I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel less than great. Unmotivated, grumpy, fed-up, and bored are all words you could use to describe what I’m like on those days and I’m not at my best in my business on those days.
The thing is, days like those are part of the deal with being human (and running your own business!) – it’s not an elective. There will always be off days, and that’s okay.
But what happens when you get a whole string of those off-days, maybe lasting weeks, months or even years? Too many of us say that we’re in a rut, feel stuck, fed-up, or bored and admit that we don’t want things to be that way, but we don’t know what to do to change.
That’s the problem, when you’re in a rut, you don’t have the energy or motivation to change things for the better, and it’s tough to find the insight or resources you need to make that jump.
Here are a few fun and easy ways you can use right now to climb, or better yet, leap, out of the rut and start to move into a better headspace for yourself.
1. Do something differently
Life tends to run smoothly when we establish systems and routines for things.
The problem comes when things run too smoothly and we become blinded to any ideas or choices that sit outside of our routine. All the stuff we do every day becomes the norm, running on auto-pilot, and it can become our whole world.
Start with making one or two simple changes to your day – maybe at breakfast time, change your radio station, your gym routine, your route to work, lunch routine, etc. Don’t worry about what the changes are, or whether they’re right or wrong, just make a couple of simple choices that will serve you well.
Doing something differently or changing parts of your routine, instantly takes you out of the norm and allows you to shake off the things that make you feel confined. Step out of your routine and you’ll be in a position where you’re able to make different choices, see things differently and get a different result. Try it – it works!
2. Use your intuition
Your intuition is a powerful ally, and we all have it even though you might not recognise it. The dictionary says that intuition is:
1.a. The act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes; immediate cognition.
1.b. Knowledge gained by the use of this faculty; a perceptive insight.
2. A sense of something not evident or deducible; an impression.
- Practice maintaining an open-minded, playful, experimental and non-judgmental attitude for yourself. This is the most fertile ground to tap into your intuition.
- Practice making wild guesses in your everyday life. Guess what a salesperson’s name is, what a new person or place will look like or who’s calling on the phone. Don’t worry about getting it wrong, you’re just working that muscle.
- Try a few simple observation exercises in your daily life. Whether you’re in a restaurant, on a train, in a bar, or out shopping, practice noticing non-verbal behaviour in others. Look for shifts in posture, eye movements, vocal tone or tempo, etc. Guess how they’re feeling or what they’re talking about.
- Notice the results when you HAVE and when you HAVEN’T followed your intuition, your gut instinct. How have the results differed?
Everyday, list out 1-3 things you are thankful for. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, gratitude helps shift the mind into a positive light, which over time, will help you have the courage you need to do the scary thing.
3. Always be learning
Learning keeps your brain active, open to new possibilities. Doesn’t matter if you’re learning Spanish, pottery or doing a writing course. Learning keeps you flexible, can make you think more quickly, spark new ideas and can recharge your brain, giving you more energy for other things!
You can learn in any way to suits you. A formal class, a book, a podcast. You’ll always be able to fit this into your life whether it’s ten minutes a day or ten hours a day! (Just don’t use learning as procrastination 😉 I see you!!)
4. Choose your network
There’s a saying – if you’re the most interesting person in the room, find a new room. Now, whilst I think this is pretty harsh if taken totally literally, there is some value in the lesson! And it goes hand-in-hand with the point above.
Grow your networks, give value and share – contribute, learn. Be interested in others. Find people who inspire you and lift you up. If you’re a determined person with a growth mindset you’ll always be striving to meet people where they’re at and never stop growing.