At one point or another, we have all been in a rut.
You feel unmotivated and doing the day-to-day becomes difficult.
Sometimes it’s caused by a specific event. Other times, there is no rhyme or reason behind it.
I’m currently writing this article in a rut myself. I’m behind my publishing schedule and can feel myself relapsing back into bad habits.
We’re not going to let that happen though, are we!
Here is how I am going about addressing it.
Identify the Cause
Without knowing why you entered into a rut, it’s impossible to avoid it from happening again.
For me, I enter mindset ruts for two reasons:
- Pushing myself too hard and burning out.
- Obsessing over my life trajectory (A.K.A., anxiety for no reason).
For you, the root cause may differ. The result is usually the same though.
Lack of energy and self-control.
Which leads to deprioritizing self-care, which turns into a negative feedback loop.
It’s a self perpetuating cycle.
Get Some Self-Care In
There’s two types of self-care. Fake Self-Care and Real Self-Care.
Fake Self-Care is doing what your minds wants you to do (“i.e. the easiest path”):
- Netflix
- Social Media
- Video Games
- Drinking
- Shopping
Fake self-care provides short-term mental relief, but only that. It doesn’t address the root cause of issues.
Then there is Real-Self Care. It’s what you know is good for you, but it’s not always the easiest thing to do:
- Working Out
- Meditating
- Going on a Walk
- Journaling
- Spending Time With Friends
The only way to get out of a rut is through Real-Self Care.
Hard Reset
For many, the best way to reset is through a good nights sleep and starting anew.
For others, it may be making a change in scenery. Where you work, when you work, or how you work.
It can also just be cleaning up your room and desk. Clean area, clean mind.
Most importantly, it’s moving yourself outside of your comfort zone.
The comfort zone is where it’s easiest for you to fall back into bad habits.
Getting yourself out of a rut is all about getting back into good habits.