Do you often catch yourself wondering how can I be happy again? Imagine your car gets stuck in some mud and can’t move forward. Do you just throw up your hands and let it stay there? Of course not. Yet oftentimes people allow themselves to stay stuck in an emotional rut – being generally static in life and not able to feel happy.
Do any of the following statements apply to you?
- Day to day, I don’t look forward to much
- My work has become predictable and boring
- I feel the spark is gone from my relationships
- I’m getting sick of hearing myself complain about feeling stressed, tired, and unfulfilled
- I think about change, but I get stuck in procrastination
- My life feels out of balance
- I don’t like where I am in life, but I also don’t know what I want either
If any of these resonate with you, you are stuck in a rut. Being stuck in a rut is never fun.
In addition to causing you to feel dissatisfied with your life circumstances, being in a rut also makes you more prone to depressing and negative thoughts – the two things that will keep you in your rut for even longer. So, if you want your situation to change and are wondering how to be happy again, you must change.
8 Ways to Get Yourself Out of a Rut
1. Assess Your Nutrition
And assess it honestly. Have you been drinking enough water? How many brain-healthy foods have you been choosing each day? Are you taking a high-quality probiotic? In other words, make sure you begin by being healthy on the inside.
2. Work Your Body
It’s no secret that exercising releases endorphins that make us feel good. And along with that, it gives us a space to sort out what may be bothering us. Now is not the time to look yourself inside and throw a pity party – go jog, swim, cycle, walk, whichever exercise you prefer. As you improve your physical health, your mental health will improve, too.
3. Evaluate Your Supplements
It’s well-established that the right supplements can help your body and mind in a variety of ways. If you have been on the same supplement regimen for a while, or if you’re not taking any supplements at all, and are not feeling emotionally balanced, experiencing a positive mood, and enjoying a tranquil mind and body, it is time to switch things up. BrainMD Health’s Serotonin Mood Support was created specifically to provide multiple mechanisms to help you brighten your mood, maintain a healthy self-confidence, and fight back negative thoughts.
4. Shake Up Your Perspective
This is how you CAN change your life by changing your mind. The power lies in challenging your old perspective – begin focusing on the positive. See your circumstances as an opportunity for growth, rather than some type of setback. Dolly Parton once said, “Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
5. Set Attainable Goals
If you are in an emotional rut, chances are you’ve been doing things the same way for quite a while. Trying to change everything that you want to change overnight is simply unrealistic. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of change required to get out of a rut – that can lead to you staying in it. Success comes much more easily if you set small, manageable, and realistic goals. If you need additional guided help don’t be afraid to take an online course, one that helps you develop better habits and track your progress.
6. Practice Gratitude
Did you know that practicing gratitude causes real changes in your brain that enhance brain function and make you feel better? If you want your brain to work better, practice being grateful for the good things in your life. Writing down your grateful thoughts makes the practice even more powerful. Tell people who are important to you that you are grateful for them; it will boost their mood and yours!
7. Find Reasons To Laugh
Every. Day. Run through the sprinklers when they seem to have you trapped, listen to a fun podcast on your commute, jump on a trampoline with your kids, watch that new comedy movie you keep hearing about, ask friends to tell you their best jokes. Laughing makes you feel good and benefits your health.
8. Choose Quality Company
People are contagious. We need to surround ourselves with people who will have a positive effect on our health and longevity. Community – or your tribe, as we call it – is absolutely necessary. You need people who will push, teach, and guide you. Reach out to your friends and neighbors, and seek out people who are a positive influence. Volunteering for a cause you believe in is another good way to find like-minded friends. It also helps you find something to look forward to, something that makes you feel good, and often a positive perspective!
