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It happens to the best of us from time-to-time you have this nagging feeling that you’re not completely content with the way things are. While your life is generally good and you can’t really complain about any of your trivial first world problems, you still shouldn’t have to go on feeling the same way day-in day-out when there are plenty of rewards to reap from getting out of the rut and adopting a renewed mindset.
After all, there is plenty of research out there that indicates happy people cultivate stronger relationships, are more productive, creative, healthy and successful. So stop the procrastinating. Here are three things you can do to change it up, get out of the rut and find your new kind of happy.
1. Tackle your biggest bugbear (or bugbears)
What’s bothering you the most? Working out what your largest cause/s of frustration are is the first step toward finding a happier version of you. It could be financial instability, a challenging relationship, an unhappy work life, a health issue or addiction. It could even be a combination of several things contributing to your state of general unrest.
Once you’ve identified what your biggest bugbears are, start to prioritize them and work out what you need to tackle first—then lay your tackle head-on.
Brainstorm some ways you can address the core of the issue, then make them happen. Whether it’s seeking some financial advice, relationship or career counseling, joining a gym, signing up for a healthy eating meal plan or investing in some therapy, taking those initial steps toward addressing the issue is often the hardest part.
2. Get out of the usual routine
We are creatures of habit. While there can be a range of benefits that come from following a solid daily routine, it can also be a major offender contributing to ‘the rut’. While it’s important to maintain some sense of order and routine in our daily lives to ensure we’re able to function effectively, we can generally afford to be a little more flexible in how we choose to spend our downtime.
Next time you find yourself with a little spare time up your sleeve, rather than doing the usual thing of switching on the TV, scrolling through your social media feed or heading to the local sports bar, try something different. It could be reading a book, going for a walk, calling an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, or watching some motivational TED talks.
If you respond well to something a little more social or structured, why not join your local football or sporting club, find a local men’s or dad’s networking group, sign up for an art or photography class, or dedicate some time to helping others by volunteering. You’ll be surprised at how much a simple change in routine or adopting a new hobby can make you feel energized and reinvigorate the soul!
3. A change is as good as a vacation
There is a lot of truth to this saying. While making major changes in our lives may be easier said than done, if you’re genuinely unhappy with the path you’re on, change it up. It could be moving to a new location, applying for a new role at work, or chasing an entirely new career direction.
If a new career is going to do the trick, make sure you really think through your options before jumping ship from your current role. It could be worthwhile looking into reskilling by completing a short course (like this personal training course in Melbourne), where you can essentially try before you buy. Most training organizations will offer learning options where you can study part-time, on weekends or by distance education, allowing you to continue working in your current job while completing the course. Make sure you also thoroughly investigate any learning pathways and career-progression options before signing up for a new career to make sure it’s going to be a good fit in the longer term. Or maybe just go on a vacation…
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