Reaching a Mid-year "Plateau"

I’ve reached an interesting (and incredibly frustrating) point here during my time in Madrid: now that I’ve shed the excitement, nerves, homesickness, and novelty of my life here, having established a solid routine, I’m finding that I desperately need to break it. Some of my friends are experiencing the same thing: we’re calling it our ‘plateau.’ Whether this is a byproduct of settling into a new country, the nature of being an aux for a year, or simply a symptom of being 23 (and, for many of us, out of an academic environment for the first time in our lives), the fact stands that I’ve been struggling under the weight of something one wouldn’t think possible when living this ‘awesome, carefree year abroad,’ the dreaded ‘m’ word:  monotony. 

Now, don’t get me wrong– getting to spend time as an aux is a testament to anyone’s flexibility, bravery, and let’s face it, privilege. I know how lucky we are to be here doing this awesome program, something we all have to recognize. For a lot of us, though, the arrival of spring is bringing both lovely weather and also the crushing weight of reality of soon returning to ‘real life’ (i.e. jobs, applications, and plans for after this year, for those of us who aren’t staying on). In all of these anxieties, I genuinely have forgotten to make the most of the life in front of me, so here are some things I’m doing to break the comfortable routine I spent so long working to settle into. 

1.Try at least one new cafe/bar/restaurant (if my wallet can handle it) every week 

This idea was the foundational idea that spurred this whole post. I tend to become a creature of habit, and as much as I like trying new places, I tend to rely on my friends and their recommendations for branching out, and don’t generally put in the effort to seek new places out myself. Well, that is no more! Maybe my next post will be dedicated to reviewing all the cool new places I’ve tried recently, who knows? 

2. Implement standing plans

This goes out to you, Rhiannon, and our freshly minted Friday Study Session. A standing plan, or a plan that you repeat regularly at the same time (or place, or with the same person, or all of the above), is definitely a 2026 ‘in’ for me. 

The one that I’ve worked into my schedule is, obviously, personal to me, but my friend Rhiannon and I meet up every Friday at a cafe to study our respective languages. We both studied languages at university that are not exactly relevant to living in Madrid (read: Arabic and Russian), and we were both stressed about losing our abilities. This standing plan checks off so many boxes– we can try new places, I get to hang out with my friend, we get intellectual stimulation, and it’s completing a task that I otherwise always find a reason to put off. 

3. Set a measurable goal         

This one has to do with planning something to look forward to. A measurable goal is a fantastic way to ensure a sense of accomplishment, and to keep note of growth and progress. For my flatmates and I, our ‘measurable goal’ is the Madrid half marathon! 

This one’s great, because progress is easily measurable, and assuming we complete this half marathon successfully, I’m hoping it’ll bring a sense of accomplishment.  

4. Engage with culture (duh)

Hello, I have free entry to El Prado, why have I not been going there every other day? Simone and I find ourselves in a similar situation of ‘plateauing,’ so we’re going to culture ourselves together this Sunday. Finding free “cultural” events (dance performances, art shows, live music, etc) are much easier than you’d think, as long as you’re willing to do a quick Google search. 

5. Explore the city I live in (also duh)

I really don’t take advantage of the city I live in. My friend Eliza just moved to London, and she told me that her tradition with herself is to take herself to a new neighborhood of the city every Sunday with her camera and her journal.  I found this idea inspiring, and I’m definitely going to try it myself, even if I do it only once. 

6. Something spontaneous once a week

This one seems silly to set as a ‘goal,’ but part of the problem I’m identifying with my routine is that it’s simply too routine. Too structured! I’m 23, living in the beautiful capital of Spain, the weather is getting nicer, the only thing I’m really obligated to do is my 18 hours a week in my high school, and I have free will. What am I waiting for? Catch that sunset at Temple de Debod. Text a friend if they’re free. Grab a drink at that bar I’ve been meaning to try. See a movie for €5. Go for a walk around El Prado. A turn about El Retiro.  A hike around Casa de Campo. The world’s my oyster, I’m the pearl. 

7. Leave!

And, finally, if all else fails, leave! Har har. That is, take a trip. 

I mean, this one is obvious for us Americans abroad, but having something to look forward to helps add variety, not to mention leaving your space and comfort zone. My girls and I just booked a trip to Morocco and another to Tenerife, and I’m currently trying to convince my friend Danny to accompany me on a tour of southern Portugal and Spain in June. Danny, if you’re reading this, remember the vision of the watermelon in the sand and the ice cold Mahou and the beach volleyball and the Australians. 

Conclusion

Honestly, speaking about this topic both in this post and verbally with my peers has proved a bit difficult for me, especially since it's not at all relatable to a lot of my friends here. However, I know this is a relatively common phenomenon, and it definitely makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone in it, so if you're reading this and resonating with it, neither are you!