My boys recently designed me a hat. It looks suspiciously like a certain well-known red one, except instead of its original slogan, it reads: Make Ally Fun Again.

Apparently, I was fun at one point. Apparently, I am not anymore.

Instead of feeling offended, I took it as a compliment. What they are really noticing is that I am predictable. I know what I like, and I know where I’m going. My days are intentional. My routines are steady. My life is, by many definitions, boring.

And that’s by design.

WHEN BORING BECAME NECESSARY

This didn’t happen by accident. Years ago, as my oldest son’s behavioral challenges continued to grow, so did the size and demands of our family. Four young children, very little time to myself, growing work responsibilities, community commitments, and big aspirations that didn’t disappear just because life got harder.

If I wanted to feel more grounded and in control of my energy, something had to change.

The first shift was simple and unexciting: waking before everyone else. Before sunrise. Coffee in silence. Three intentions for the day. That predictable ritual became an anchor during a season when very little felt steady.

My boys never knew the life-of-the-party version of me. What they know is the predictable, some might say boring, mom I am today. And guess what? I’m okay with that.

DISCIPLINE RARELY LOOKS FUN

Discipline rarely looks exciting in the moment. More often, it means saying no to what you want right now so you can stay true to what you want later, or to the person you’re becoming.

A wise friend once told me, “Hard now usually means easy later.” The longer I live this way, the more true that feels.

FIVE BORING HABITS I’M BRINGING INTO THE NEW YEAR

These aren’t resolutions. They’re commitments. The kind that don’t get you the good social media photo, but steadily shape who you’re becoming and what you’re building.

A CONSISTENT SLEEP ROUTINE

I’m “fun on the front end.” Dinner or happy hour is great. Anything late is not. I will be in bed.

That choice means I wake up rested and calm, ready for my quiet morning ritual of coffee, silence, and intention setting. It’s predictable and unapologetic, and it supports everything else I want to do well.

THE UNEXCITING WORKOUT

While the world jumps from cleanses to GLP-1s to the newest workout apps, you’ll still find me in the same corner of the local YMCA where I’ve been jumping rope for years, doing roughly the same routine.

This year, I added one upgrade: a daily outdoor walk for sunlight to break up my mostly indoor workdays. Nothing exciting. Just movement, fresh air, and consistency.

REPETITIVE, ON-PURPOSE MEALS

When I find something that works, I stick with it. An egg white burrito for breakfast. A berry smoothie bowl for lunch. Dinners predictable enough that my boys could guess what’s coming.

Chicken, tuna, salmon, swordfish, pork chops, hamburgers. With a green veggie and salad.

Do they complain? Yes. ALWAYS. I may get a bit more creative this year, but I doubt it will stop being boring.

THE MEDITATION PRACTICE THAT LOOKS AND SOUNDS FUNNY

My kids have grown up knowing they might walk into a room and find me sitting silently, eyes closed, earbuds in, mid-meditation. After sports, they pile into the car to the sound of the cheesiest affirmations imaginable.

We laugh about it. And I remind them that I could have far more exciting ( and perhaps destructive) vices. This one keeps me grounded.

WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY, BY CHOICE

Yes, every day.

This surprises people, especially since I teach about burnout and balance. The truth is, my work energizes me. New research lights me up. Creating programs fills my tank. Writing brings clarity.

When we travel, my kids know they’ll find me up early, often around 5 a.m., getting my fix so I can be fully present later.

WHY I’M CHOOSING BORING ON PURPOSE

Boring habits have given me freedom. Predictability has created capacity. Discipline has made ease possible later.

I don’t need to be made fun again. I need to keep doing the quiet, repetitive, unglamorous things that allow me to show up grounded, energized, and present for my work, my family, and myself.

If that makes me boring, I’ll take it. And in 2026, I’m making it permanent.