“Inactivity & deprivation of all accustomed stimulus isn’t rest;
it is preparation for the tomb.” – Robertson Davies
Every few months like clockwork I find myself in a familiar place. Here, to-do lists don’t matter and OCD tendencies die slow. The energy is stagnant and suffocating. Inactivity lurks…
A rut is defined as a settled and monotonous routine that is hard to escape. In my mind, I think it’s an alternative form of burnout…only in this case, it’s mental. But, how do we get here? How? When things seem to be going so well, goals are being accomplished and all the results are positive. Are we moving so fast through life that we inevitably end up in a pit stop of redundancy?
Have you ever been in a rut? Are you in one now? Not sure? Here are a few tell-tale signs that you’re in a rut:
1. Easy tasks seem harder than usual
The simplest tasks on your to-do list are giving you the biggest challenge. Two steps forward, one step backwards? Nothing you do seems to move you forward. You always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2. Vicious cycle of nothingness
No matter how hard you try, nothing gets accomplished. Personal/professional goals are abandoned. You look up and realize you’ve been doing the same thing for the last two Sundays. You probably don’t even know today’s date.
3. Lack of enthusiasm + interest
At some point, you just stopped caring. The things that usually get you excited are now relegated to an eye roll. Your response to every thing is a casual shrug.
4. Not enough minutes in the day
Your time management skills have gone out the window. Tweetdeck becomes a welcome distraction from the fact that you can’t seem to get anything accomplished. It takes you two days to finish a project that used to take an hour.
5. Comfort leads to complacency
You’ve been winning for so long that you forgot how to play the game. Now instead of playing to win, you are just playing so you won’t lose. You got comfortable…which led to complacency.
What are some other signs?