“I am fed up”, “I am tired”, “I want to run away”, “escape”! How often do we hear ourselves saying this? 7 out of 10 people face a mid routine crisis (as per a study published in The Telegraph). This can be due to money, career, love life and even weather!! (especially if you are in Canada). The monotony of daily life can throw us into depression.
When I was little, I read a story about a man. Every day he would take a train to go to work and come back home on the same train. This went on for many years of his life. The same life, same train. One day, when he was coming back from work, he took the wrong train and reached a destination that was unknown to him.
After some time, he figured out that he was in “the past”. He enjoyed it so much that he started taking the same train every day to go back in time. Life in “the past” was the life he wished for. People cared about each other. They didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go to work, but they were leading this simple and happy life. It was a happy place.
At the end of the story, the train disappears, and the man comes back to his normal life, knowing that he will find the train again if needed. However, in reality, there was no train and no past, it was all in man’s mind.
The writer gave the message of the importance of a change. With the pace with which the world is evolving, running has become a necessity. Because of the social media platforms, we see what the world is doing and feel an urge to achieve more and more. However, just like the man in the story, we all need an escape somewhere in the middle of the race to catch up with our breath and just be still so that to join the race again.
Things to do that could be your escape
There are so many things to do when you feel like taking a break from your life. It could be as simple as meeting an old friend over a cup of tea or going away for a couple of days. Here is a list:-
Phone- a- friend.
I don’t recall coming out of any dark phase of my life without the support of my friends. I have those friends who will just listen to your problems, make you forget your problems for some time as they are busy sharing their worries!! (we all have this kind of people). Friends are great stress relievers and are a reminder of how strong we are and we can deal with any mess if we commit to it.
Read a good book.
“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone if it is to keep its edge”( George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones). Just like our body needs its fuel, the mind needs its food too. It should better be nourished and healthy. I recommend picking a book that inspires you and fires you. Believe me, after finishing your book, your state of mind will be different from what it was when you picked up the book to read.
Go for a coffee date (with yourself)
How many people drive to their favourite coffee shop just to sit there and have a cup of coffee by themselves? Probably not many. But those few minutes spent at a calm place, sipping a cup of your favourite drink can do the magic.
Watch something cute, like a children’s movie.
Who says adults can’t watch kids’ movies? We lose our innocence amidst playing the role of an adult. It is important to keep the inner child alive and for that, what can be a better idea than spending
Take a trip.
A trip can be as small as a trip to the mall and as long as a few months’ trips. If you have watched Julia Robert’s ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, you will understand the need to go away to bring your life back on track. But most of us don’t have that kind of money to take a vacation for an entire year!! So, take a 1-day trip to the nearby destination, or countryside.
Go for shopping.
Many of us see shopping as a way to escape reality. People fall into compulsive shopping to forget their worries and live in the excitement of their new heels, or dresses or their beautiful sofa sets for a while. Of course, I won’t encourage you to do that. But our life is a collection of little excitements and joys and, the fun of shopping is one of them.
Write a diary.
Keeping a diary help you tune with your thoughts and emotions. It also has a therapeutic element to it. It brings a sense of achievement and putting your thoughts into words changes the way you deal with your daily challenges.
Pamper yourself.
Getting your nails done, buying that handbag you have been drooling on for months, getting a haircut, all are ways of self-pampering to escape the cage.
Go to the gym.
Although, working out is more of a lifestyle, but they offer many cool workout sessions in some gyms. This includes cardio sessions, cycling, and Zumba classes. What else do you need when you can spend your time somewhere that diverts your mind and you end up feeling good about your body too.
Pursue your hobby.
Who doesn’t have a hobby? It is just that life’s responsibilities do not leave any room for following your heart. But once in a while, amidst daily chores, you should escape to that little bubble of yours that offers all the relief in the world.
I hope this can get rid of that feeling of being caged and give you hope.
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