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So, you’re in a rut. It happens to everyone at some point in their lives. You might feel unmotivated or uninspired. Maybe you begin to question the career path you’ve chosen. When you get into this type of mindset, it can feel tough to get out.
2018 was a difficult year for me, personally. Our company wasn’t hitting all of the goals that we’d set out to hit. The future was unclear regarding what we needed to do to stay relevant. There was extra pressure on me, and I began to feel discouraged.
The way I pulled myself out of this funk was by developing routines that kept me disciplined and focused on my goals. If you find yourself in a rut, consider your habits. What are you doing daily to feed your body, mind, and spirit?
If you want to change your life, you need to change your habits—making deliberate choices that will push you in the direction of your goals.
Feed your body.
Eat healthy. Go the gym. Get enough sleep.
These are things we all know we should be doing. Actually putting them into practice is another matter entirely. But, when you treat your body well, you’ll notice you start to feel better in other areas of your life.
Even if you’re already healthy, it’s important to develop a physical routine. When I found myself in a rut last year, I made a resolution to get to the gym every day at 4 a.m. It wasn’t about my physical health—though that was a benefit—as much as it was about my sense of discipline.
To that end, I’ve made a post on my Instagram account announcing my intention to get in 260 workouts this year, and asking my followers to hold me accountable. (To follow me on my fitness journey, click here!)
There was also a feeling of power that came with this physical routine. When I’d return home from the gym each day at 5:30 or 6 a.m., I’d get a dopamine hit. Now that I’d won the morning, I was all set to win the rest of the day.
Bottom line: if you’re feeling sluggish, unfocused, or otherwise less than ideal, think about what you can do to improve your physical wellness.
Feed your mind.
For me, developing a physical routine was a real difference maker when it came to getting out of a rut and getting reinvigorated. But it wasn’t the only thing I did to get through that period. Ultimately, I realized that I also needed to be more deliberate about what I was feeding my mind.
One thing that helped me was reconnecting with my mentor. If you don’t already have a mentor, I would highly recommend that you seek out the guidance of someone you admire. You’ll learn what’s made them successful and will be able to apply it to your own life.
Another thing that’s worked well for me has been reading. I’ve resolved to read two books a month so that I can learn from the words of others. For you, it might be watching educational videos on YouTube or attending conferences. By opening yourself up to new ideas, you increase the chance that you’ll come across yournext great idea.
Feed your spirit.
Another thing I noticed in 2018 was that I was drifting away from my purpose. I realized my goals were becoming too materialistic, with too much focus on becoming bigger as a company and winning more awards.
That realization was important. The reason why I’m doing what I’m doing isn’t to win awards—it’s to become the best version of myself by helping my employees grow and changing other people’s lives. Ultimately, I exist to help other people.
If you’ve been taking care of your body and enriching your mind but are still finding yourself feeling unmotivated, you should think about what you’re doing to feed your spirit. For some people, that means going to church, meditating, or reflecting quietly. For others, it’s reconnecting with friends, joining a social club of some kind, or doing volunteer work.
At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself: what’s my purpose? Are my habits driving me toward that purpose?
Know your “why,” and create habits designed to bring you to that end goal. From there, it’s all about having the discipline to carry out those routines. You’ll be out of your rut in no time.
Want to follow along as I work toward my goals? Find me on social media:
