How do you move from a rut to a groove?
Ever wonder why some people seem to be able to flow from one thing to the next, taking each day as it comes with a calm and carefree vibe, while others can't seem to find their way through the day? Maybe there's an answer in this article.
What follows is a list of strategies that have helped many people throughout history change their lives for the better and get out of those negative ruts. By combining these strategies into your daily routine, even if you're not quite on top of your game yet, you'll still feel more motivated and prepared when things get rough.
Strategy 1: Learn to let go...
The hardest part of any job--and life, for that matter--is letting go. There are a lot of things you can do to improve this habit and actually may not even be that hard, but sometimes it's just easier to get caught up and forget about the larger picture. Here are some tips as to how you can easily let go of unimportant tasks that are making your life more difficult instead of working towards your goals and fulfilling your dreams.
1) Get into the habit of looking at everything as an opportunity to learn something new, rather than a chore or burden with which you're expected to complete. See everything as a game, and there's no limit to the amount of fun you can have.
2) Have more patience with other people. They're still learning about life just like you are, and you can learn from them as much as they can learn from you. So treat them well, even if it means letting go of your pride for moment or two.
3) Always try to look for the best in everything; for example, don't just see an empty parking spot; also see an opportunity to be closer to your goals. This will help you stay away from negativity and become more productive in general.
4) Don't take too much stress on yourself. Instead of always trying to be the best and planning what you're going to do, just let it flow and relax.
5) Know yourself first. Don't beat yourself up when things don't go as planned, because this will only make you feel worse about yourself, which is not productive at all. If something doesn't work out perfect for once, just try it again another time when you have a different approach, or maybe next time use a slightly different method of doing such thing or doing something else instead. Just keep in mind that learning from your mistakes will help you in the long run.
6) Learn to stay focused on the task at hand, and don't get distracted. Don't be worried about what others think about you or your actions; all that matters is that you're doing what you know is right for yourself.
Strategy 2: ...But enjoy it
While learning to let go and not take things too seriously can help improve your life in a major way, the only way to really see the benefits of this strategy is if you do it in moderation. Relaxing every now and again is important, but if you start to move away from what really makes your heart sing, you're going to start getting more and more frustrated--not only with yourself but also with those around you.
To avoid this problem, here are some things you can do to ensure that you're able to enjoy your life while also improving it through the proper implementation of strategy 1.
1) Get in tune with your emotions and learn how they affect everything you do. You don't have to let them control you or your actions, but you can still use them as a source of inspiration and motivation.
2) Don't let stress build up inside of you; learn when enough is enough, and never hold back from doing something fun just because there's more work to be done.
3) Learn how to meditate and do it every day. This will help you to get in tune with your emotions and also improve your ability to concentrate, reducing stress and allowing you to focus on the things that matter.
4) Write down what's on your mind every day. It doesn't have to be much; just get everything out of your system so you can stop re-thinking about it the next day.
5) Exercise, eat healthy, and move around every day. Movement is one of the most important things you can do for your mental and physical health.
Strategy 3: ...And then don't do it at all...
If you've been following the above strategies perfectly--with the exception of maybe doing some form of exercise--you'll have actually been improving your life in a major way already. However, we all have days where we just don't feel like doing anything at all. Maybe you're sick or not feeling well, or maybe you just don't want to do anything. Whatever it is that's holding you back from being completely productive, remember that there's always a way out.
Let me reiterate that you don't have to do anything at all, but there are still ways you can actually improve your life. Here are some possible solutions:
1) Don't let yourself feel guilty about not doing something. Sometimes we feel like we have to do or accomplish things, or else we'll be left behind by those who are doing more than us. However, sometimes it just saves time and resources if we wait for the situation to change rather than forcing ourselves into something that may not work out the way we imagined.
2) Don't take life too seriously. If you make things a lot easier for yourself, you'll be able to enjoy your life a lot more than if you're beating yourself up over all the little mistakes that come along with being human.
3) Get in touch with what you really want to do. If there's something that's been tugging at your heart, now is the time to do it--even if it means just taking a small step towards it, even if that may not be exactly what you imagined. You'll still improve your life in some way, and who knows what might happen? Maybe this is actually the moment of change that was waiting for you...
4) Be gentle with yourself. No matter what you do, life is going to be a learning experience. Everyone is just trying to figure out who they are and what they're supposed to be doing in this world. So if you have a bad day, don't let it get you down because tomorrow has yet more lessons for you.
5) Spend time with people who bring out the best in you, and who understand the importance of not taking things too seriously.
Conclusion
There's no denying that you need to take things seriously sometimes, because this is the time when you have to be the one who sets everything else in motion. However, if you let go of your ego and learn to be more productive while still being yourself, the results will speak for themselves.
What I've described in this article is a simple set of strategies that I've been using for myself over the past few years, and having used them all the time during that timeframe has meant that my life has improved significantly. If you're interested in learning more about these strategies and how they can help improve your life, please don't hesitate to ask me any questions in the comment section below.