We’ve all been there! Four strategies to help you move forward.
This morning, I jumped out of bed two hours earlier than I’d planned, because I was SO excited to start my day.
But last Friday?
I didn’t even feel like getting out of bed. I was in a real rut.
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut and like you couldn’t get out? Well, you’re probably human! But it’s definitely not a fun place to be
How do you get out of a rut as quickly as possible? Here are a few of the strategies I’ve used:
1. Put Fitness First
As a personal trainer, owner of a fitness company, and author of a book highlighting the key role exercise has played in the lives of successful women, it probably comes as no surprise that I value daily movement.
But what might surprise you is this — while fitness does come naturally to me and I normally fit it in around my busy entrepreneur schedule without thinking twice, when I’m in a rut I often put my workout off until later in the day. It usually still gets done, but I don’t get to enjoy any of the energy, focus, productivity, and mental health benefits of fitting in fitness until the end of the day.
When I move as soon as possible after waking up, even if it’s to take a ten minute walk?
I can usually move past the rut I’ve found myself in (pun intended 😉 ) and if not? I definitely feel a lot better and on my way out of it.
2. Do a Brain Dump
When I find myself in a rut, it’s often because I’ve put way too much on my plate or feel like I have so much work to do that I’ll never be able to get it all done.
And as an entrepreneur?
While you might think I have 99 problems, but a boss ain’t one …that’s not entirely true. I am the boss and the employee. Scratch that — I’m hardest boss I’ve worked for as well as at least five different employees with only 24 hrs to get multiple jobs done.
I’m not complaining because, today I also got to jump out of bed excited by the hard work of these six underpaid employees paying off in a big way, but…
Well, I think Derek Halpern shared it best:
Being an entrepreneur involves a lot of tasks and going in and out of ruts on a daily basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, I’m sure you’re doing the job of at least two people thanks to the way things are these days. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you feel overworked.
That’s why doing a brain dump can help.
When you write down the million to-dos you have to accomplish you’re likely to realize the same thing I do 99.9% of the time — You have a lot fewer tasks to complete than you thought. In reality the rut you put yourself in is probably coming from 1–2 challenging tasks, but nothing you haven’t been able to handle before and can’t tackle today.
3. Give Back
Whether you can find a way to give of your time, money, talents or all of these things, giving back is a great way to get out of a rut.
I often think of times I’ve volunteered as almost selfish because of the power they’ve had to change me for the better.
When you help someone else, you feel better, gain perspective, and gratitude. All things that make it pretty hard to stay in a rut.
4. Phone a Friend
Or meet one for a morning walk and get bonus points for tackling two of these tips together!
When we’re in a rut, it’s easy to draw the shades, hide from the sun and stick to ourselves. However, a friend can help you laugh, put things in perspective and often help you find a solution to your challenges.
Bottomline:
Getting in a rut isn’t fun, but you don’t have to stay there!
Now that you’ve read my top four tips for getting out of a rut, I’d love to hear yours! Share by leaving a comment to help another reader. And if you find yourself in a rut in Hermosa Beach? I’d be happy to join you for a morning walk on the strand and help you prepare for our Virtual Fun Run & Fundraiser for Girls on the Run so you can try 3 of my 4 tips in 30 mins or less!
Catherine Basu, MEd is an ACE-Certified personal trainer, the owner of Fit Armadillo®, and author of Superwomen Secrets Revealed: Successful Women Talk About Fitting in Fitness and Dare You to Join Them. She has zero tolerance for diets, supplements, and detoxes and not just because she’s a huge fan of gluten-FULL bread, but lots of love for those new to fitness. An avid runner, she has competed in races from the 1500m to the full marathon, and loves helping others start a running routine.
Originally published at medium.com