Hey bpcyclist. I see a lot of wisdom in the routine you have created for yourself. It helps to keep your mind focused and your body moving. You set up a pattern you get used to and it makes it easier to stick to it even when you aren't level because it becomes habitual. It is like a systematic override for your mood swings. Good strategy.

I can also see how keeping things rigid can leave you feeling a little flat after a while. You need a little wiggle room, but you want to keep the good thing you have here going. That said, could you schedule a block of time daily or weekly for flex time? Maybe give yourself a block of time to plan for it each week and then a block of time to execute the plan? That way, you're still sticking to the routine, but you're introducing something new each week. I'm sure the good folks here can help you brainstorm some budget friendly options.

Also, maybe set aside $10 each week and keep that cash on hand for these activities. That would be $520 a year to get out and try new things. That isn't a huge budget, but you could stretch it and fit a number of great activities in. I realize some people don't have an extra $10 each week, so I'm only tossing that out if it is feasible. There are great ways to save money using coupons and bulk meal planning if it would be a struggle to simply set the cash aside.