Stuck in a rut and can’t get out? Maybe you don’t even want to get out. I like to be prepared for times when I feel like this because once it hits, I have no desire to get unstuck, and then I stay stuck longer than I probably needed to. Here is a list of things that help me when I need to get going on whatever I’m working on (or haven’t started working on yet, but really should).
1. Start simple
Often, the stuck feeling comes from an overwhelming feeling of being, well… overwhelmed. When I try to do too many things at once, I end up not doing any of it. I freeze up and don’t know what to work on, so I avoid all of it. Start with one small thing. It’s easier said than done; I get that. It’s like our minds try to tell us it won’t be worth the effort because a small task doesn’t seem like much of anything. But chipping away in small chunks is better than nothing, and a lot of time starting with a small chunk is just enough to get the ball rolling. Like the idea of one word leads to one sentence, which leads to one paragraph, which leads to one page… you get the idea.
2. Take a break
This one might seem silly. “But I’m already taking a break!” Except you’re probably not actually taking a break. You’re probably sitting there wishing you were doing something and thinking about it and maybe looking stuff up on your phone about it and playing it through in your head. After all of this, you’re exhausted, AND you didn’t accomplish anything. Give yourself some time to not do or think about anything. Forget it all and read a book, take a nap, or binge some Netflix. You can start fresh with #1, feeling refreshed and not mentally bogged down.
3. Go for a walk
Walking seems to be my answer for everything. Sad? Take a walk. Overwhelmed? Take a walk. Out of chocolate? Take a walk. Okay, maybe walking doesn’t solve everything… unless you live next to a convenience store or a chocolate factory. But seriously, the benefits of walking are huge. Exercise, fresh air, and sunshine can do wonders for your body and mind, and it might be just what you need to get unstuck.
4. Take care of yourself
Hop on over to this blog’s self-care tab, take a nap, drink some water, and eat some good-for-you food. Taking care of yourself might seem like something too hard to tackle right now, but everything else becomes a little bit easier when your body and mind are happy and working for you and not yelling for help and a drink of water.
5. Write
Writing is like walking to me. It’s a solution to lots of my problems. Make a plan, journal your desired outcome or just free-write. Once you start, it might lead you straight of your rut, and if it doesn’t, it might at least help show a little clarity to the situation.
6. Done is better than perfect
Often, we don’t even want to start something because of the feel of failure. But then nothing gets done. Sometimes just reminding myself that getting something done is better than the image of something being perfect in my brain. I’d rather there be something real and done than imagined and perfect. Usually, whatever I’m working on is something that I can fix later on if imperfections are found. This small shift in perception can really help to get me out of a rut I’ve put myself into because I want everything to turn out perfectly.
These are a few of the things I use to get out of a rut every now and then, but it’s important to point out that sometime a rut is something more and might need professional help. Please never feel afraid to reach out to a loved one or a doctor if you’re rut feels like more than just a rut.
Feel free to leave your getting unstuck ideas in the comments!
