Escape the rut!

Today I am going to write a post on something that I have experienced a few times in my life and that is getting stuck in a rut.

There are many forms that the rut takes and they can present themselves in almost all aspects of life. Like me you may have recently been experiencing the 'MEGA RUT' which spans so many different genres of rut that you can't seem to distinguish between the different days because they are all the same!

Oh and the worst part of being stuck in a rut....you usually don't even realise you are in one until something brings it sharply to your attention. So have a think, when was the last time you did something out of the ordinary? When was the last time you did something completely new? When was the last time you actually shocked yourself?

As I thought more and more about this topic the answer suddenly dawned on me, the reason so many of us fall in into the mundane is a lack of confidence. The confidence to be brave and step outside of our comfort zone, speak up for ourselves and fight for what we want from life rather than accepting what we are given.

I have compiled a list of the three most common ruts and my suggested antidote for kicking them to the curb.

Fashion & Beauty

Now this is one that I am currently trying to dig myself out of. On average I read at least 2 fashion magazines a week, numerous fashion blogs and am constantly spotting amazing style on the streets of Cardiff that I absolutely love, but yet I wear pretty much the same clothes every week. My standard work attire is jeans, black boots and a jumper every day and the funny thing is I have a wardrobe full of amazing dresses, short suits and pencil skirts. So why is this?

Well there is something you should know about me, although it may not seem it I am quite shy. Drawing attention to myself is not something that I relish in. You will not find a single selfie on my Twitter or Facebook feeds and if someone compliments me I go a strange crimson colour.

I learnt a while ago that if you act like you are confident and know what you are talking about then it doesn't matter how you actually feel because no one will ever realise that you are inwardly cringing.

In conclusion, my antidote to the fashion rut is to have the confidence to try out new things and develop your own individuality. Who cares if you get it wrong and look like a mixture of Ke$ha and Helena Bonham Carter, everyone will have forgotten by the next day anyway!

Relationships

"Oh no we can't come out, Friday is takeaway and Eastenders night." STOP RIGHT THERE! These words should never be uttered (and not just because Eastenders is pants.) You are two separate people with two separate personalities, breaking a routine with new experiences are what makes you grow as an individual and as couple.

Don't bumble along in a relationship that you aren't happy in as each anniversary passes you by, speak up and work through it or if you can't then move on. Oh and never cry over someone that wouldn't cry over you (wise words from my aunty!)

Work

I liken work to a roundabout; life goes past so fast that you only realise where you are when you stop. Often we start a job with no real aim or direction hoping that we may stumble into our perfect job, I've got bad news for you, this is supremely rare. Most of us have to work our butts off to get where we want to go.

If you aren't in your dream career, think carefully what it would be. Take night classes and contact people asking them how they got their job. Persistence is the key, never stop knocking on those doors because you never know where one might lead to. 

By no means do I have all the answers but what I am trying to say is that life is far too short to put up with things, you may not suddenly get your perfect life but knowing that you are working towards it will help you escape that rut!