5 Tips To Get Out Of A Rut

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut as a parent.  Especially in early parenting when you feel like you’re drowning in toddler tantrums and stickiness EVERYWHERE.  Seriously, why are they always so sticky?  Anyways, I’ve found myself in a rut recently.  I’m not inspired in my job.  I have no motivation to pursue my goals and I feel like I’m just treading water.  My child is so wonderful and I love him to pieces, but he’s also in a very needy stage and testing boundaries.  The constant correcting and boundary establishment feels entirely draining.  It’s all normal and appropriate to his development, but damn it’s exhausting!

So, I figured while I work myself out of this rut, I’ll take you all along with me.  I know for a fact that many other parents feel this way often.  So, let’s get out of this thing together, or try at least.  Here are my 5 tips for getting out of a rut.

1. Change up your morning routine

If your morning routine is currently waking up whenever your kids get you up and flying by the seat of your pants all day, you might want to change that.  Get up a bit before your kids and have a little time to think before they get up.  Drink a cup of coffee, read your favorite book, write out your to-do list.  Whatever makes you feel like you’re starting your day proactively, do that.  For me, I spend all my “me” time in the morning.  I wake up about 2 hours before my toddler.  I usually start with reading and coffee, then working on the blog (which I haven’t been great at if I’m being honest), and generally lazing about until about a half hour before my kiddo gets up when I move into “get ready” mode with getting dressed, packing lunch, etc.  I need to change it up though. I’ve decided to start doing more with the blog right away in the morning.  That’s when I have the most energy and it will feel good to get things done. What are you going to do to shake up your morning routine a bit?

2. Drink More Water

I will admit that I struggle with drinking appropriate amounts of water.  I probably drink 1/3-1/2 the amount I should be drinking in a day.  It just doesn’t occur to me to drink it.  I’m generally too busy working or picking up the toddler from daycare or chasing him away from whatever danger he’s trying to get into to think of drinking water.  Then by the end of the day, I’m super thirsty and try to get my water consumption to an appropriate level as I’m passing out on the couch.  I’m probably so tired and zapped of energy because I’m not drinking enough water. So, I’m going to make it a priority in my day to get the appropriate amount of water every day for 30 days.  I can do it for a month.  If I do it for a month, I’ll be in the habit and then hopefully carry it on as a normal part of life.

3. Do One Thing Daily To Move You Towards A Goal

As mentioned above, I’ve just been treading water.  I’ll set weekly goals and tell myself I’ll move toward them and then I just go about my days doing whatever else and do not carve out any time for my goal.  So I’m telling you all right now that I’m vowing to take a tiny step towards a goal every day.  This may be just getting enough water into my body and that’s OK with me.  The morning practice of working on the blog will be very helpful in feeling like I’ve taken steps towards one of my goals.  I want this thing to reach as many people as possible so I can help others who are struggling with the things I struggle with sometimes.  I know I’ll feel better about life in general if I’m actively working to make that happen.

4. Carve Out Some “Me” Time To Re-energize

This one isn’t always easy.  As parents, employees, spouses, and friends, we just give and give and give of ourselves until there isn’t much left.  But, we should make sure we are getting some alone time to reflect or just be for a minute.  Some people need more “me” time than others.  This is why my “me” time is 2 hours long in the morning.  But, even though I get my “me” time, I’m still drained by the end of the day.  So, I think I need to make sure I’m spending my “me” time in a way that fills me up, hence the action steps above.

5. Practice Gratitude

I’ll admit I haven’t been doing this much lately.  I had a good habit going of thinking of 5 things I’m grateful for every day for a little while there.  But, somewhere along the way that habit dropped off.  It’s time to re-start it.  If I’m actively trying to think of 5 things to be grateful for every single day, my mind will shift.  I will start to notice the things to be grateful for automatically and seek those out instead of focusing on the things that aren’t quite where I want them to be yet.  This practice will be huge for helping me get out of this rut.

I hope these steps help you to get out of your rut too.  Do you have anything that you do to get yourself out of a rut that I’ve haven’t mentioned here?  Please share it in the comments below.  You never know who you may be helping.

Much love and productive vibes,

Momma Caped Nerd ❤

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