Do you often wake up not even bothering to remember what day it is? Do you often find yourself just going through the motions at home and at work every day? Do you often think that there’s got to be more to life than this? Well, if your answer is yes to all three questions, then you’re probably stuck in a rut.
It’s really not a big deal, though. You just need to shake things up a teeny bit to get yourself out of a rut. Check out four simple ways to do this.
Get active
If you don’t exercise regularly, then this is the first thing you should do to get out of a rut: get active. It’s a well-known fact that happy hormones, including dopamine and serotonin, are released by the brain when you get your body moving. What’s more, exercising actually helps you sleep better at night. So start getting more active now! You can go to the gym to get some much-needed exercise.
But if gym work isn’t your thing, then go for sports. Get together with your buddies 3-4 times a week and play hockey, tennis, or football. Better yet, have your very own basketball hoop, the duckpin bowling lane, or lap pool at home so you can break a sweat playing sports any time you want. Of course, you should also consider running as it’s not only a good form of exercise but also a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
Learn a new skill
Maybe you’re stuck in a rut because nothing in your everyday life challenges you anymore. And what better way to challenge yourself than by learning a new skill? If you’ve always been fascinated with drawing or painting, then why not attend art classes to unleash the artist in you? You can also take the modern art route by buying a drawing tablet and teaching yourself how to draw with the gadget.
Do you love food but only get quality meals whenever you eat out or whenever your mother, sister, or girlfriend makes something for you? Well, it’s time to man up and learn how to feed yourself! Buy some recipe books, watch online video tutorials, or take some classes to develop your cooking and baking skills. You never know—maybe in just a few months’ time, you’ll be the one making quality food for the women in your life.
Embark on a DIY project
This one’s still part of challenging yourself to get out of a rut. Most guys are a handyman, mechanic, carpenter, or plumber at heart, and you’re probably no exception, so plan to embark on a DIY project. You can start small by repairing chairs, cupboards, or anything that’s broken in the house. Then, you can move on to bigger projects that’ll keep you occupied for longer periods of time.
For one, try repurposing furniture pieces that are just gathering dust in the attic. An old dresser, for instance, can be turned into a very useful kitchen island. If you’re up for it, you can also go for the really big projects—those that’ll require you to start from scratch. You’ll be the apple of your grandmother’s eye for sure if you build a greenhouse in her yard for her weather-sensitive plants.
Have some quiet time
It might not be what most people would consider a way of shaking things up, but having some quiet time can still help you get yourself out of a rut. This is because silence and solitude give you the opportunity to reflect, meditate, or just be alone with your thoughts, which in turn allows your mind to reset. Simply sitting in a rocker on the patio while watching the sunset can already work wonders for your brain.
A walk in the park with your dog will also do for some quiet time. But if you want to get away from it all from time to time, then go ahead. You can go camping and fishing, for example, for a weekend and just enjoy being alone with nature. However you want to spend your quiet time, what’s important is that your mind—and body, for that matter—is at peace.
Get Yourself out of a Rut
Getting stuck in a rut can happen to anyone, including you. But it’s only you who can get yourself out of it. So whenever you find yourself in this situation, try to shake things up in your life a bit. And you can do this by getting active, learning a new skill, embarking on a DIY project, or having some quiet time for yourself.
