Opinion: My journey breaking free from a mental rut

Have you ever felt that familiar sinking feeling when work starts losing its luster? Believe me, I’ve been there. It’s like the enjoyment is gone, and what used to energize you now just drains your energy. Well, you’re not alone.

A mental rut can ambush any professional, whether you’ve been at it for a long time or you’re just starting out. The difference resides in how swiftly you notice and tackle it.

Most people would likely agree that the real threat isn’t the rut itself, but the risk of letting it linger until it affects your motivation, satisfaction and even your results.

Over the years, I’ve learned that ruts are a normal part of our professional journeys, but they’re not permanent. They might catch you by surprise, but staying stuck is entirely up to you. And the quicker you act, the sooner you can reclaim your enthusiasm.

Earlier this year, despite stellar business success in 2024, I found myself trapped in a rut. Fatigue crept in, routines became tedious and external pressures compounded the strain. This led me to dig deep and discover what it really takes to break free and refocus.

Here are five strategies that helped me hit the reset button.

1. Keep learning and stay curious. When your knowledge becomes stagnant, so does your engagement. The solution? Weave lifelong learning into your daily routine. Every day, dedicate time to diving into topics outside your purview. Like when I knew zilch about quantum computing, so I dove headfirst into books and articles. The outcome? A newfound spark of inspiration. Always seek out new trends and question established assumptions. Remember, success can breed complacency, which is another version of a rut. Stay curious and keep your perspective fresh.
2. Build action-oriented discipline. Procrastination can easily deepen a rut. Discipline, coupled with action, is the cure. My father taught me the importance of taking pride in the details, even the smallest ones. His mantra was to meticulously trim around every bush, corner and flower bed in my customers’ yards. It’s a lesson I hold dear, with his clippers on display as a constant reminder that excellence dwells in doing the things that need to be done even if you don’t feel like it. Action is the antidote and discipline is the driver. Complaining or avoidance only complicates matters.
3. Refocus on manageable goals. But what if you really are overwhelmed? I get it – 2024 was that way for me. Just break overwhelming projects into bite-sized daily tasks. This isn’t a new idea, but it’s tried and true. Focusing on small victories builds motivation, making significant goals and tedious tasks achievable. A little progress every day snowballs into remarkable results.

I first heard, “Hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch,” from a successful CEO in the ’80s, but it rings true today. Pick one task today, make headway and then repeat until it’s complete.

4. Take responsibility; don’t blame or make excuses. Stop blaming your job, boss, the economy or others for your challenges. Blame limits your potential and stifles growth. True change begins when you take responsibility for your mindset. Without this shift, progress is impossible. Successful individuals don’t play the blame game or make excuses. They take ownership and focus on creating solutions.
5. Choose optimism. Your mindset shapes your outlook, both professionally and personally. Optimism isn’t about ignoring challenges but emphasizing what’s going well. Abraham Lincoln once noted, “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Even on tough days, there’s always something to celebrate – even small wins. On a trip, I spotted a sign reading, “Count your blessings. Recount if necessary.” It stuck with me. Regularly acknowledging the positives rewires your brain for optimism.

We all hit roadblocks. It’s part of life’s ebb and flow. But how you react is what truly counts. By staying curious, using discipline to drive action, breaking challenges into smaller tasks, taking responsibility and adopting optimism, you can re-tune your mindset. Get started today and watch how quickly the rut dissolves.

Mark Holmes is a consultant, professional speaker and author of “Selling to ELON! Understand, Communicate and Sell to Unique Personality Types,” and he’s president of Springfield-based Consultant Board Inc. and SalesRevenueCoach.com. He can be reached at mark@salesrevenuecoach.com.