When You're Stuck In a Rut

Feeling down and out? What steps do you take when you’re stuck in a rut? You often know deep down when it’s time for a change in your life. You can feel it in your core – there’s a lack of motivation and fulfillment in your current situation.

Lately, waking up for work has become a daily struggle. I dread having to go into the office, though the days I get to work from home are not so bad. The ongoing dread of office days has reached a point that requires addressing.

Being Stuck in a Rut

I’ve been with the same team for nearly 10 years. While I enjoy my work, I’m eager to develop new skills, explore different opportunities and of course earn a higher salary. Unfortunately, few growth prospects within my current company interest me and my field is quite specialized. My career progression feels stagnant and I’ve hit a glass ceiling. Frequent changes have disrupted our processes and team rhythm, with new systems only adding to our workload by being time-consuming, slow and ill-suited to our needs.

This sense of feeling stuck in a rut isn’t temporary, it’s more than just Monday blues. I’ve been feeling this way for at least six months, with more lows than highs recently. The change in how I view my job became very clear when I took leave for three weeks. I was genuinely happy not just because of the family holiday we were on but because I didn’t have to think about work during that time.

Even my husband saw the difference in my mood. When it was time for me to return to work, he noticed how quickly my demeanor shifted. I shifted from feeling relaxed and happy to stressed, moody and impatient. It was as if the cheerful, calm version of myself had vanished completely.

Getting out of a Rut

So, what’s my plan for breaking out of this rut? Instead of applying for different roles with no success as I’ve been doing. I’ve decided to shift my approach to concentrate on self-improvement and personal growth. I wanted to share my story to potentially help others in similar situations. I’ve outlined 10 key areas to focus on for the next six months or more.

10 Key Areas of Focus

Exercise – Take a daily walk during the work week to boost fitness and alleviate stress, especially after a tough day at work.
Mindset – Maintain a positive mindset and a can-do attitude, continuing to strive for improvement each day even when things get tough and don’t go as planned.
Diet – Adopt a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, focusing on better food choices. Reduce sugary drinks and chocolate and keep track of my caffeine intake.
Mental health – Monitor daily feelings to prevent work and life from becoming overwhelming. Take a break when feeling stressed and allow for rest. Pause the busyness when needed and reach out to a counselor if necessary.
Stay connected – Regularly check in with family and friends, making time to catch up and stay connected.
Set boundaries – While staying connected is important, boundaries also need to be set to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Plan to catch up with friends one weekend, spend time with immediate family the next, visit extended family the following weekend and use the remaining weekend to relax, handle paperwork, and take care of home tasks.
Reduce social media – Cut down on mindless social media scrolling and avoid it, as it can be addictive and time-consuming.
Self care – Remember to prioritize self-care. Set aside time each week for pampering like enjoying a home spa day or night or getting a manicure or pedicure.
Side hustle – Dedicate time each day to developing a side hustle with the goal of turning it into a business that generates enough income to replace the 9 to 5 job, allowing the option to retire from the corporate world.
Enjoy life – Do something each week that brings joy whether it’s unwinding with a good movie on Netflix, spending time at the beach with the kids or simply enjoying the outdoors.

Summary

Life has many ups and downs but you can choose to improve a challenging situation by adopting a positive perspective. By following the above tips, you can start taking steps towards feeling better. Taking it one day at a time can help you become a better version of yourself and shape the future you desire.