Breaking any cycle starts with a choice. You have to decide you want out and are willing to do what needs done or accept the consequences. It is generally helpful to prepare mentally and otherwise. Have a plan and make sure that as much as possible you have the support you need. Help from family, friends etc. is one method. Saving money, downsizing as possible, etc.
you can also just yank the rug but that can be a rougher ride depending on your luck.
So let’s start with a question- do you want to break the cycle? Or what do you want to change and why? Routine isn’t bad. Routine can be helpful for success and overall happiness. A set work schedule allows you to structure you time away from work. A set gym or activity schedule and meal schedule to allow you to get exercise, a set grooming routine and chores. Shopping and meal prep on certain days and so on. I try to get at least 30 minutes of studying and 15 minutes of piano minimum on a day. Before or after dinner doesn’t matter.
So you can have some flexibility and you can have days where you do whatever you feel like or throw the schedule away and make things up later. I generally keep one day a week off- so I work 5 days and set my shopping and housework and as many chores as I can for one day off and the other day off is open. So routine isn’t bad but if you feel unhappy and stuck and bored you may need to find places to inject joy or freedom into things. It’s different for everyone and their situation, and you may have to settle for small or gradual change.
A lot of the time breaking routine can take time and effort. In more extreme cases you may need a career change or to relocate. You might not have close friends or family at all or near you, so you may have to start making those connections. There are all sorts of apps and groups for meeting friends or people with similar interests. If you aren’t sure what you like it can be worth it and a way to break routine to just start trying things. Learn an instrument. Take dance classes or cooking or painting or gardening or a certificate or even a degree. Go to car shows, play in a sports league. Get a pet and make its care part of your routine including walks and play groups and classes. Go to museums and parks or travel. Learn a language. Go out for a drive or any number of things.
If you find yourself staying up late constantly, you may need more routine. A regiment. This is also where activity can help. Working out an appropriate window before bed or doing physical projects or activities can help you fall asleep. A good training program generally involves structured bed time. If you stick to your training program and invest in it you may find yourself breaking the cycle of staying up late. But- it can be hard to take the first steps. You have to make a choice and commit to something. That’s not something you can be told how to do but if you find something to motivate you that you care about if often comes naturally with a bit of effort to get started.
Taking to a healthcare provider can also give aid. They may have tips for you. There are some medications that can help but sadly, chronic insomnia is difficult to “cure” or even treat especially long term and long term use of many sleep aiding substances can bring health and wellness issues or dependency and they can lose effect over time. So in those more severe cases it’s important not to give up and keep trying even when things haven’t worked before because the thing that does work might be around the corner.
you can also just yank the rug but that can be a rougher ride depending on your luck.
So let’s start with a question- do you want to break the cycle? Or what do you want to change and why? Routine isn’t bad. Routine can be helpful for success and overall happiness. A set work schedule allows you to structure you time away from work. A set gym or activity schedule and meal schedule to allow you to get exercise, a set grooming routine and chores. Shopping and meal prep on certain days and so on. I try to get at least 30 minutes of studying and 15 minutes of piano minimum on a day. Before or after dinner doesn’t matter.