20+ Ideas That Will Get You Out of the Rut, Today
The payoff lasts a lifetime.
Recently, I got into a rut.
A despicable place. A barren soil where nothing grows.
Since I started working from home, my addiction to comfort has become more pronounced.
I created a cosy routine and found excuses not to break it. My workout routine got sloppy. My workspace was a mess. And I made new friends — sugar & carbs for dinner.
As my energy levels dropped, it felt good to do the bare minimum. Until it wasn’t fun anymore.
The lazier I got, the more hopeless and purposeless my life felt. I knew it was time to get out of the slump. But how do you get back up?
For me, it was the magic of small steps.
I knew the prospect of taking huge leaps would only dampen my spirits. I had to be smart about it.
Instead of taking a big bite, I had to crawl out of my comfort zone.
One step at a time.
Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.
— Abraham Maslow
Growth and comfort don’t go together.
Every day we have opportunities to step outside our comfort zone. Rarely do we recognize them.
For anyone who’s ever fallen down a comfortable rabbit hole straight on the couch, you know firsthand how addicting the lazy days can be.
We linger in our comfort zone because:
- the possibility of failure makes us cringe,
- it is in our nature to strive for comfort,
- we believe our inner critic,
- we care too much about what others think.
The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.
— Judith Bardwick
Why should you even stretch outside the comfortable and familiar?
To get to know yourself.
By leaving the comfort of your couch, you gain valuable life experience.
When you step outside what is known, you act on instincts and beliefs you have downloaded in childhood. Add to it observation, and you will learn a great deal about yourself: what keeps you up at night, what you fear losing or what limiting beliefs keep you from moving forward.
Self-knowledge is the best tool to navigate life challenges. The most profound change comes from self-awareness.
Embracing the discomfort is a prerequisite for knowing yourself so you can grow into who you’re capable of becoming.
- What are your strengths?
- Where do you feel most confident?
- How do I respond to challenges?
- What values do I want to embody?
Doing only what is comfortable makes our muscles gradually wither. Daily stretches outside the familiar build our character.
A habit of expanding your comfort zone makes you a pro at handling change and ambiguity with grace.
When you repeat the same experiences, your knowledge remains at the same level as yesterday.
As you stretch outside your comfort zone, you gain new experiences and knowledge. The more expertise you have, the more confident you get.
A habit of expanding your comfort zone makes you a pro at handling change and ambiguity with grace.
Transform the comfort zone into a growth zone.
In the comfort zone, we feel safe. We come up with excuses and care too much about the opinion of others.
In the comfort zone, you think you are moving forward. In reality, you procrastinate.
If you want to upgrade your life, the comfort zone is the worst place to be stuck.
It is difficult to talk your mind into changes. But it is doable if you start small. Baby steps will keep you in good stead.
Leaving your comfort zone isn’t about quitting your soul-sucking job and moving overseas.
The best way to confront your fears and avoid panic mode is to have a clear roadmap.
The purpose of stepping outside the known zone isn’t supposed to be scary. Its aim is to get you out of the rut.
Pick a different flavour.
To change your life, you have to do something different.
Having the same ice cream flavour because you have done it for ten years is a perfect example of a comfort zone.
Instead of sticking to the same choices, broaden your horizons.
Change up your daily routine. Start small.
Add a 10-minute guided meditation to your evening routine. When you wake up, go for a walk first, then have your coffee.
Don’t abandon your routine. Spice it up. Just for one day. See what happens.
- Try breathwork. If you are already practising it, prolong your breath hold by 30 seconds longer than usual.
- Take a different route to work.
- Make a home-cooked meal.
- Turn your phone on airplane mode for the evening.
- Pick a different book for tonight’s reading.
- Jump in the cold shower.
- Go for a walk in nature and practice moving meditation.
- Instead of working out at home, go to the gym.
- Compliment yourself every day when looking in the mirror. Say it out loud. Do it for 30 days.
- Maintain eye contact with a salesperson. Better yet. Smile and wish her a beautiful day.
- Spend one day saying ‘yes’ to every invitation.
- Check out basic phrases of a new language you can learn today.
- Try out new makeup.
- Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual.
- Have that coffee alone.
- Ditch watching the news for the day.
- Try a gratitude journal for 30 days.
- Delegate tasks, whether at work or home.
- Do nothing for 30 minutes.
- Spend more time on your skincare routine this evening.
- Record a video of yourself while speaking about the subject you feel passionate about. Just record it.
- Massage your feet at the end of the workout.
- Explore new city. Travel solo.
- Work on your computer/write/draw/read in a new place.
- Toss old makeup/clothes.
Small steps add up to big results.
Get curious about life. Experiment. Try different routes when taking a stroll. It is how you turn up the value of your life experiences.
As you adjust your mind to everyday changes, you will better handle big shifts in your life. Changes will become a part of your daily routine.
Create your list. What makes you uncomfortable? Observe your body and your thoughts as you step outside the familiar. Watch and learn.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
— Eleanor Roosevelt
It gets easier with every step you take.
Once you take one step outside the familiar, it gets less scary. You gain new perspectives and skills and become ready to take the next step.
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
— Fred Devito
The rut I got myself into was a necessary wake-up call to remind me that we thrive in the unknown.
If you want a rich life, embrace discomfort.
It is never too late to become the person you want to be. Start today. If you stay in your comfort zone, you’ll never know what you are capable of.
Take it one day at a time. And tomorrow, congratulate yourself on taking one more step outside your comfort. Success is inevitable.
And don’t forget to have fun with it.
Thank you for being here, — Kate