Wellbeing Moments

Week 6: Your Wellbeing Moment

This week’s focus is: How to Get Out of a Rut - Find Your Spark Again

What Actually is a Rut?

Before we can learn how to get out of a rut, it’s important to understand what a rut actually is, and why we can sometimes find ourselves stuck in one.

A rut is a time when you feel stuck in the same routine and find it difficult to make changes or feel excited about everyday life. 

Signs You Might Be in a Rut:

A rut often happens when routines become repetitive, when you're feeling tired or overwhelmed or when you stop making time for things that make you happy.

You may notice the following:

• You feel disconnected from yourself
• You're waiting to ‘feel motivated’ before taking action
• Each day blurs into the next
• You can't easily think of anything to look forward to
• Things you used to enjoy feel unenjoyable and boring
• You're isolating yourself from friends and family more than usual
• You're going through the motions on autopilot
• Your routine is feeling overly repetitive or is falling apart
• You’re living for the weekend and not enjoying the week
• You feel like you need a complete life refresh

Why Ruts Happen (and It's Probably Not Your Fault):

School life can relentless: busy schedules, pressure to perform, homework piling up, hours on screens adding up, sleep slipping away and not enough time for things you actually enjoy. Add fatigue, stress, bad weather and feeling disconnected from friends. It's no wonder you all might feel stuck from time to time.

Your Action Plan: 7 Ways to Get Unstuck

1. Shake up your environment

   When every day feels the same, even tiny changes can break the cycle. Go outside, walk a different way home, move stuff around in your room, eat breakfast somewhere different. It sounds simple, but your brain notices when things change.

    

2. Chase what genuinely makes you happy

   Not what you think you should enjoy or what looks productive. What actually makes you feel happy and full of life? Write it down and do more of it.

    

3. Connect with people who energise you

   Some people drain you, some lift you up. Spend time with the ones who make you feel like yourself.

    

4. Stop waiting to “feel motivated”

   Once you actually get going with a task, that's when you'll start to feel better.

    

5. Find joy in the ordinary

   Happiness doesn't require a massive life change. Notice the small good moments in your day.

    

6. Look after your body

   Sleep, movement, fresh air and basic self-care have real power to shift how you feel.

    

7. Allow yourself low-energy seasons

   You don't have to be constantly productive or "on." Sometimes you need to accept a slower period and gently work your way through it.

Remember: Feeling stuck can be frustrating, especially when it seems like you’re not making any progress. But those twists and turns? They’re signs that you’re learning, growing and moving towards something better.

If you ever want someone to talk to, please check in with your Head of Year or our College Psychologists.

Pia Kagi

Psychologist