Tag: monotony

What Makes Today Any Different From Yesterday?

“Routines can cultivate monotony….if we allow them to.”

And when our days become monotonous we can begin to perceive each day as incapable of anything worth while.

bored

Webster’s dictionary defines ‘Monotony’ as a lack of change that makes something boring; tedious sameness.

Do you long for your days to have tedious sameness?  I don’t.

Here are some ways to counter monotony:

  • Alter your daily morning routine – Have something new for breakfast.  Do your quiet/devotional time in a different area of the house.  Change the alarm tone on your smart phone.  Leave 10 minutes earlier.  Listen to a different radio station or genre on your way to work.
  • Challenge your daily expectations – This is key.  When we ‘expect’ something new, something unusual from the day ahead of us we virtually turn the autopilot switch off.  Pray for interactions with different people than normal.  Choose a different Bible passage to meditate on each day and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal new insights to you.

This take a little intentionality and focus.  Pick one thing and start there.

So what do YOU do to counter monotony?

Please leave a comment below.  Keep the discussion going.

 

Photo credit: www.london.anglican.org

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Where do you need ‘Margin?’

From one pastor to another…

‘margin’ : an amount of something included so as to be sure of success.

This is something my wife and I have been holding each other accountable for recently.  We say, “Are you planning for margin today?” or “Did you practice margin in the office?”  Here’s what I call God-margin.  It’s the intentional, scheduled interruption of the abyss of monotony.  All of us struggle with monotony…every day.  We become so ‘task-oriented’ that we don’t make time to be ‘Spirit-oriented.’

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.     Psalm 48:9 (NLT)

This is not only for when we are in Church.  Our bodies are temples as well (1 Cor. 6:19).  We need to meditate, or deeply focus our thoughts, on the things of Jesus throughout our day.  I work in a church office, and its even difficult there.  One practice I’ve been making a habit of is simply setting two alarms on my phone before I leave home.  I evaluate my schedule for the day so I don’t interrupt an appointment.  Usually, the first alarm is set for 10 or 11am…the other around 2 or 3pm.  Next, I pull up the ‘verse of the day’ on my Bible App…read it…and leave my office.  Just 3-5 minutes to physically change my environment by walking to the other end of the building for a drink of water, allowing the words of that verse to permeate my thoughts, is all it takes to keep me focused.

Where is monotony in your day, and how can you insert ‘margin’ to interrupt it?  Comment below.