Get out of the rut

Are you fed up with being stuck in your hamster wheel? Tired of the stress, the pressure, the rush-rush-rush and the give-me-more? Do you have the daunting feeling that you are missing out on living your life, that you see it passing by as if observing it from afar?

When was the last time you took a time-out to reflect on your life’s direction? What is keeping you from taking stock of your current situation? Is your busy life preventing you from an honest conversation with yourself? 

There is a lot of promise and unrealised potential in you – your creativity, your compassion, your dreams. But you are stuck in the tunnel vision of your hamster wheel – a treadmill in which you labor, rush around and burn yourself out. A wheel that is turning quicker and quicker but never reaches any destination. 

Each hamster wheel is different, but there is a common denominator: All people who are stuck in it experience 

• the perception of being controlled from the outside 
• the frustration of not being able to live up to their full potential 
• the feeling of having not enough time for the truly important matters in life 

You long for a better quality of life, more autonomy and sense of purpose in your daily routines and at work – here and now, not in some distant future. It is easy to announce that it is time to get out of your rut. But the path to do so is shady, implementation is difficult and hindered by insecurities, fears and old habits. And yet, it is worth while to get off your hamster wheel and start to thrive. 

IT’S TIME TO TAKE BACK CONTROL 

For a new path in life it is often enough to simply fine-tune some elements, revise your attitude or reserve more time slots for yourself. No matter which strategy you pursue –  aim to take conscious control over areas which you can influence: your health, your approach to work, your finances, your relationships, your mindset and how you spend your time. 

IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION 

To get out of your rut, start with an inventory of your life. What is important, what are you proud of, what do you want to look back to with pleasure when you’re old? Are there unlived dreams you want to realise, are there people with whom you want to reconcile? What stuff can you get rid off, what dead weight can you let go? Do you need a complete turnaround in life, a new job, a new country to live in, a new partner? 

The good news is: It is possible to plan the exit from the hamster wheel strategically. There are many examples of people who managed to lead a life in better alignment with their values and their own rhythms. Living life on your own terms is not a guarantee for a hassle-free or easy existence. But it means that you keep the steering wheel in your own hand and that you can act autonomously – which is one of the most important prerequisites for a fulfilled and thriving life. Don’t remain in a state of regret and stress, don’t resign with the feeling of having missed out on something important. 

THE TIME TO GET OUT OF YOUR RUT IS NOW. 

This blog post was first published on 27 April 2020. It has been edited for clarity. 

Picture Credit: Raimond Klavins on Unsplash