How to figure out if you’re stuck and what to do about it
Do you ever feel like it’s Groundhog Day?
The character in this classic 90’s film wakes up on Groundhog Day over and over again. Realizing you’re stuck or in a rut isn’t easy. We are all running so busy that it feels like we have to do all the things and be everywhere at once. Life is meant to be busy, yes, but do we have to feel like we are stuck in the same place?
You may be asking yourself, “Am I stuck in a rut?” Here are some sure tell signs you may be experiencing a lull in your life.
Every day is unmotivating
You are feeling unfulfilled
Every day can seem very similar
You fear making a change
You just try to make it through the day
First of all, you are not alone. Many of us experience different levels of enjoyment in life and not all are the same through the years. As we get older, life changes and priorities change, which makes it common for us to feel stuck.
Second, recognize you are in a rut by figuring out the source of your discontentment. It could be your job, partner, friends, family, or whatever is bothering you. Hiring a licensed therapist to get to the source of your discomfort can help you figure out the source and make some necessary changes.
Third, look for new ways to take care of yourself. Whether it’s adding more time for self-reflection or tracking your nutrition or sleep schedule, making sure you are healthy and active can be a good start to getting out of your rut.
Fourth, change your routines that may be causing a lot of your feelings about being stuck. Whether it is trying a new activity or having some fun with friends, look for ways to switch things up a bit and get more joy back in your life.
Fifth, having an overall purpose in your life can help the days feel like you are invested in something that matters to you. Whether that’s a new career or job or volunteering, having a passion and goal for something you care about can add a lot of meaningful things to your life.
And finally, forget perfectionism. Having negative thoughts in your life can cause stress and anxiety that aren’t real. Rather than focus on being absolute, try to look at how much you have accomplished and how it made you feel. Moving forward and focusing on the positive steps we have taken in our life can help us feel not so stuck anymore.
