6 Tips to Get Yourself Out of a Rut

We’ve all been there. I know I personally have on numerous occasions, but the beauty of experiencing those pesky hard times is the build up of our resilience. Here are what I believe to be some helpful tips to help you move on from a stagnant point in your life and keep pushing forward to bigger and better things.

 

1. Become a part of the 5 AM club.

Skkkkrrrtttt. Hit the brakes! Yes, I said 5 am. For me personally, I am the most productive in the mornings, my mind is the clearest and thinking in the most proactive way. How can I accomplish all of the things I want to do today? 

A lot of us complain about not having enough hours in the day, and that’s partially because we become secluded in our rough times and sleep half of our day away or hardly give ourselves time in the morning to reflect and get ready for work, or whatever activities you may have planned, in a timely manner. And the cycle of sleep and seclusion continues when you get home from an exhausting day of grinding on the clock. Budget your time like your money, it’s just as valuable if not more, and out yourself on a schedule.

Some of us reject routine, I know I do especially if its the “big man” telling you when to clock in and out, but a self regulated schedule provides consistency to your life and you’re setting it yourself. Fill your schedule with productive tasks around your work schedule that you enjoy that will boost you up to that next level in your life.

2. Set goals….and REACH them!

Without having a clearly sought outcome, how will you ever know where you’re going or how to get there? I can’t stress how important it is to have an ending goal in mind. We need both short-term and long-term goals to help us prioritize our lives.

Some of my goals include losing weight (short-term goal) and developing a healthier lifestyle (long-term goal). Another example is writing everyday (short term goal) and eventually being published (long term goal).

Your goals are supposed to be catered to you and what you plan on doing with your life. Keep them guarded and close, and try everyday to do something that will bring you closer to achieving them. You will feel much better once even your short-term goals have been met.

3. Take care of yourself first.

This is especially hard for me. I can easily become distracted by the people who I choose to deal with in my life. I don’t believe anyone has bad intentions for me, but it is easy to become enveloped in someone else’s life when you’re not particularly enjoying your own at the moment.

When you take care of yourself first, those distractions will naturally fall to the wayside. You won’t have time to worry about someone else if you’re busy working out, or writing an informative, dope, intriguing article, right?  Giving yourself just a few hours a day, whether it’s right at 5 am before work, or a few hours after you clock out, is extremely healthy. Practice it.

4. Stay close to positive people in your life….aka family and close friends.

It may sound contradictory to the last tip I just gave, but there is a difference between close friends and distractions (yes girls, I’m talking about men) and it is important to know the difference. We won’t get into all of that right now, maybe another time.

It is so easy to fall into a world of detachment when you don’t necessarily feel as though you have a lot of good things to talk about and stop reaching out to the people who are closest to us. But, that is exactly why we need to do so. The people that truly care about us with support you and uplift you in times of doubt and despair. Let them raise your spirits.

5. Pursue your passions.

Have you ever wanted to try something new, or get back into an old hobby? Find a free beginner’s yoga class, watch some YouTube video’s and start that scarf you’ve always wanted to make yourself. Why not start now? DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SMILE. Simple.

6. LOOK GOOD BIIIIHHHHH.

-in my Plies voice- no need for explanation, when you look good you feel good.