25 Ways to Shake Up Your Routine

Today could be the best day of your life. Really. You don't have to win the lottery or get a promotion, all you need to do is give your attitude a spring-clean — even if spring is still a couple of months away.

"Attitude is everything," says Tina Tessina, a Long Beach, CA psychotherapist and author of The Ten Smartest Decisions a Woman Can Make After Forty (Renaissance, 2001). "That's why it's so important to fill your life with goals and activities that you enjoy, as they will help lift your spirit."

Here are some ways to tap into your enthusiastic alter-ego.

Freshen up your routine
"The biggest problem with sticking to a routine is that you risk getting caught in a rut — this causes boredom to take over your entire life," says Tessina. Instead, blow off some of your daily habits and bring a sense of freshness to each day. Try these suggestions:

Wear bright red today
Eat breakfast in your backyard (weather permitting)
Try cooking a new cuisine, such as Vietnamese, Spanish or Cajun
Call your partner just to say "I love you."
Splurge on flowers for the office or dining room
Pose for a portrait by a professional photographer
Go window shopping with a friend
House swap with friends for a change of scene
Wear a bold new lipstick color
Dance in the moonlight on a balcony or in your garden
Push two armchairs together and give your partner a foot massage while he or she reciprocates

Think young and playful
"I always suggest going back to childhood, and remembering what you liked then," suggests Tessina. "Sports? Hiking? Bicycling or roller skating? Swinging on the swings? Dancing around to music? There are adult versions of all these activities. When you're doing them, notice the sights, sounds and the way your body feels, so you enjoy the moment." Try these ideas:

Choose three simple activities you liked as a child (such as watching the clouds, riding a roller coaster or making mud pies). Indulge in them all in one weekend
Buy rain boots and jump in puddles after it rains
Leave funny notes for your partner in his/her underwear drawer or briefcase
Organize a weekly Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit tournament at work
Invite friends over for takeout and a night of charades
Relive old memories by looking through photo albums

Take on new challenges
Don't let fear of change, the security of habit or sheer laziness hold you back from living your life to the fullest. Here are some new opportunities:

Take up a hobby with a feel-good factor, such as sailing or drama classes
Volunteer to do charity work
Learn a skill you find appealing but a little daunting, such as upholstering or making jewelry
Make peace with your parents
Start your own walking club
Write that novel or screenplay
Go to a travel agent and organize the trek across the Himalayas or trip to Paris you've always wanted to take
Look for a job you don't dread going to every morning