Posted by Anne

Have you ever found yourself in a rut?  Personal or professional, we all experience phases when we feel stagnant, stuck, or just unable to break out of habits we wish we could leave behind.  We want to lose weight but can’t seem to kick those unhealthy snacking cycles.  We want to be more creative at work, but our job duties don’t leave room for new roles.  External forces recapitulate our ruts.  And so we need revision. 

At Life in Pencil, we often speak of “rewriting our plans”, or even rewriting aspects of our life.   But sometimes, it’s not as simple as wanting to change a part of your life.  Internal motivation is powerful, but if you’re anything like me, inertia puts up a good fight.     

During her recent visit, my Mom and I were talking about change—and how to bust out of unhealthy—or mundane—ruts.  And she (usually one to quote someone like Wendell Berry) instead quoted someone more my speed…Dr. Oz.  (Yeah, I kinda like that guy.)  According to Dr. Oz, you can’t just depend on your own willpower or motivation if you want to change.  You have to rearrange your external surroundings—your entire routine.  Thus, you avoid all those cues around you that affirm your inertia, and leave you solidly planted in that rut—whatever it may be. 

Oh, Dr. Oz.  You smartie-pants.  I think he’s right.  Sometimes we need that change of scenery or routine to truly alter our actions and jump-start us out of a bad habit.  When we change on the outside, we can often find within ourselves what we’ve been missing on the inside.   

This all hits close to home for me, as I’ve been entering my own annual rut of sorts.  I have a name for this rut.  It’s called “summer”.  As much as I adore the lazy days and weekend indulgence of the season, I struggle during the week.  I feel sluggish and often find it difficult to stay motivated throughout the 8 to 5 schedule.  So this year, I tried something new.  I decided to ask for a change in my external circumstances.  I asked to work 4 (10-hour) days a week.  Knowing I have that extra day makes me savor my weekends all the more, and gives me a jolt of something to look forward to during the week.  I still have sluggish moments, but the grooves of my rut aren’t quite as deep these days.

So the next time you feel that old ennui or those nasty habits creeping in, ask how you can shake up your external routines and surroundings.  Try changing…

-Your after-work routine (go for a walk)

-Your morning routine (drink your coffee outside, instead of at the computer)

-Your closet (clean out the junk, so you can see the gems!)

-Your….(fill in the blank)

Have you ever kicked a bad habit, or pulled yourself out of a rut?  Did you do it on sheer willpower, or did you change your surroundings?