Do You Have Stuck-in-a-Rut Syndrome?

Sometimes life tends to lose its sparkle. We’ve all had weeks, months even, where we’ve felt a bit dull. Like someone has managed to steal all our usual charisma and replace it instead with a big old bag of boring.

You feel lifeless, unmotivated and worst of all – completely aimless. Nothings interesting and you kind of just coast along. It’s not that you’re depressed or upset about anything in particular, you just feel really blah.

If you ever feel like you’re simply existing we’re here to tell you that isn’t a good thing. Actually, if you do find yourself drifting through life without any interest or direction, then it’s pretty safe to say that you are in a rut.

Ah yes, the dreaded rut. We know it well. Life gets a bit harder when you’re in a rut. Your relationships suffer (your social life definitely suffers) and it takes all your energy to pull yourself off the sofa.

In short, ruts are a bit crap. They give you this awful discontentment with your life. You start to worry about your career prospects, you question the validity of your friendships, you start picking holes in your current relationship – and, worst of all, you start comparing yourself to others. You wonder why you don’t have millions in the bank yet or why you’re not married yet or why other women your age can afford to buy their own homes and you’re still struggling with a bad shoe habit, just like a certain Ms. Bradshawe.

And the more you dwell on the things that aren’t working in your life, the deeper you fall into the rut. It’s like a vicious circle.

If your life has been feeling more “no” than “woah!” lately, maybe it’s time you reinvented yourself.

Every few months it’s always a great idea to shake things up in your life. Switch up the energy. Change your hair, change your clothes, change your make-up – keep things fresh and exciting. Nothing makes a rut disappear faster than ditching your old routine and starting a new one. We promise.

Let’s hit you with a statement: if you’re not happy with your life, why don’t you change it? The most important thing that you can remember about life is that you are completely in control. You, girlfriend, can be, do or have anything than you want.

Yes, really. And one of the major tenants of reinvention is deciding what you want and going out there and getting it. It’s about grabbing life by the (ahem!) balls if you will.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself,” – George Bernard Shaw.

Right. Let’s get down to business. It’s time to shake off that rut and to get a bit of that sparkle back into your life.

First of all, sit down and allow yourself to daydream. Go wild. What have you always wanted to do? Write it down. What have you always wanted to be? Write it down. What have you always wanted to have? Write it all down. Even thinking about your desires should have that small flicker of excitement igniting inside you, deep down underneath all that rut-generated blahness.

Next, how can you go about bringing these things into your life? For example, if you’ve always wanted to be able to speak Spanish, join a class. If you want to advance in your chosen career, look for new jobs or new opportunities in your field. If you want to travel, set up a strict saving plan.

Breathe some fresh life into your habits. Maybe shake up your eating habits, get a new hairstyle or browse through some fashion websites to get inspired.

Focus on the things that make you feel good. What do you love to do? Make an effort to do something you enjoy for at least half an hour every day. You’ll be amazed at the boost that this can give you on a daily basis.

All it takes is a little energy, a little excitement and some small steps towards action. You’ll be kissing that rut goodbye in no time and best of all? You’ll be replacing it with a positive, inspiring and more motivated outlook instead.