A couple weeks ago, I wrote about lifequakes in a post about job loss.
Lifequakes are disruptive life moments that can be negative or positive.
A few negative examples include job loss, death of a loved one, or divorce.
Positive quakes can include having a baby, getting a promotion, or moving to a new town.
With this on my mind, I listened to an Organize365 podcast that landed in an interesting way.
The episode was focused on creating “A Home Organizing Train”.
Lisa described how our systems and habits are the rails that the trains run on.
From there, we can add the engine and cars of our life to keep things organized.
Like any great rabbit hole, this sent me down a path of two phrases I never really thought about:
“Off the rails” and “Off track”.
The Difference
A little research uncovered that both phrases have their origins in the world of railroads and trains.
Yet, there is a difference between the two.
Going “off the rails” implies a more extreme or chaotic situation. It suggests that things have gone seriously wrong, often in a dramatic or sudden way – like a train derailing.
Going “off track” usually means deviating from a planned path or course, straying from the intended direction or goal. This phrase is more about being sidetracked or distracted.
My Perspective
These connections have me thinking about “routine-quakes”.
Depending on the scale of our lifequake, our routines can either be derailed or go off track.
An important step to take is realizing if our routines are derailed or just off track.
From there, we can work to get back on track or intentionally design all-new routines.
We could look at this as an opportunity.
A chance for adjustments or a clean slate to create new habits and routines.
Your Turn
Have you noticed your world feeling derailed or off track?
How have your routines been impacted?
What is one routine that you could work to get back to or completely redesign?