Have you ever woken up and felt completely trapped? Waking up is accompanied by a large sigh after seeing you have to go through the motions yet again.
You’ve realized at this point that you’ve been running on autopilot and just going with the mundane flow of life, not feeling any true joy.
Feeling aimless and completely stuck in a rut will have even the best of us feeling down in the dumps with low energy and burnt out.
While these can be difficult to navigate, some activities you can try will not only help boost your mood but also help you raise your spirits.
Write it out
Many times, we don’t realize that we are feeling stuck in a rut because we do not have a creative outlet to process our thoughts and emotions. Our minds are chock full of information — from keeping up with birthdays, family gatherings, work responsibilities, and everything in between.
No wonder we feel overwhelmed and end up getting nothing done because we don’t even know where to begin.
This is when writing it out comes in handy. Write anything that comes to mind. And not just on the notes app on your phone but also in a journal.
It can seem like complete nonsense at the beginning, but soon enough, you will find the meaning behind it. This will naturally boost your mood as you will have more clarity and feel more sure of yourself.
Change up your routine
Do you find yourself doing the same exact thing every single day, even on your days off? Do you only have a thirst for adventure when you’re on vacation?
It’s no wonder you feel stuck in a rut. You have nothing to look forward to in your daily life and are most likely bored.
Do something different. Don’t spend your time binge-watching Netflix on lying down in bed. You don’t need to have some major event coming up to feel excited about life. Romanticize the everyday!
Make an effort to go out and do something new. Like to read? Then read at a nice and quiet park close to you. Go to Starbucks every day? Instead, try a different, locally-owned coffee shop for all the aesthetic vibes (and, if we’re honest, probably better-tasting coffee.)
Catch up with a friend
With the fast-paced rhythm of our lives, it’s hard to keep in touch with our friends. As reported by Time, social support “can lower stress levels; improve mood; encourage positive health behaviors and discourage damaging ones.”
Catching up with your BFF by giving them a call, going out for some drinks, or inviting them over for dinner will automatically help you feel better.
Open communication with our support system can lift our spirits in more ways than one, as we can vent our feelings, have a good time, and feel supported and loved.
Remember, this too shall pass.