47. When you are in a slump, plan a project.

It is pretty easy to get bored if we follow the same routine day after day. Especially during the past five months surrounded by the pandemic, we have had limited opportunity to add a lot of diversity to our days. We have been advised to remain indoors so our world has basically shrunk to a couple of thousand square feet. Whenever I find that I am in a rut, I know that I must develop a totally different project that I have not done before.

I first learned this lesson when I was a teacher. I had to teach different subjects every couple of years as I got bored teaching math or English endlessly year after year. Some teachers love the repetition. I had to alternate the subjects taught every two years. If I taught English for two years, I knew that I could not teach the same units over and over again. Consequently, whenever I hit this slump, I knew that I had to develop and teach a totally new unit. The stimulation and motivation to create a new course element always relit my fire. 

During my adult life, I found that the same situation occurred. Often I would try to learn and play a new sport if I needed something different to do. Over the years I "tried" golf, tennis, badminton, baseball, bowling, curling, tai chi, and recreational drinking. Each new venture was exciting for a while, but then I had to develop a new interest. I tried photography, camping, fishing, hiking, cross country skiing and even squash. They all provided a short term lift.

During our recent self-isolation and lock-down, I spend a lot of time reading and writing and a small amount of time watching TV. New projects included starting a diary, a new blog, a backgammon tournament with Darlene, following some new courses on the Internet, and developing some photo projects for stimulation. I am even taking some interest in the small herb garden Darlene planted on our deck. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

Compared to my childhood where the options are limited, we are blessed with the internet where we all can find some new projects to work on if we look. If you're in a slump, start googling!