Building a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From

Am I boring or do I just love my routine?

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It’s hard for me to put this into words without saying, “I just dont really like having fun.” I dont chase the festivals, the big parties, the passport stamps; they just don’t really light me up.

It’s not that I don’t still like those moments. I just don’t need them. And I always thought, “maybe I am just boring".”

But the alternate perspective is that somewhere along the way, I quietly built a life I don’t feel like escaping from.

I love my mornings. I love making my coffee exactly how I like it. I love laying next to my dog, dimming my lights at 7pm, and going to our neighborhood wine bar with my boyfriend. I love reading fiction at night. I love my home.

I still travel for work, and it’s a big blessing. But the real luxury is coming home and being genuinely happy to be there.

Maybe I’m not “over fun” but perhaps I did redefine what it looks like for me.

Here are a few things that helped me create a life I’m excited to come back to, even when I leave:

1. Adopt a Pet (Only If You Can Be Responsible)

There’s something about having a dog or cat that instantly makes your house feel like a home. My dog changed my life in every way. The companionship, the rituals, the snuggles, the joy of coming home. He’s my favorite thing in the entire world.

2. Find a Hobby You Do Alone, Just for You

Reading. Pottery. Hot yoga. Running. Knitting. Long walks. It doesn’t have to be productive. Just something that belongs to you. No audience. No end goal. Just presence.

3. Romanticize the Tiny Details of Your Home

Home doesn’t have to be expensive to feel good. For me, it’s candles, incense, cozy blankets, ice cream cones in the freezer, pretty wine glasses, and plates I actually like eating off. Lighting matters. Blankets matter. Little rituals matter. Make your space feel like you. I used to think these hidden details didnt matter because no one could see them, as I got older I learned they matter the most, because no one can see them… they are just for me.

4. Treat Your Neighborhood Like a Mini Getaway

Make a list of local things that feel like micro-vacations:
– Farmers markets or your favorite grocery store
– Coffee shops
– Sunset walks
– Bookstores
– Museums
Make an afternoon out of doing one of these and be there. Fully.

I grew up in the middle of Los Angeles and then I moved towards the suburbs and for me, that was the best decision for the next chapter of my life. But find what works for you. Loving your neighborhood is crucial.

5. Fall in Love with Fiction Again

If you can’t afford to travel right now, then read.
Fiction lets you leave your world without ever leaving your bed. It’s one of the few ways to escape without disconnecting from yourself. It’s been my saving grace my entire life. Once you start, you’ll find your favorite sub-genres and thats where the fun really begins.

6. Do the Inner Work to Feel at Home with Yourself

The truth is: wherever you go, there you are.
So build the kind of inner world you don’t need to escape from either.

Learn to enjoy your own presence. Not in a “self-care day” kind of way, but in the quiet moments. When there’s no one around. No music. No performance. Just you, with yourself.

That’s where peace starts, and that’s how you build real freedom.
Because if you feel grounded inside, you’re always home, no matter where you are.

My final thoughts are that you don’t need to disappear to find peace.
You can build a life that feels good daily, even better than those vacations or weekends. You dont have to live for the weekend just because society tries to program that into us.

If you’re constantly craving escape, it might be time to ask:
What do I need to shift in my daily life so it actually feels like mine? And dont settle. Decide that you want to be obsessed with your daily life to the point that you miss it when you break routine, and then take one step at a time towards curating exactly that.