9 Proven Strategies to Break Free from a Rut

Are you trapped in a relentless cycle of monotony, with a suffocating weight bearing down on your soul? Has the daily grind gnawed at your spirit until you wonder if this hollow existence is all that remains? Has your job become a lifeless void, draining your energy with every passing hour? Are the embers of your relationship, once burning bright, now flickering weakly, smothered by the ashes of lost affection?

If the fire that once fueled your passion for life has been extinguished, and is now leaving you adrift in a sea of despair, and questioning if you’ll ever find your way back to the light, you are likely in a very deep rut!

While this is a dramatic description of what a rut might feel like, even smaller ruts can be just as overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating. We’ve all been there, and it’s more common than you might think. The key is to recognize the signs and take action before that rut becomes your new normal.

Let me paint a softer, more literal picture that you might be able to relate to: One snowy weekday afternoon, I answered the ringing doorbell to find my former father-in-law standing there frustrated, with a sheepish look on his face. “I’m stuck in the snow and need some help,” he said.

He’d just dropped the kids off and had been gone for 15 minutes. Little did we know that as he was leaving the neighborhood, his car got stuck in a deep rut of snow, on a steep incline down the street from our house. He had struggled on his own to break free from the icy rut that lay beneath the thick layer of snow.

At some point, everyone experiences the feeling of being stuck. It’s part of life. As a family, we’ve successfully overcome many ruts in our professional and personal lives (both figuratively and literally). From our personal experience, we’ve found that rather than letting it consume you, there are ways to get unstuck and reignite your enthusiasm for the things that matter. We are sharing some strategies to help you get out of your rut, including how travel can be a powerful tool within each strategy.

9 Strategies to Get Out of a Rut

1. Shake Up Your Routine: Before making drastic changes, start small by tweaking your daily routine. Take a different route to work, try a new hobby, or change up your workout schedule. These minor adjustments can have a big impact. While psychologists emphasize the benefits of a routine for better sleep and reduced anxiety, neurologists suggest that variety in your daily routine can boost brain activity and happiness. Find a balance between routine and variety that works for you and keep in mind that it can, and should, change over time.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel is a powerful way to break the monotony. Whether it’s a staycation, a quick weekend getaway, or an extended trip, stepping away from your usual surroundings offers a reset that will inevitably shake up your routine. By default, you’ll be accepting some variety into your life, even if only for a day or two.

1. Set Small, Achievable Goals:  Feeling overwhelmed by big dreams? Break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Achieving these milestones gives you a sense of accomplishment and keeps you motivated. Our journey to full-time travel took 5 years of planning and practice. We started by taking longer trips (beyond the usual 1-2 weeks) and gradually built up to 3 months before leaving our jobs and home base behind.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel is a natural teacher of goal-setting. From planning daily activities to navigating new places, every trip requires setting and achieving small goals. Something as simple as “acquire train tickets” can be considered a goal in the travel process. This practice builds confidence and can be applied to other areas of life.

1. Get Moving: Physical activity is a proven mood booster. Whether it's a brisk walk, a vigorous workout session, or a refreshing outdoor adventure, exercise can make a big difference in your emotional and physical well-being. The benefits of outdoor activities are even greater, offering fresh air, vitamin D, and a natural boost to your immune system. During 3 months in France, we were walking so much just while touring towns and exploring castles that we were fitter and lighter when we returned home (in spite of all the croissants, baguettes, and rich foods we splurged on.)

   How Travel Can Help: Travel encourages movement. Oftentimes, just by exploring new cities on foot, climbing the stairs, and wandering through museums you can quietly burn more calories than you’re eating. While engaging actively in your adventures you naturally integrate exercise into your routine, feeling more energized and positive in the process.

1. Connect with Others: Human connection is vital. Spend time with friends and family or meet new people. Communities that prioritize connection often see longer, healthier lives. Netflix has a great documentary - Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones - by author and explorer Dan Buettner. In this mini-series, based on his book of the same name, Buettner explores 5 communities around the world where the value placed on community and multi-generational families is improving the quality of life for each generation.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel deepens connections with those in your travel party. Shared experiences create lasting bonds along with cherished memories. Travel also helps spur conversations and interactions with the people you meet along the way. Naturally, as you explore new places, the locals will be interested in you and your story, so don't be afraid to share a bit about yourselves and why you’ve chosen to travel.

