Sooo many things can cause a slump in motivation or a general bum about life. Moving, relationship or family struggles, job insecurity, mentally scattered, or generally feeling stuck.. just a few of the things I’ve experienced over the last few years between childhood & adulthood. Thus, I present to you a guide to kickstart productivity & break free from monotony.

1. Self-observe

Step #1 is really just a brain dump of all the things you’ve been thinking & feeling. I encourage you to grab a piece of paper or notebook and just write - if you don’t know where to start, think about the cause of your slump (or actions that may be inhibiting you from living your dream life). Maybe you indulge too much in a vice, or perhaps you’ve stayed in an unfulfilling job or relationship for too long, or you’ve prioritized other’s happiness over your own care. Releasing thoughts from your mind to paper helps release the weight of them too - ideally leaving you mentally refreshed.

If you’re needing more journaling prompts, consider the characteristic traits you exhibit, the way you spend your time, make money, the activities you participate in. Notice any trends in your behaviors; be honest with yourself about your response patterns. Consider the people you surround yourself with - they are the greatest predictors of the trajectory of your life. Are there people in your life you constantly compare yourself to, or others you always leave conversations feeling icky? Maybe see where you can strengthen your own mind to release their opinions from your consciousness. Similarly, make room for the people that inspire you and make you feel good! Let that transpire brighter energy within you.

2. GOal Set

Once you’ve adequately released some of those downtrodden thoughts from your brain, it’s time to shift attention! Linger in the goal setting mindset - be honest with yourself about what you want - what would make you happy? What can you control? What can you let go of? What would you like to make more time or space for?

Once you’ve determined what you want, break it down into bite-sized goals relevant to your aspirations. List 3-5 action items to help you achieve the goal. Develop some daily practices to help you stay on track. I love the SMART framework for goal setting - create goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

3. Treat time for yourself like it’s your job

We’ve heard it before: ~ self care ~

So important yet easy to overlook or justify not taking time for yourself - especially if you’re a caretaker, have a demanding job, place unrealistic standards upon yourself, or feel super tired. Self-care is critical though and may look different for each individual! I like to think of it like the airplane rule - put your safety mask on before helping others. Time that you pour into yourself can help boost your mood, reduce stress, strengthen your habits, etc which in turn helps you show up better for others!

Find the “me-time” that best serves you. Here’s some of my favorites:

Exercise - releases endorphins that help to boost mood & productivity along with developing physical strength. Love stretching & yoga, slow pilates flows, walking
Journal, meditate, quiet time - can help clear the mind of excess thoughts, promote greater focus, patience, and attention. Also love reading!
Pursue a hobby - increases happiness & creativity. Some of my favorites - cooking/baking, gardening, vintage shopping, making boards on pinterest, coloring, organizing, going to open houses.
Spend time in nature - can be calming for the nervous system, enhanced energy & vitamin D levels, fresh air, free!
Fill my social cup - quality time with loved ones & friends helps to deepen connections, encourage conversation and feel a part of a community.

If you’re especially busy, consider scheduling in time for yourself into your planner or digital calendar to ensure you’re not prioritizing other tasks over personal health. Time for myself helps me reduces stress & anxiety, increases introspection, promotes a better work-life balance, and helps me to have stronger relationships.

4. Perfect your morning routine

(& notice if your evening routine needs work)

The way we wake up & begin each morning lays the foundation for our entire day. Start to take notice of your daily habits, and where improvement can be made. Notice if you roll out of bed & immediately check your phone - this can cause a delay in getting out of bed, an increase in stress hormone depending on what you’re viewing, and primes your brain for increased distraction. Perhaps place your phone outside the bedroom so you’re less likely to reach for it upon awaking, or if you use it for an alarm, set it across the room so you have to get up to turn the ringer off. If you’re the type to wake up and check emails first thing, consider reading a book or journaling for 10 minutes to clear your mind & set intentions for the day. This way, you’ll be calmer, more patient, and better prepared to handle any chaos that may arise.

Other tips for creating a morning routine:

Your perfect morning starts the night before - consider winding down calmly (ie use ambiant lighting, reading vs scrolling, stretching before bed, etc) for more restful sleep.
Set your clothes out the night before (& same goes for prepping breakfast/beverage setup). Adding this little step in before bed can better prepare yourself for the next day and help combat feeling rushed in the morning. If you’re working out in the morning, you’ll be much more likely to get out of bed if you don’t have to think - just do.
Consider waking up (and going to bed) earlier. More time in the morning before work starts means more time to squeeze in self-care. Whether you’re wanting to workout before work, hit the beach, take the pup for a long walk, read your book, etc - give yourself more time to ensure you’re not pouring from an empty cup.
Find joy in the little things - spend some time romanticizing your morning. This does wonders for your attitude towards the day - find excitement for your morning beverage, the feeling of sunlight on your skin, the quiet & peace before the day begins. Learn to love the little things & recognize they are actually the whole point!

Read about our Summer Morning Routine for inspiration :)

5. Try something new

Change is hard, but it is hard for a reason. Without change, we cannot grow. Stagnation can turn into burnout, resentment, and negativity. Recognizing the need for change is the first step! From there, consider what can be done. Sometimes you’ve got to just ride the wave and have faith that how you’re feeling will pass - but it’s also important to know how to get yourself out of said rut and develop skills to be better prepared for them!

In my case, (as a full time yoga/pilates instructor) I go through periods of feeling really burnt out and like I’ve lost my creative spark. It can take a lot of energy to create new flows & playlists, and always be upbeat & inspirational for students. When I feel a burnout coming, I usually:

1) Go back to the basics - rely on the fundamentals/what I know best/what I feel the most confident doing
2) Prioritize my own practice. Taking classes with other instructors helps to spark creativity, get out of my head & into my body. Doing individual movement like walking or playing around on my mat helps too - let go of expectation to make room for where I’m at now
3) Channel energy into other points of interest - we (as humans) generally feel a slump for a slew of reasons rather than just one. So pouring my energy into other hobbies, activities, people, etc helps to ensure I’m allowing myself to be open to opportunities to present themselves to me!

No matter what your livelihood or rut that you may feel stuck in, I encourage you to glean inspiration from these steps! Find what works for you and add it to your toolbox to best be prepared for the future, when another rut will inevitably come. Know that everything you need is already within you, you just have to find space to listen for it and honor it. <3

IN Short:

To kickstart a new routine & get out of a rut:

1. Word-dump all your thoughts about the season you’re in & your feels

2. Set realistic, intentional goals & break them down into bite-sized pieces

3. Do all your favorite things! Self care with the goal of learning about yourself & pouring back into your own cup

4. Perfect your morning (and thus, evening) routines. Set yourself up for success!

5. Step outside of your comfort box & try new things!

G of G guide to: Kickstart A New Routine