekend and that helps a ton. But it's the Monday-Friday that I need help with.

Ideas?

[mooshersmama]

Subbing for ideas! I'm especially concerned with the early darkness coming - at least when it's light out we can hit the playground or go for a walk after work/preschool.

I try to get out at lunch (not as often as I should though). I'm lucky that I work near the National Mall in D.C. so there's lots of fun stuff I can do. Is there anything near your office? Or, could you take a class one evening a week?

[caenach]

This is REALLY a tough thing for me in the winter months, so I'm not sure I have great ideas...but....

DH and I trade off workout days during the week immediately after work. Whomever isn't having a gym day is responsible for child pickup, childcare, and dinner. This has been HUGE for me.

Other than that...I guess I just try to vary small things. Getting outside to the park for an hour or taking a long walk == very good for us. Stopping at the library on the way home once a week, or the pool in the summer, or the bookstore, or whatever. Not for a long time, but just something that's not "the same." Also, trying to think of some small thing that I can do each evening to engage DD that is NOT just part of the routine (dinner, bath, book, bed) helps us, too, even if it's just a quick game of hide-and-seek, or building DD a tent-house, or painting on big paper, or singing songs/dancing.

I've been trying to stay up a bit later in the evenings so that I can get some time of my own for reading, writing, knitting, whatever. Still...I'm always happy when Friday rolls around!

[busymama77]

[QUOTE=caenach;15928341]This is REALLY a tough thing for me in the winter months, so I'm not sure I have great ideas...but....

DH and I trade off workout days during the week immediately after work. Whomever isn't having a gym day is responsible for child pickup, childcare, and dinner. This has been HUGE for me.

Other than that...I guess I just try to vary small things. Getting outside to the park for an hour or taking a long walk == very good for us. Stopping at the library on the way home once a week, or the pool in the summer, or the bookstore, or whatever. Not for a long time, but just something that's not "the same." Also, trying to think of some small thing that I can do each evening to engage DD that is NOT just part of the routine (dinner, bath, book, bed) helps us, too, even if it's just a quick game of hide-and-seek, or building DD a tent-house, or painting on big paper, or singing songs/dancing.

I've been trying to stay up a bit later in the evenings so that I can get some time of my own for reading, writing, knitting, whatever. Still...I'm always happy when Friday rolls around![/QUOTE]

Same here and lately, I've been finding myself more and more anxious for Friday to arrive and really start dreading my work and routine... It's awful. But yes, DH and I do trade off workout days. I usually run lately since I injuired my shoulder and do whatever lower body workouts at home that my trainer gave me to do - stuff that doesn't require weights or a machine.
DS2 - I have to stick to a routine because it's still fairly new to him - he's 7 months. With DS1, we watch a show, maybe draw a picture or two...earlier in the summer, we could go for walks or play outside, but that didn't last too long because it was so hot this summer!
Winter is coming soon and I'm gonna go crazy! Maybe I should start reading again? Or join a yoga class or something.

[Quinalla]

Lunch is my sanctuary during the week. If I want some variety, I'll go to the park or go walk around in the mall or just Target or something or try something new to eat. I also like to read a lot and lunch is the one time I can consistently get some reading in now. I also have been varying my nights by going to bed really early some nights to make up for staying up "late" other nights so I can feel more "normal" and stay up and watch Monday night football or watch a movie with DH, things like that.

We tend to be unstructured to the point of annoyance the other way though as DH is very anti-structure We are often deciding dinner after we are all hungry and grouchy, so I guess I tend to be craving some routine more often than variety

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by Quinalla

Lunch is my sanctuary during the week. If I want some variety, I'll go to the park or go walk around in the mall or just Target or something or try something new to eat. I also like to read a lot and lunch is the one time I can consistently get some reading in now. I also have been varying my nights by going to bed really early some nights to make up for staying up "late" other nights so I can feel more "normal" and stay up and watch Monday night football or watch a movie with DH, things like that.

We tend to be unstructured to the point of annoyance the other way though as DH is very anti-structure We are often deciding dinner after we are all hungry and grouchy, so I guess I tend to be craving some routine more often than variety

Lots of good ideas. Thanks, mama!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Im joining the Y in November with my husband and kids. We have a fairly new facility down the road from us, and what better way to spend an hour before bed, after everyone is fed of course, then to go SWIMMING! Or play basketball, or go climb in the Family adventure center. Im super stoked about this. Its really reasonable (like 91 a month for a faimly of 4!), and you can go to ANY Y Im told, once you are member. If you want to just excerisie, you can and the kids care center is freaking AWSOMW! ( I went for a tour this past sunday, and the kids stayed in there for a half hour while I walked with the tour guide. They didnt want to leave!)

I live in a cold climate area, and our nights start around 430 in the winter. So I am really excited about totally breaking up our evenings occasionally. Of course the routine does have its advantages, you have to admit.