By Samantha McKenzie

It’s perfectly okay to break out of a routine. Actually, it’s highly encouraged. Don’t get me wrong, routines have their rightful place. They help us stay organized. They ensure that all of our chores are completed. But most of all, they provide a safe haven and security blanket for the masses to snuggle up under.

Break out and live a little.

Reading my horoscope helped. Well at first, it just frightened me. A few months ago, as I trolled the internet, I stumbled upon my zodiac reading. It chided me for allowing myself to get stuck in a slump and referred to me as “a domesticated cat” (wait, what?) Anyone who knows an extroverted Leo, knows that is an insult. lol. I’m a fun girl, right? After a little inventory, I realized it was time to live a little, love a lot more and take the time to laugh out loud. I now take long walks, even when it’s raining, just because.

Un-list your lifestyle and love more.

We have lists for everything. I keep a running grocery list, an errand list (a.k.a. to-do list) and a mental, what-I-want-in-a-guy list. I also keep a wish list and a rapidly dwindling what I won’t do list. We are so busy checking off items on these lists, we forget to just live. I pushed away from my desk at work, slid my work list to the side and phoned a friend. I invited my girlfriend out to lunch and we got a chance to catch up on each other’s lives and swap children’s stories. On that afternoon, as we made our way out of the restaurant, the very cute guy gave me his number. A week later, I went on a date.

More time equals more laughter.

Designate some joy time and learn how to laugh the night away. Don’t underestimate this jewel. Laughter is a great stress reliever and there is some truth to it being “the best medicine.” I have the best time with my children when we take long road trips in the car. It’s open season on everyone. We spend time telling jokes (a trait I am still not very good at) and we fill the space up with the sounds of straight laughter. We also partake in unscheduled bursts of laughter when we’re just hanging out in the kitchen. This ongoing amusement has helped our family out during the best and worst of times.

Live a little, thankfully.

Love a whole lot more, openly.

And most of all, enjoy a good laugh, uncontrollably.