In the last issue we talked about quick mood boosters.
In this issue we are going to go over some great tips for
getting out of a rut.

Do you feel stuck in your life?

Has the world suddenly seemed to have closed in around you?
In addition, are you are doing the same thing day in, day out?
If this sounds like your life then you are probably stuck in a rut,
with what seems to be no way out.

Being stuck in a rut can drag you down, make you feel depressed,
or as if life is something you just go through but have long since
stopped enjoying. You become this way slowly without even
realizing it, until one day you wonder what happened and when.

For many of us our daily life is governed by some form of routine
which we cannot avoid, for example going to work 8 hours a day,
taking the kids to school each morning, this is daily life and routine
which for the most part cannot be changed. Another reason behind
routine is the safety barrier; we get comfortable with our lives and
feel secure in them, so why change?

However, sometimes routine can start to get us down, leave us
with a feeling of dissociation and start causing problems in
relationships, work and daily life in general, we gradually
become unhappy. This is when a change is needed; this is the
time to dig yourself out of the hole you have put yourself in and
start enjoying life again.

Here are some tips to help you begin to take back control over
you life and get out of the rut.

– Do at least one thing everyday that is different to your
normal routine, this could be something as simple as taking
a short break and going for a walk, sitting down to read a
chapter of a book or any other hobby or pastime you once
enjoyed.

– Take up a new hobby, make sure that you give yourself
some times throughout the day to just enjoy something
you like doing.

– Shake up meal times by having something different, you
can either try a different recipe or order different take out,
try foods from different cultures.

– Get out and meet new people, there are many ways you
can achieve this, join a gym, club or attend a self-
improvement class or hobby class.

– Drive a different way to work or if possible walk or start
bicycling, not only will this break the rut you are in but
also get you fitter.

– Take up a new sport; there are many types of sport with
something for the fitter to the more moderate forms of
exercise.
– Do something each day that is totally out of character for
you, start off with small changes and work your way up to
bigger ones.

– If you are stuck at home with children then change your
routine throughout the day, don’t always do the same chore
at the same time, shake up the way you do your housework.

– Make small changes around the home or work area.

– De-clutter your home or work area; it is surprising how
being surrounded by clutter can get you down.

Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will
be talking about getting out of a rut.