Getting out of a rut is impossible if you don't know where to focus your energy. Answer the following questions to narrow down what aspect of your life needs tweaking and dive into your passion right away.
1. When you have spare time you usually end up:
a) Doing the same-old same-old with your sweetie.
b) Sleeping. Your energy levels are normally so low that you could fall asleep at any time of the day.
c) Searching for a new job. Picturing yourself in a new and exciting job really gets you motivated.
d) Watching TV. It's a great way to just tune out for a few hours most nights.
2. When you've had a bad day at work you:
a) Have a bad habit of letting workday stress seep into your personal life.
b) Drown your sorrows in a pint of ice cream.
c) Make it halfway to your boss's office to quit, but those looming bills pull you back to your desk.
d) All of the above.
3. Your favourite music playlist is:
a) Laid-back romantic tunes.
b) Motivational workout songs (but you haven't used it at the gym lately)
c) Positive, upbeat music to help you stay awake at your desk.
d) A huge variety of everything from classical to rock n' roll to pop.
4. You fantasize about:
a) Taking a vacation with your significant other because it's been too long.
b) Finally being able to fit into your old skinny jeans.
c) Winning the lottery and never having to work again.
d) Having a life-changing revelation on Oprah that inspires her so much, it leads to a lucrative book deal which finally brings George Clooney to his senses and he proposes at last! (You fantasize often).
5. You're not a Dear Abby kind of person, but the advice you do search out online is:
a) Relationship advice.
b) Health tips, dieting advice, fitness plans... anything to motivate yourself.
c) Job searching and career advice.
d) Advice? I'm too busy catching up on celebrity gossip.
6. Your nighttime ritual is:
a) Almost mechanical, you and your hubby have the bedtime routine down to a science.
b) The second your head hits the pillow you're out like a light, but you still wake up feeling exhausted somehow.
c) You toss and turn, worrying about tomorrow or replaying the day's events in your head over and over and over...
d) All of the above depending on the night.
7. Most of the time you feel...
a) Romantically deficient.
b) Tired.
c) Worried.
d) Bored.
Depending on how you answered the questions above, you could be in:
A health rut
Being trapped in a health rut affects every aspect of your life from your energy levels to your motivation to your relationships. Whether you want to basal metabolic rate (BMR), which shows how many calories you are burning throughout the day... This figure will help you calculate how many calories you need to eat in order to lose or maintain your weight," writes Harper.
Another helpful tool to keep your motivation high is to keep track of your progress, check out our printable fitness log to chart your success.
A relationship rut
You love your significant other, there's no doubt about that. But over time, it's natural for that initial romantic sparkle to fade. Use our Create-a-date tool to spark your imagination and break out of your day-to-day routine. For instance, go out for breakfast if you can't find time in the evening or recreate a memorable date the two of you had. Click the "More date ideas, please!" button for fresh inspiration every time.
Or learn more about you and your partner's bodies with our hot spots map of the male and female erogenous zones.
A general life rut
This kind of rut can be a mixture of many elements in your life, but it's possible to get out and enjoy your passions with a little soul searching. Vancouver-based life coach Julia James recommends getting in touch with yourself and your interestes by thinking back to a time when you felt passionate and inspired by something. She calls this a "peak experience" in life and it will help you channel your energy into a new career, hobby or relationship in a fulfilling way.
A career rut
Most days you feel uninspired, anxious, overwhelmed, and/or unimportant in your job. The scariest part about coming to terms with being in a career rut is becoming aware of the unhappiness, says Julia James, a life coach in Vancouver B.C. She recommends some small steps to take in order to regain control of your work life:
1. Be clear with yourself about your job priorities and say no to projects that don't meet these goals.
2. Stop checking your email. Email can take up your whole day if you let it, which detracts from other (more important) tasks.
3. Look back at what used to inspire you at this job or another, and start making positive career moves to get back to that point where you loved your job.
4. Realize you can't complete everything, so don't beat yourself up over every missed deadline.
First published in Chatelaine.com's June 2008 issue.
© Rogers Publishing Ltd.