We Lived in a Hotel
What a Week Outside My Comfort Zone Taught Me
Setting the Scene
For years, I think I’ve been coddling myself.
In college, I went through a season of no structure - late nights, too much studying, not enough sleep, and way too much fast food. I was like a tumbleweed, drifting wherever the wind took me.
After that, I swung back in the other direction. I took control. I set routines, prioritized sleep, cooked meals at home, planned my social life intentionally, and made sure to exercise. And at first, it was exactly what I needed.
But somewhere along the way, I took it too far. My habits weren’t just habits - they were rules. Things I felt like I wasn’t capable of living without. I built a life where everything had its place, where I knew what to expect. I stopped believing I could handle hard things and instead clung to what felt comfortable. Productivity, routine, and control became my safety nets.
The truth is, neither extreme is healthy.
Over the past few years, I’ve been untangling this - keeping the good while letting go of the need to control every moment. It’s slow work. Sometimes, change happens gradually, one small step at a time. And sometimes, it happens all at once.
For me, it took the power going out.
Zero Degrees, No Power
On the coldest day of the year, our power went out. We were given less than two hours to pack up and move into a hotel with no idea when we would be allowed back home.
Any plans I had for the week? Gone.
So, we adjusted. We lived with just what we packed. We were present because there was no routine to follow. We ate what sounded good when we were hungry instead of sticking to set meals at set times.
And you know what? My life didn’t fall apart. I slept in, ate hotel breakfast, and still made it to work on time.
I think I was actually happier.
For the first time in a while, I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t thinking about what needed to happen next. I was just living. And I wanted to bring that home with me.
A New Me
Once we got home, there was a day I woke up feeling off. Normally, I would’ve pushed through my morning routine, forcing myself to check all the boxes. But instead, I listened to what I actually needed. I took medicine, made a simple bowl of oatmeal, and curled up with Gilmore Girls for an hour.
By the time I got up for work, I felt better. If I had forced myself to stick to my usual plan, I probably would’ve ended up calling in sick.
Which brings me to one of my goals for 2025: Rest and fun don’t belong at the bottom of my to-do list.
I want to be less stressed. Less hurried. Less stuck on a hamster wheel and more grounded, with both feet firmly planted.
I never expected a couple nights of being completely thrown off my routine to be exactly what I needed.
But it was.
Thank you so much for reading!
If you are someone who also struggles with the need to be constantly productive and maybe wants to embrace some more hobbies and rest in these next few weeks, here is a podcast episode for you! I listened to this over the weekend, and it really encouraged me! I am hoping to write more about this soon!
Take care,
Caroline