photo by jasonippolito
“The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.”
-Ellen Glasgow (Pulitzer Prize winning novelist)
We all have those moments in life where it feels nothing new is happening. We’re just going through the motions doing the bare necessities to survive. Things which we once enjoyed, have now fallen by the wayside. We wake up in the morning with no real reason for waking.
Put simpler, we’re “in a rut.” We have no drive or passion to complete anything, let alone discover something new. Being in a rut often leads to feelings of frustration and isolation, as it seems life is at a standstill. Life can feel boring and nothing really interests us.
There are many reasons one may fall into a rut. It could be an early symptom of depression. Sometimes we have so much to do, that we are afraid to start anything new, fearing it may not be the right thing to be working on. Whatever the cause, being in a rut can be destructive if you don’t take steps to get out of it.
Here are some ideas which help me get out of my ruts in life:
- Recognize you are in a rut. The first step is to recognize you’re in a rut. If you have that “I’m just going through the motions” feeling then you might be in one. Ask yourself if anything has changed recently which may have brought this feeling on.
- Visualize where you want to be. What does life look like when things are well? Is there something you wish you were doing? Perhaps it’s picking up an old hobby. Generate some new goals to work on.
- Do a brain dump. Often times, we get in a rut because we have so much going on that it’s hard to figure out where to start…so we don’t start anything. Get all those thoughts in your head onto paper and see if new ideas/tasks jump out at you. There are dozens of “trigger lists” on the internet to help create new ideas. My personal favorite is over at Organize IT.
- Organize something. Organizing can often trigger new ideas or re-kindle an old passion. Some things you can organize include: your desk, a room, a collection, or old photo albums. Pick something simple which will give you some enjoyment.
- Change a routine. Pick a routine and see if you can’t change it up a little. Perhaps a different route to work. Start a new diet or exercise routine. Whatever it is, find something which breaks up the monotony of the norm.
- Set a goal to stop a bad habit. When we get stuck in a rut, often bad habits resurface. This could be as mundane as spending too much time watching TV or browsing the internet. In worst cases it could be unhealthy, such as poor diet or drinking to excess. Recognize if you have picked up a bad habit and set a goal to break it. Remember to reward yourself at the end.
- Do something, anything, to get back into motion. It’s easy when you’re in a rut to sit back and do nothing. Find several small tasks, requiring low mental effort and time, to complete. By checking off small things from your list, you will start to build momentum to once again tackle this bigger projects.
- “Get out of town.” This one is my favorite. Get out of town for a few days and recharge. Take a long weekend with a significant other or go spend time with a friend. Even if it’s only for a day, often times reconnecting with someone important can be a great way to get back on task.