1. Learn Something New: Engage in a new activity or skill to reignite your curiosity. Learning fuels self-confidence and opens doors to new passions. I can personally attest to this. After years of pouring myself into my kids and family, I found a new purpose when we started our blog and I was able to share the things we’ve learned with others. As I started blogging, I learned a lot of new skills. This all brought back a sense of fulfillment and value.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel broadens your horizons, pushing you out of your comfort zone and exposing you to new cultures, ideas, and perspectives. Take a cooking class or an art course while you’re in a foreign country to dive deeper into these new experiences. These activities can spark your passion for life and remind you of the endless possibilities the world has to offer.

1. Declutter Your Space & Schedule: Decluttering your physical space and calendar works wonders for your mental health. A tidy environment fosters calm and control, making it easier to focus on the tasks that truly matter. Similarly, streamlining your calendar by prioritizing essential commitments and eliminating non-essential ones frees up time for activities that inspire and energize you. Let non-essential tasks go so you can make space for things that bring you joy.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel teaches you the value of simplicity. When you’re on the move, carrying only the essentials, you learn to prioritize experiences over possessions. This minimalist mindset can translate into everyday life, helping you reduce the time and energy you spend on “stuff” and allowing you to focus on the activities and people that fill your tank.

1. Reflect, Reevaluate, & Relax: Take time to reflect on what's causing your rut. Journaling or talking to a trusted friend can help provide clarity. Evaluate your career, relationships, and personal goals. Are you still on the path you intended or have you strayed? Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and muscle relaxation can reduce stress and anxiety, giving you a clearer picture of your situation.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel provides a unique space for reflection. The new experiences and challenges you face while traveling remind you of your strengths and adaptability, helping you improve your confidence while rediscovering your sense of adventure.  Exploring new places keeps you present and engaged, while the change of scenery promotes relaxation and mental clarity.

1. Seek Professional Help: If you feel persistently stuck, seeking help from a therapist or counselor can be invaluable. They can help you explore your feelings, identify negative thought patterns, and develop healthier coping strategies. 

   How Travel Can Help: A therapist can guide you in using travel as a tool for positive change, helping you set goals and integrate the benefits of travel into your daily life for lasting improvements. Now, there are even options for virtual therapy sessions so you don’t have to be tied to one location.

1. Cultivate Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself! Everyone goes through ruts, and it’s okay to feel this way. Practicing self-compassion reduces stress and anxiety, making it easier to take proactive steps toward positive change. When in doubt, remember to treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend.

   How Travel Can Help: Travel helps you foster self-compassion by giving you space to reflect on your needs. New experiences shift your perspective, helping you embrace imperfections and celebrate your growth. You will inevitably make mistakes along the way. Think of these as opportunities to practice giving yourself grace as you learn and grow.

Ready to Get Unstuck?

Are you wondering whatever happened to my former father-in-law who was stuck in the snow? It had taken him almost 15 solid minutes to dig that deep rut that he couldn’t climb out of. He’d been trying the same strategy over and over and his efforts to get unstuck had only resulted in digging himself deeper and deeper into the snow.

His long walk back to our home gave him even more time to dwell on his perceived failure. He was likely feeling overwhelmed and embarrassed at not being able to solve the problem on his own. I’m sure that asking for our help was really hard on his pride (something we ALL struggle with).

As he stood at our front door asking for help, we could see how frustrated and exhausted he felt. Kevin and I grabbed a shovel and in less than 5 minutes of trying a different strategy, and getting a helpful push, he was back on the road. The hardest part of his ordeal was asking for help and being open to new ideas.

Feeling stuck in a rut can drain your energy and dim your outlook on life, but breaking free is within your reach. Start by shaking up your routine with a new adventure, whether it's an afternoon spent exploring a new trail or a spontaneous weekend road trip. Even the smallest change can spark a wave of motivation and purpose. By stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing new experiences, you'll discover a renewed zest for life and a clear path forward. So, what will you do this week to start getting yourself unstuck?