Are You in a Routine or a Rut?
By Karen Amato Schwartz, for Revive Your Life
Are you stuck in a rut, or are you enjoying life?
The answer depends on if you’re satisfied with your life right now. If you are, it could be attributed to your “routine”; if not, frustration can be blamed on being in a “rut”.
Rex Stout’s famous series of books (and short lived television series) positioned his Investigator Nero Wolfe character as the ultimate routine-follower. His life followed an inflexible daily schedule; his associate, Archie Goodwin, knew where Nero was every minute. Police, detectives, clients and acquaintances knew that nothing could interrupt Mr. Wolfe from 9-11 and from 4-6 (time with his orchids), or when dining from 7-8:30. It’s worth mentioning that Mr. Wolfe never left his house on business, and had a butler to perform all household chores. That’s how he could keep to such a schedule.
Can you imagine life like this? “I can’t drive you because that’s my time to water the plants.” Real people can’t live within a strict framework managed by a clock, because real life isn’t always manageable. However, we become creatures of habit because doing so lets us coast on “automatic”. There is security in knowing how long it will take to drive a certain route, or that it’s best to feed the pets while coffee percolates. We seldom vary routines except perhaps on weekends or vacations. People even migrate to the same spots in recreational venues on a regular basis, or sit in the same general area at worship services, social events or sporting/cultural functions. We tend to view life from these established vantage points. Although we occasionally challenge ourselves, we usually revert to our set patterns because they’re comfortable.
So when does routine become a rut? Perhaps when it no longer serves our needs or meets our expectations. It’s good to think about everything we do at the same time, in the same way, on a daily basis. If it makes us happy, great! If not, it may be time for change. First, there are some questions you may want to ask yourself…
Is there already an ongoing battle with the clock to get everything done? Perhaps you undertake unnecessary steps or overbook yourself. It’s easy to feel that you’re in a rut if you are constantly hurrying, with no time for yourself. (A science fiction short story is based on the premise that when a particular individual was touched, clocks stopped-most of us would never let such a person leave our lives!) Many folks who possess a laid-back approach don’t feel as if they’re in a rut. They seem to float on a sea of serene tranquility instead of riding the frantic waves of haste. It could be that by staying calm, they notice the little details of life which keep it interesting. Thus, the monotony associated with spinning wheels while in a tunnel is prevented. Lightening our loads and taking things more slowly may alleviate the feeling being in a rut.
A person may be in a rut connected to their job. Employees are expected to adhere to organizational processes for optimum efficiency. But if performance becomes robotic, it could be a sign that it’s time for additional training and/or experience. Therefore, this kind of rut may signal that a maximum achievement level has been reached, and one is ready for more opportunities. Talking with your boss about broadening the scope of your responsibilities may open doors to additional self-fulfillment.
Another rut could concern living conditions. Few people probably live where they want, in the kind of home that they want. However, the majority rarely move. When others are involved, compromise is required, and since that’s difficult, most folks choose to stay put. Feeling like we’re “stuck” with no end in sight is indeed a rut. A response could be to find definite, undeniable, and practical advantages for everyone in making a move. Since this will be a major undertaking, you may wish to investigate ways that your present situation can be changed to improve your outlook. Can alterations increase your satisfaction, or can benefits result from routine or leisure time changes? There’s an Eastern belief that if you change just a few aspects, there’s potential for major improvements.
Even if increased personal enjoyment is not immediately recognizable, small changes can eliminate feelings of being in a rut. Eventually, we can recapture the joy of life.
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8 Responses to “Are You in a Routine or a Rut?”
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I really like how you’ve distinguished between having a routine versus being in a rut. It is often a fine line which is a good thing bad thing. One one hand it is easy to slip from good old routines straight into a rut (or ditch), but on the other hand it is just as easy to recover. As you mention, small adjustments in our lives can lift us out of a rut and help us to recover our positive feelings.
I find some very simple intentional activities like practicing gratitude, setting goals and writing about my vision of the future often help to lift me out of the doldrums of a rut. Nice article!
I think that this article is really hits home for me. I am a single women that gets easily bored with routine and often find myself in a “rut”. I have moved every year for the past 10 years and have had 8 different jobs in the process. My family and friends call me a gypsy. I worry that I will never find a set routine and stick with it for more than a year or two. I would like to settle down in one place but can’t seem to find what I am looking for.
I know that I need to find ways to ensure that I don’t get bored and feel as though a change will be the only answer. Maybe I need the activities in my life to be ever changing and stick to a job/place for more than a year.
I have to say that I am blessed to have met so many wonderful people on my journeys and for this I have no regrets!
@ Jeff - I like your list of intentional activities that you practice to help pull you out of a rut…sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.
@Jlove - Change is good… we all have a different view of what makes life exciting. Routine and boredom can actually be very stressful, so maybe continual change is just your way to stay content and challenged. Thanks for sharing.
I think I am the opposite of racing the clock.. I have so much time on my hands being a SHAM that I get depressed and want to break out! This made me realize that I should perhaps make a change. Get out and enjoy my extra time!
Sometimes being in a “routine” is good. Everything is organized and you will have a firm grasp of your time. But to much of a “routine” will dull your life. We will then end up saying “my life sucks!”. So its good to break-out of routine sometimes. Gamble and do something different. Life is to short just get stuck on doing the same thing over and over again. Like its dejavu. Break free of the “rut”. Go out and have fun.
as a mother, i usually make my daily routine on how i can manage my time between accommodating my family’s need and my job. sometimes i tend to be spoiled in a way that i do it almost everyday…
but the good side of it is that i enjoy it having my time schedule listed on paper and have it checked when i’m done doing it… it’s like an achievement when i see that everything has benn marked…
so for me, having a “routine” and doing it with enjoyment will not be a problem…
Sometimes, the professional rut can also come from the fact that people are not being utilized based on their strengths and passions. For example, if someone expresses their interest and experience in marketing, but the marketing tasks are given to someone less qualified or passionate, the one who wants it most is going to end up being less motivated to do their own tasks. They don’t need training - they need to be placed in a position that best suits their experience.
~ Roger
@ Roger - I agree with your assessment completely. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this article!