7th April 2026

Today, I want to talk about how we’re all guilty of fooling ourselves sometimes into genuinely believing that we’re changing routines, when in fact, we’re just really shuffling the same cards around and mixing up an old routine!
It’s an uncomfortable truth, isn’t it? Real change is actually quite rare, isnât it? It’s so much easier to convince ourselves that weâre making progress by switching old things around, rather than doing the difficult work of reflecting on why we are doing what we do and changing it.
I’ve had countless experiences like this, and I bet you have too, where you think youâre doing something new, but when, in fact, you’re really just doing the same old thing again, but in a slightly different way. We often feel we’re improving, but without the pain of genuine transformation.
However, it feels like progress because the novelty makes your brain receive a hit of the chemical that makes you feel good. So, you think you’ve done something new, but if the underlying reasons behind what you do remain the same, youâre just rearranging the deckchairs on the same ship.
Here are some examples:
- You swap your morning coffee routine for something that feels healthier, like drinking green tea, and then feel more virtuous, but you’re still avoiding the real issue, which is why you need to rely on caffeine to start your day. Although the substance has changed, your dependency hasn’t.
- You’re not getting to the gym enough, so change your exercise time from 6 a.m., before work, to 7 p.m., after work, but keep skipping workouts. You haven’t actually addressed the real obstacle; is it motivation, time management, or simply that youâre not enjoying exercising?
- You redecorate your home office with new furniture, or reorganise your belongings there, to help you work better, but then still procrastinate about work just as much as before. Of course, environment matters, but not as much if your underlying relationship with the tasks you have to do hasnât shifted.
But perhaps I am being too harsh, because little shifts do matter. A seemingly minor change can genuinely spark something new inside and is just the first domino in a long sequence that leads to overall transformation. The key is noticing whether that small change actually leads you somewhere.
So today, be honest with yourself: if you change something, ask yourself whether youâre actually changing, or just rearranging what you already do. Remember, real work isnât external; itâs internal. Whether you’re changing routine, or just mixing up an old one, depends on your willingness to look deeper, not sideways!




