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Do you ever feel like your life is a caffeine-fuelled blur of working, commuting and sleeping? Do you feel like you’re stuck in a bit of a rut that you can’t get out of? Because of this recession, I have made the decision not to look for a new job for a while. This was a difficult one to make. My job is neither well-paid, enjoyable, nor is it in any way relevant to my future career plans, but at the moment at least, it’s permanent and not going anywhere. Right now, unfortunately, that is what matters, if I were to find a wonderfully well-paid new job then be laid off a few weeks later due to the company losing money, I’d be done for, whereas here at least the company is still afloat and even if things do go bad, I’m not going to be caught by the “last in, first out” problem.
I am determined therefore, to look on the bright side of this. Rather than worry that I’m stuck in a dead-end and this job isn’t contributing to my career plans at all, I have realised it is, in a way. It’s giving me the time and financial stability to study the law, and the paid holiday time to get some experience. Even if the job itself is irrelevant, as a means to an end it’s perfectly adequate for now. I am now concentrating on making the best of the daily grind and ensuring that I get as much out of the experience as I can.
To that end, I would like to share some of the ways, big and small, that I am trying to make sure I don’t feel like I’m stuck in a rut, and in fact, living with as much sparkle as I am able!
* I will make the most of my commute. A lot of my materials for law school are available as podcasts, which I will start listening to on my half hour trip (including walk to the bus stop) to work in the morning. When I’ve run out of those, I’ll listen to happy bright and cheerful music to wake me up and energise me for the day!
For more commuting ideas see: Tres Lola and The Glamourous Grad Student.
Image by droїd
* I will force myself to be a morning person! It will be easier said than done, but when I get home from work it takes a lot to make me productive. An hour or so of study and / or blogging in the morning so I have less to do in the evening will be a big help, and I’m sure this article will help me achieve this.
* I will use the time I do have more wisely. Instead of staring at the wall until my eyes glaze over in the quieter moments at work, I’ll use the time to improve my blog, or work out what I have to do that evening.
* If work starts to wear me down, I’ll improve it myself! Small things such as dressing a little flamboyantly, wearing glittery makeup, using coloured pens and interrogating my colleagues about their lives, it all helps to make the day more interesting!
* I will timetable my evenings – it may sound restrictive at first, but it will mean I’ll know I only need to work for a certain amount of time, or to the end of a certain task, then I can stop and have the rest of the time to myself.
* I will make an effort to punctuate my life with lovely things! Trips out, the odd celebratory cupcake when I finish a module, etc. Little things, but they can really make a difference!
* I will remember that this is not forever! Things will get better and for now, I’m in a much better position than most!
* I will of course, use EFT to combat all these feelings too!
Sometimes staying positive when the world appears to be going to Hell in a handbasket is hard, but at the end of the day, this is affecting us all, and I know if anything happened, I have a great support network. Even a job / lifestyle that seems terrible compared to what you’re used to or have had in the past can be built upon, in order to achieve a sparkling future!
How do you pull yourself out of a rut and stay positive?
This is an awesome post because I am in the same exact situation . .. I commute 2 hours each way by train to a job I don’t even love everyday. It can definitely get overwhelming at times but this is some great advice that I’m going to use!
Great post. I hate feeling like I’m in a rut and it’s helpful to look at things positively.
I used to commute to high school for 2 hours (1 hour each way). It was mind-numbing at first, but I got a lot of reading done & listened to music.
Well said! I’m in the midst of looking for a new job and it’s been rough in this economy. But I’m definitely staying optimistic and doing things to keep me positive. I’m all about fun makeup and getting out more to explore and to keep things interesting and fun.
I’ve been using some EFT lately too. I was initially really skeptical, but it helps me in a similar way to meditation.
I agree 100% about the commuting; I have a minimum 30-minute train ride from my apartment to wherever I work, so I’m constantly on my MacBook drafting or studying (and listening to music, of course).
Another thing that I do every day is write down things that make me happy or things that I appreciate. It sounds really cheesy, but it works for me. (I took the idea from TiLT!)
Vicki, it’s fear. It’s a great inhibitor. Fear of the unknown, of rejection, whether things will work out.
Oh… and familiarity, and comfort zones.
I still haven’t tried EFT.. & how spot on is your first line … caffeine fuelled blur (yes hi!)
Fabulous ideas. I’d love to be a morning person, and I am during the sunny parts of the year. But I need to find something to get me excited and up and going on wintry mornings to set a better tone for the rest of the day.
Any thoughts on how you’ll keep yourself motivated to be a morning person?
I should say, any thoughts on how you’ll keep your new “morning person” routine going? Getting things set up the night before is definitely a plus…but I find myself being lazy at night thus throwing off my whole plan.
Thanks M’dears! xx
@ Amanda Lee – I love writing TiLT lists, it really does keep me thinking positively about things!
@ Werther – it’s not always fear, if things are beyond your control, I think it’s negative thinking rather than fear. You can’t be afraid of acting upon something when there is no action that can really be taken (like, for example, to get a new job when there are none being advertised at the moment).
@ Erin – I’m actually thinking of getting a dayling lamp, I think it’ll really help me whilst it’s so dark outside. Reading blogs first thing always leaves me feeling ready to be creative and motivated too, providing I’m awake enough!
You have such a wise and generally awesome outlook, Vixel.
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This is just perfect. Thanks kitten. And good luck!
This is such a positive way of looking at a job you don’t enjoy. And it is a very sensible idea to stay at the moment, when finances are so up in the air all over the world.
When I’m stuck in a rut I make copious amounts of lists and write heaps of stuff down. Everything always comes clear to me once it’s on paper and at the very least I can stop stressing about the stuff I’ve gotten out of my head!