Albert Camus on how to make sense of the biggest existential challenge of all: everyday life

"The real horror of existence is not the fear of death, but the fear of life. It is the fear of facing the same struggles, disappointments and pains every day anew It is the fear that nothing will ever change, that you are trapped in a cycle of suffering from which there is no escape. And in that fear lies a desperation, a yearning for something—anything—that will break the monotony, that will give meaning to this endless repetition of days.’ – Albert Camus The Fall

Have you ever felt that crushing sensation of waking up in the morning and facing another day that looks exactly like the last? You are not alone – 67% of adults say they feel trapped in their daily routine. The philosopher Albert Camus recognised this as the true horror of modern existence Your alarm goes off, and there it is again: that queasy feeling in your stomach. Not out of dread of death or disaster, but of the sheer predictability of the day ahead. This widespread but rarely discussed experience leads directly to Camus's concept of the ‘absurd’ – the contradiction between our need for meaning and the apparent meaninglessness of our everyday lives.

What it's about

• Why routine can be more terrifying than the thought of death

• How Camus' philosophy offers a new perspective on the everyday

• Practical ways to find meaning in the mundane

• Unexpected benefits of consciously embracing absurdity

Understanding the absurdity of everyday routine

The absurd, as defined by Camus, is not just the absence of meaning in life; it is the painful realisation that our days are often trapped in endless repetition. Imagine your life as a high-definition rewind, a loop that never changes. This modern phenomenon comes in many forms ✅ Endless scrolling through social media feeds ✅ The same meetings over and over again that could just as easily have been an email ✅ The constant countdown to the weekend – only to return to the same cycle ✅ The nagging feeling that there must be more to life than this daily grind

The way out of the prison of routine

1. The awakening in the morning

Every morning, you have a choice: you can submit to the routine or consciously rebel against its stifling effect. Camus emphasises that awareness is the first step towards liberation. 🔹 Why this is important: This clarity – even if it can be painful – creates space for an authentic life. When you see through your routine, you can decide how to deal with it instead of being determined by it. 🔹 Why this is important: When we recognise that our destiny is like that of Sisyphus, we can discover a deep meaning in it – not in the task itself, but in the way we face it.

3. The digital amplification of the absurd

Smartphones are both windows to endless possibilities and invisible chains that bind us to our routines with notifications, reminders, and digital obligations. 🔹 Why it matters: By questioning the role of technology in our daily lives, we can set more conscious boundaries and make our digital lives more meaningful.

4. The social mirror

Our collective experience of routine is everywhere 📅 Memes about the ‘Monday blues’ 🎉 The excessive joy of the ‘Friday feeling’ ☕ Endless discussions about the meaning of the working day 🔹 Why it's important: This shared experience can be alienating, but it can also lead to connection and collective resistance to the negative aspects of routine.

5. Liberation through acceptance

The most surprising element of Camus's philosophy: freedom comes not from escaping routine, but from consciously embracing daily repetition – with an inner rebellion against its stifling effect. 🔹 Why it's important: this paradoxical view opens up a practical path forward: meaning comes not from completely rejecting routines, but from consciously and creatively engaging with them

The way forward: finding meaning in monotony

The solution to our existential dilemma does not lie in the abolition of all routines – that would be neither realistic nor desirable. Camus suggests that we become conscious rebels: people who go about their daily tasks but remain free within.

Practical ways to make your daily life more conscious:

🌀 Embrace the absurd Don't fight routines, but recognise them in their full absurdity. This clarity alone is a form of freedom. 🎭 Rituals instead of routines: Transform meaningless processes into conscious, valuable rituals that serve your personal goals. 🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness in everyday life: Be consciously present even in the most trivial moments and reflect on your own decisions. 🎨 Creative rebellion: Find small, creative ways to infuse your routines with your own personality and meaning.

Conclusion

The real horror of existence is not the fear of death – it is the fear of living: the monotony of routine, the oppression of repetition, the feeling of being stuck. Yet this is precisely where we find our chance for liberation. Camus shows us that it is not our routines that we need to eliminate, but rather the way we deal with them. By looking at our daily routines with open eyes and a rebellious spirit, we can transform our relationship with the ordinary. The challenge is not to escape routines, but to live them more consciously Embracing the absurd while remaining internally free, even the everyday can become a source of personal meaning. Remember: in a world without inherent meaning, it is up to us to create significance through conscious experience – even in the most ordinary moments of our day. The alarm clock will ring again tomorrow – but how you respond to it makes all the difference.