We all thrive to celebrate or better said to look forward to celebrating something. Whether it is a wedding, vacation or job promotion.
There’s nothing like the thrill every time we have an exciting event or life update. But when exciting things aren’t happening, life can seem rather, well, dull. Maybe you already went on your big vacation for the year, don’t have any weddings this season, or are feeling pretty meh in your career. Every day is filled with errands to run, bills to pay, and chores to do, and it doesn’t feel like there’s much to celebrate besides making it to Friday every week. Even if you are working towards exciting goals, we all have those stuck-in-a-rut periods. Let’s face it: normal doesn’t exactly give you butterflies. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy life and make the most of even “normal” days.
So what can you do to get out of that feeling?
1.Be mindful.
When we feel “stuck in a rut,” we usually feel disappointed in the moment because we’re missing out on what we thought should be happening (like feeling you should be on that amazing vacation right now, instead of sitting at your job). Use mindfulness to stay in the moment and accept the present, rather than thinking about what could’ve been.
2.Move.
When you are in a rut, moving your body might be the last thing on your mind but is probably the first thing that helps. Exercise can help boost your mood, but can also change the way you view yourself. I love to run and listen to something inspirational while pushing myself. If I’m a little grumpy at the beginning of my run, I’ll almost always end get into a good mood by the end of it. Try it!
3.Practice gratefulness.
When you’re feeling blah, it takes a bit of effort to move through bad moods. But when you focus on what you are grateful for, you show yourself that you don’t need special events in order to feel happy, and your ability to thrive does not depend upon your circumstances.
4.Search for a(ny) job.
The other day I was perusing the web and came across a few job openings that looked interesting but I am not looking to change my job any time soon. However, I still compared my skills to the job requirements and thought about what experience I would need to gain to get the jobs that excited me the most. It gave me some completely new insight into what I really want to do. So if you’re feeling in a rut, a job search may invigorate you with a new direction or excitement, even if you are not planning to apply for it.
5.Start journaling.
You probably heard about the therapeutic effects of journaling. When you journal, you allow yourself to get all regrets and worries out of your head and onto paper. At the same time, you can also use journaling to focus on the bright things in life. Journal depending on what you think you need in order to feel better. For example, if you feel like you have a lot of emotions and stressors built up, let it all out on paper, no holding back. If you’re realizing that you’re being a little extra negative, journal about the things you can be grateful for.
6.Learn a new skill.
They say if you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut because we don’t feel like we’re evolving in our careers or as a person. So the easiest answer is to do something to get what you want out of life. Knowledge is power, and learning something new will not only make you feel more inspired but might actually help you move your life in the direction you are only dreaming about. Whether or not it’s directly related to your career or hobby, take a course that sounds interesting, dive into a good book, or spend time looking up how-to videos on Youtube. There is so much out there for you to learn every day!
7.Clean out your closet.
Just like your home, your closet can be a great indicator of how you feel emotionally. Too many clothes, too few clothes, clothes we’ll never wear, clothes that just don’t fit right, clothes that just don’t feel right—you name it. You know the saying, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have?” What we wear can change what we think about ourselves, and what we think about ourselves changes everything from our emotions to our actions – and therefore basically changes your life. Give away the clothes that don’t make you feel amazing, and make room for new clothes that will allow you to dress for the life you want. Start with the basics. When was the last time you sorted out your underwear drawer? I might be time to invest in some beautiful new dessous by hunkemoller to make you feel like you are on top of the world. Every day.
8.Romanticize everything.
Often, all it takes to feel like we’re in an exciting period of our life is to find things to celebrate. Even if don’t have any exciting events in the near future, you can find little things to celebrate and small moments to appreciate. For example, make yourself your favourite dish for a random lunch on a Tuesday, just because, or stop for some cake on the way home from work, just because you feel like it. Have your best friend over for wine night to celebrate the praise you got from your boss. The more you romanticize the mundane by finding the “special” in the ordinary, you’ll learn that you can create your own happiness while still striving to achieve goals. Being happy does not mean you won’t move forward!
9.Change up your routine.
Sometimes all you need to do in order to spice things up a bit is to change up your routine. Do you normally workout after work? Maybe try it early in the morning instead. Do you watch youtube while getting ready in the morning? Try a podcast instead. The truth is that nothing will feel different until you do something different. Read a new book in the night, take a stroll on a route you’ve never been on, or try a new restaurant on your night out. When there’s nothing new going on in your life, make something new.
What do you do when you are feeling stuck in a rut?
