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The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions. ~ Ellen Glasgow
In what might be called a "duh finding" scientists have discovered that when stress becomes overwhelming and coping mechanisms no longer work as well as they used to, bad habits can form and chronic stress makes it increasingly difficult to escape those routines and ruts are then well on their way to becoming graves. Well, at least for rats that is. But I doubt many of us would not believe that the same was not absolutely true for humans. As Natalie Angier describes this suspicion well in her New York Times article, Brain Is a Co-Conspirator in a Vicious Stress Loop:
If after a few months’ exposure to our David Lynch economy, in which housing markets spontaneously combust, coworkers mysteriously disappear and the stifled moans of dying 401(k) plans can be heard through the floorboards, you have the awful sensation that your body’s stress response has taken on a self-replicating and ultimately self-defeating life of its own, congratulations. You are very perceptive. It has.
The good news, however, is that four weeks of stress-free vacationing and relaxing broke the rats free from the vicious, repetitive cycle of rut-dwelling. However, given that 4 weeks of pure synapse-rebuilding time might not be available to us humans, hopefully breaking free from ruts could be a form of stress relief itself. In case it is, let's take a look at 5 tips for ways to get out of our pre-graves.
1. Make a decision:
Indecision is a procrastination art form and a way to avoid taking action, especially new action. Christine Kane says decision making has "outrageous power." Coree Silvera at Market Like A Chick says "stop waffling!" and offers 4 decision making steps that produce results.
2. Don't Wait To Be Saved:
BlogHer CE Paula Gregorowicz says that when you fall into a rut and stay there waiting for someone else to rescue you, you're trapped.
Once we stop sitting around waiting for someone to save us, the path opens up to us and life actually gets easier.
3. Go Back To School:
Not literally, necessarily, but rather create new opportunities to learn for yourself. BlogHer CE Alanna Kellogg suggests finding some new blogs outside your usual niche.
4. Make a list:
When Michelle Fabio at bleeding espresso finds herself deep in a rut, she carves out some quiet time to think about her goals and refreshes and refocuses with a new list.
5. Get outside:
This one is from me, inspired by a neighbor who is making some positive life changes. She invited me today to go on a walk with her and two of her dogs and introduced me to a nearby wooded trail by our homes that I never knew existed. Getting away from the tractor beam pull of my computer monitor, breaking my routine, moving, fresh air and learning something new all rolled up into one neat little hour-long package. It was so refreshing, I'm planning on repeating it with another walk on a different new path tomorrow.
So what's your favorite tip for getting out of a rut? Or how do you clear a path through stress so that you can see the ladder leading up out of that rut?
BlogHer CE Maria Niles also shakes things up at PopConsumer.
