Matthew West’s song, "The Motions" inspired me to write some ideas to “fight the [feeling of] nothingness of life” that can occur when our daily lives become the same-old, same-old, and we start just existing, and forgetting to LIVE. Yes, we each have responsibilities as humans with jobs, school, and other necessities in each day. But allowing ourselves to succumb to those things and forgetting important things like interactions with friends and family will only hurt us in the long run.

If you're like me, you welcome structure and planning in life, but hate having a set schedule that is the same every single day. Here's a list of things that will help you avoid a monotonous lifestyle. I don’t want to go through the motions.

Finding new music to listen to, and avoiding listening to the same playlist over and over again. This one is especially hard for me, because I tend to find a song that I like and listen to it repeatedly, basically until I hate it. Don’t ask, because I don’t know either. Eventually I forget about it, and then later on in life I come back to that song, and wonder why I ever got sick of it.

Plan hangouts with different friends - and actually follow through with them. Use a planner if you need to. Google Calendar is your friend. Don’t be unreliable. Make yourself available to your friends. They miss you as much as you miss them.

Pick up shifts at work at various times of day. Earn money and meet new people at the same time! Pick up different days if you can. New people equal new experiences, and that leads to personal growth - whether you realize it or not.

Avoid the same morning routine - switch it up sometimes!

Rearrange your room every so often. New room, new you.

Go on a run.Listen to your favorite playlist.

Craft (often). It doesn’t matter what, just let your creativity shine through - or your struggle with being creative. Either way, it’s fun. Display your art in your room and be proud of

Have random photo-shoots with your friends. Let them dress up, or wear casual clothes, it doesn’t matter. Companionship and creativity go hand-in-hand, and you’ll make memories you can keep forever in photographic form!

Try to decrease your attachment to social media. Don’t look at your phone immediately when you wake up. You’ll be glad you gave yourself some space.

If you feel yourself getting too into a routine that you don’t like, change something. Only you can decide that for yourself.You are able to make the change. So do it. You know you can. Believe in yourself, and stop going through the motions.