It’s that time of year again. The time when I begin to feel a bit restless and in need of a change. I don’t feel stuck, just a little less interested in my usual routine.

Time passes so quickly that I forget to stop and reassess where I want to be. All of those things that I thought about doing so many months ago, but never did, now don’t feel so important or interesting.

Being retired, I don’t have the commitment of work and yet my life is full and busy and for that I am grateful. Now, I am ready for something new.

Time for a Change

I have to be careful when I’m feeling this way as I have a tendency to make radical changes, like moving houses or even leaving the country. I don’t need to go to that extent if I can just find some new ways to revitalize my outlook.

What I have learned is that all change actually happens from within and that is where I need to start. So, I have created a personal challenge that will help me to reset my perspective and allow some fresh ideas to surface.

Be Easy About It

What I am looking for is a gentle shift, not a huge leap. Some way of opening up to some new things without having to throw out the old.

One thing I will do more of is meditate. Spending just 10 minutes a day, sitting quietly is so simple that I forget how much power there is in reconnecting with my spirit.

When I do that, it seems that I feel lighter, and more creative ideas come to me.

Do What You Love

Something that never fails to soothe my soul is to go out in nature. No matter what the weather is, I always love just walking in a park. I go during off hours so I can be alone and just experience the peace.

This year, I started a small vegetable garden. It has been so satisfying to care for the plants and watch them grow. It is a lovely reminder of the cycle of life.

Have Fun

Part of the process for me is to remember to have more fun. I have always been a very serious person so light-hearted fun is pure joy when I can let myself feel it.

Over the years, I have found that I enjoy many things but don’t often incorporate them into my daily life.

Whether it is turning up the music and dancing while I’m cleaning house or cooking some new exotic dish, it doesn’t matter. Just being playful is key to feeling happy.

Minimize Negative Influence

It is helpful for me to reduce outside interference in order to make sustainable changes.

The big one for me is my phone. I live alone so it is easy for that to be my biggest connection with the outside world, but it has become less of a tool for communicating and more of a time warp of senseless activity. I catch myself scrolling through a flood of information that I don’t want or need in my life.

I remember when a phone was just a phone, not a mini computer.

Television is another intrusion that I allow far too often. I don’t need the constant input of bad news and excessive advertising.

Maximize the Positive

It is easy to go through the day without stopping to think about how I am really feeling. Every day there is an opportunity for me to look for the best things in the world around me.

Something as simple as a friendly check-out clerk at the store or a lovely yellow butterfly on the bush in my yard. Life is as wonderful as we let it be.

Many years ago, Bing Crosby sang, “Accentuate the Positive – Eliminate the Negative,” that is my new mantra.

I can’t wait to see what delightful things I will discover on this new journey.

Do you feel a need for change at different times of the year? What do you do when you are craving something new? Share your stories and join the conversation.