You ever feel like you’re stuck in the same routine, where you go to the same places and do the same things, day after day? Sucks, don’t it. In order to combat it, I have been putting aside time lately to explore. It can be anything really, a new coffee shop, a new book store, a new author. Something I have never tried before.

So far, and I haven’t been doing this long, I have been amazed at how fast your eyes can open up. There are hidden gems down alleyways that I’ve walked past a dozen times before, whole sections of my city that I’ve never bothered to visit. 

Right now, I try to set aside one day every week to do some exploring. Not the whole day, necessarily…it can even just be a few hours when I knock off work. For me, the middle of the week has worked the best for this, normally Wednesdays. It breaks up the monotony, adds a bit of smooth rhythm to my life. 

Today? I’m driving out to Newcastle with an old friend to check out some coffee shops, record stores and bands. I’m looking forward to getting out on the road and finding something cool. Maybe I’ll uncover something exciting to write about. Who knows? All that matters is the exploring.