History Main / AllergicToRoutine

* The BigBad of ''Franchise/DanganRonpa,'' [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima,]] has this as [[spoiler: her]] entire motivation for everything [[spoiler: she]] does in the series: [[spoiler: her talent in analysis allows her to forecast almost every outcome to a situation, which causes her to constantly be agonizingly bored, so much so that she's become fixated with despair, since its chaotic and unpredictable nature is the only thing that makes her feel alive.]]

* The BigBad of ''Franchise/DanganRonpa,'' [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima,]] has this as [[spoiler: her]] entire motivation for everything [[spoiler: she]] does in the series: [[spoiler: her talent in analysis allows her to forecase almost every outcome to a situation, which causes her to constantly be agonizingly bored, so much so that she's become fixated with despair, since its chaotic and unpredictable nature is the only thing that makes her feel alive.]]

* A therapist in the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Pickle Rick" astutely points out that the entire Smith family is an example of this trope, explaining that while some people are okay with doing “boring” work that isn't adventurous at all, others would rather die, and Rick and Beth's conversation on the ride home afterward implies that she was completely right in her assessment. Heck, Rick's shenanigans in this episode ''alone'' are proof: he would rather ''turn himself into a pickle and fight roaches, rats, and the government'' than go to family therapy.
** Jerry, being Rick's {{Foil}}, completely and totally inverts this. Jerry thrives on structure and routine. When Aliens took over the earth at the end of Season 2, Jerry quickly becomes a model citizen because all he has to do is keep his head down and follow whatever routine he's given. And in a Season 4 episode, Jerry consumes some of a substance that allows whoever drinks it to experience their own idea of a "perfect existence." In this existence, Jerry is a water bottle delivery man, traveling from house to house and installing large water bottles into water coolers. An impossibly monotonous and totally uncomplicated job.

* A therapist in the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Pickle Rick" claims that there are people who would rather die than go to work. The conversation Rick and Beth have on the ride home implies that they are indeed this kind of people. Heck, Rick's shenanigans in this episode alone are proof: he would rather ''turn himself into a pickle and fight roaches, rats, and the government'' than go to family therapy.

* Rygamine Mikado from ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'' seems like an unassuming high school protagonist, but later comes to embody this trope. Made most apparent when he essentially starts a gang war for the sake of simply making his life more exciting.

* Haruhi Suzumiya from the anime of ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' is, exactly like her book counterpart, a person who loathes routine and constantly seeks out interesting things from mysterious transfer students, murder mysteries, and aliens, time travelers, and espers.

* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', of course. Ordinary day? Heaven help you, Kyon, Haruhi will soon sort that out.

* ''{{Series/House}}'': Whether as a doctor, a friend, a roommate, Gregory House always winds up rewriting the rules to his own advantage -- and sometimes breaking them even then. Not too surprising, as he's a Literature/SherlockHolmes {{expy}}.

* Literature/SherlockHolmes: "My mind rebels at stagnation." Becomes [[UpToEleven clinically depressed]] when things get too quiet. For the record, the book version of Watson has a foot in both camps (domestic bliss with wife + running after Holmes on adventures = happy life), while the [[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 film version]] wants to be a CreatureOfHabit... But Holmes, in most adaptations, consistently functions on the assumption that his best friend is also naturally Allergic To Routine.

* This trope is what drove ComicStrip/{{Calvin|AndHobbes}} to codify {{Calvinball}}. And also what drove him to [[UpToEleven drop all his clothes and walk to school for no actual reason]].

* This is a common trait in people with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny ADHD]]. The dysregulation of neurotransmitters involved causes ADHDers to gravitate towards activities that release more neurotransmitters.

* This is a disproportionately common trait in people with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny ADHD]].
* Therapy for Asperger's, people who are normally inflexible to the extreme, can cause a minor version of this. For instance, one who insisted on the same meal every day might find himself thinking that he can't do that and have something different every day with no patterns or anything.

* Rygamine Mikado from '''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'' seems like an unassuming high school protagonist, but later comes to embody this trope. Made most apparent when he essentially starts a gang war for the sake of simply making his life more exciting.

* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'': This version of Sherlock Holmes has a need for intellectual stimulation that strongly brings to mind a drug addict's desire for the stimulant of their choice, and repeatedly goes to dangerous lengths in order to avoid becoming bored - [[NotSoDifferent a trait he shares]] with his arch-nemesis, Moriarty. However, possibly as a means to complement Sherlock, this particular version of John Watson is heavily hinted to be an adrenaline addict and a thrill-seeker.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': Flowey explains his history in full towards the end of a No Mercy run: with the ability to [[SaveScumming SAVE]], he was able to experience all possible outcomes of every scenario. He helped everyone, he killed everyone, he won every contest and lost every contest... until, after [[TimeAbyss untold resets]], he just ran out of things to do. It wasn't until the PlayerCharacter fell into the Underground and overrode his SAVE power with their own that he became truly interested in the outcome of events. [[NotSoDifferent The same urge]] is part of what likely drives '''you''', the player, to start a Genocide Run of your own...

* The BigBad of ''Franchise/DanganRonpa,'' [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima,]] has this as [[spoiler: her]] entire motivation for everything [[spoiler: she]] does in the series: [[spoiler: her talent in analysis allows her to forecase almost every outcome to a situation, which causes her to constantly be agonizingly bored, so much so that she's become fixated with despair, since it's chaotic and unpredictable nature is the only thing that makes her feel alive.]]

Contrast with CreatureOfHabit. Compare and contrast DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife, ManicPixieDreamGirl, BumblingDad, and InHarmsWay. TheHedonist is this character but even darker.

* A therapist in the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Pickle Rick" claims that there are people who would rather die than go to work. The conversation Rick and Beth have on the ride home imply that they are indeed this kind of people. Heck, Rick's shenanigans in this episode alone are proof: he would rather ''turn himself into a pickle and fight roaches, rats, and the government'' than go to family therapy.

This person gets bored extremely easily and needs to be entertained at all times. Unpredictability isn't just preferred, it's a necessity for this guy's sanity -- if too many days pass quietly, they start to lose their mind. They're the roommate who always "forgot" that it was their turn to clean up, but who dragged you along on their [[ZanyScheme (mis)adventures]] and kept life so interesting that you ended up not minding. They're also the parent who uprooted their kids every time they felt life was getting "boring" and the spouse who signed themselves and their unknowing partner up for a mission to Jupiter -- anything, ''anything'' to avoid life becoming "normal."

Your sympathy for this character may vary. On one hand, they're [[ManicPixieDreamGirl funny, unpredictable and keep life interesting]]...but on second thought, you'd probably think twice about marrying this character or having them as a parent. They often have a crippling case of NoSympathy, and [[ItsAllAboutMe assume what they want is what's best for everyone]]. The fact that their significant other is keen to take over the family business in his hometown, or their kid is sick and tired of having to make new friends every four months, will simply not compute with them -- life's getting same-y, so let's get out of here!

However, [[InLoveWithLove they may not get as far as having a steady partner]], much less kids, to worry about -- that means commitment, and very possibly the dreaded prospect of domesticity. Many Allergic To Routine characters would rather remain free agents, never [[NotStayingForBreakfast hanging around for breakfast]] after a passionate night or forming lasting friendships. If they do, it will be [[DeconfirmedBachelor a major plot point]].

They may use dubious means to make things "interesting," or disrupt the lives of those around them just to see what happens. They will enjoy being a WeirdnessMagnet, would never dream of declaring "IJustWantToBeNormal" and, if faced with normality, will be spotted running into the horizon screaming "IJustWantToBeSpecial"...except it's not the "specialness" or ChosenOne status they want, it's the ability to make life interesting.

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' King Radical's goal is this trope.[[spoiler: He will make Earth more radical, or rather, more like his homeland, Radical Land, by both getting rid of bores and non-radical people, and switching them with people and creatures from Radical Land.]]

* The obligatory ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' example would be Moist Von Lipwig of ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' and ''Discworld/MakingMoney''. After he outwits the CorruptCorporateExecutive and gets the post office running again, he resorts to climbing walls and breaking into his own building to kill the monotony. Vetinari promptly shifts him to the bank, and already has plans for his next job after that. One wonders what will happen when the city runs out of businesses for him to renovate, although Vetinari also notes that he doesn't seem to get bored like this when [[{{Tsundere}} his fiancée]] is around.