ideas for getting out of a rut
 

I have no $$ to spare.
I'm bored out of my mind.
Life is in a rut
Need to shake it up.
Oh, did I mention, I have no $$ to spare?

Any ideas???

been there
 

I have been in a rut before, as I think everyone does at some point in their lives. Some ideas I can think of:

-take a long walk, run, yoga class or some other form of physical activity
- Get a tank of gas if you can, pack a lunch and take a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway or in the hills if you have the time
- look into volunteer opportunities (habitat for humanity, red cross)
- have a girls night in, manicures, pedicures, try new things with make-up, just like a 7th grade slumber party
- call a friend/family member you have not spoken too in a while or e-mail them
- rearrange your furniture while listening to your favorite music turned up really loud(my favorite)

I know these are rather simplistic, but I hope things go better for you!!

Lastly,

SMILE
:D
Everyone on GC loves ya!!

Amycat, this is driving me nuts because I am trying to think of something. Whenever I'm in a rut I usually (a) resort to buying expensive handbags, which won't work for you with no $$$, and really doesn't solve anything or (b) retreat into the world of the novel I'm trying to write (which is also hard to do when in a rut because then I feel that I have absolutely nothing interesting to say).

Are you in a big life-relationships-career-everything rut, or a life-I'm-bored in general rut, or an I-feel-crappy-today rut, or some other type of rut?

valkyrie-
Its a big life-relationships-career-everything-I'm-bored in general -I-feel-crappy-this-month rut.

I am writing a novel too and trying to escape into that, but I am so restless it makes it hard to focus.


alphachiohmy-
rearrange your furniture while listening to your favorite music turned up really loud(my favorite)

my fav too. ha ha only when I do that I want to repaint/redecorate and the $$ is really an issue right now! LOL

thanks guys, keep em coming...

:)
Amy

Hell amycat, I am so broke I cannot pay for attention, and am so boring that I cannot stand my self!:D

Misery does not love company and sympathy is supposed to be between sh*^ and syphlis in the Dict. I dont have a Dict! :(

In every life , a little rain must fall, but you would think that sometimes there would be a silver ling on Sh^% house wall!:)

I am kind of an armchair expert on Ruts . . . The best way to get out of one (and I probably will not take my own advice, is to start simple and work out from there.

So, since a rut is usually a lack of activity, the trick is to start doing things not in your routine. So a walk is good, or bike ride. But the real trick is to write down at least 5 actions you can do that day on a to do list. That force you to be active, are not to complex, and break yoour pattern. Then you can worry about lifelong goals etc later that night:).

But if you don't write the stuff down, it won't really help that much.

Re: ideas for getting out of a rut
 

travel

travel costs $$$.

its the first thing that comes to mind, but I can't afford it right now.

not if you have friends that have money.

you can stay at my house for free.. ;)

No money + a rut = creative solutions
I agree that volunteer or charity work can definitely be a great way to get out of a rut and meet people. How about taking a class at a local community center or college? Maybe they have free or low cost cooking, swimming, knitting, computer, or painting classes. Many museums have suggested admission fees. You can suggest free. Good luck!

I like the "doing something for charity" suggestion. You'll get out, you'll meet new people, and you'll give back to the community. :) Hey, get a group together and go over to the local food bank!

Or take a day trip... pick a spot you've never been, get in the car and go there.

Call or email an old friend you haven't seen in a while, and get together for coffee.

There are endless possibilities, even on a tight budget. :)

Something that might be fun -- take a whole day where you have nothing scheduled. Make up a new identity for yourself, name, occupation, history (I don't mean anything complicated, just the basics; since you're a writer, it'll be easy). Go around town doing things that you never do and acting differently from how you normally act. Go to a nice hotel bar by yourself and have a drink while reading a book, go "shopping" and try on dumb expensive stuff that you'd never buy, get your nails done and speak with an accent, talk to people you wouldn't normally approach, or just anything, but all as your "new" identity. Wear clothes that you don't normally wear and just be someone else for a day.

I don't know -- it's just a thought. It's kind of like when you are in an airplane and suddenly you're seeing the same things you see every day, but from a radically different angle, only different. If this even makes sense...

Or, just start a writers' support group for frustrated novelists like me who instead of writing spend too much time on greekchat...;)

Hmmm, not to alter Amy's Thread, but people are forgeting that by their nature, ruts make it near impossible to do ambitious things. Ergo if you could do that thing you really wouldn't be in a Rut, you might just have been tired.

So here is a challenge for all you CREATIVE GC'ers, cause I am in a rut also, give us a 24 hour perscription we can start the next time we read this htread that will break our Rut pattern.

It has to match amy's limitations:

I have no $$ to spare.

I promise I'll try your suggestions for 24 hours and report back to you on whether it worked.

Best rut getter outer? Sex, bar none :) And it's free!!

Just kidding :)

I was getting really bored with life about 3 years ago, so I contacted my sorority on the national level and asked how I could help. Three years later, I'm a colony advisor, a regional advisor for 8 chapters and writing for the national magazine.

Careful what you wish for ;)

:eek: I am shocked at you, Heather!

Re: ideas for getting out of a rut
 

Start fights on the internet.
Not here of course.

Oh yeah, if you have the blues or are mildly depressed, take 1-3 grams/tablespoons of flaxseed oil. It does wonder for your moods, it doesen't interact with other drugs, it has no side effects exept for nutty tasting belches, and IT INCREASES LIBIDO!

You took the words right out of my mouth lol :)

I love the first suggestion(endorphins are the best) :D and I think the others are fabulous too. :) James has a good point too that you might try something different to break your routine. Try taking a walk where you've never been, take a trip over to borders and treat yourself, or even a nice big bowl of your favorite ice cream. :D

Hey Amy,

Workout! I konw you already workout a lot but I saw a commercial last night advertising some fun new classes at your gym and totally thought of you. I'd offer to go with you, but as you know, I belong to another gym.

Other fun things to do: baseball season starts soon, get cheap seats at Dodger stadium with a group of friends (I think they're still a lot cheaper than the movies). When the Hollywood Bowl starts you can go to rehearsals in the afternoon for free and picnic on the lawn.

There is a great book somewhere called free things to do in LA (or something like that). Someone in my dorm had it and I loved to go through it. There were many things that even we LA natives don't know about (like the HB thing).

Other ideas: go to Venice beach and people watch; go up to the Santa Barbara wine country for the day (most of the wineries have free tastings); sign up for the free passes to the movies that they are always trying to give away (or if you have access to screenings through your job, go); have a slumber party; go to Christine's or BHNS and get a cheap mani and pedi; volunteer for USC's Alumni Association; or do what I do: clean. I always become a clean freak when I am in a rut and I give all my old clothes away to Goodwill or someone I know that needs/wants them. It always makes me feel better.

Good luck.

New Classes at Crunch??? I had no idea! I will have to check that out! (Circus Sports on Sat afternoon is my favorite!!!) And lauradav--hysterical that you mention Christine's for nails-- I've been going there for YEARS! Gotta love the $20 manicure/pedicure combo!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! They've all been wonderful... Skip and Miami's offers to stay with them brought a smile to my face... LOL thanks guys.

I'm feeling better--went out for dinner and laughed a lot with a friedn last night. Also, I guess its never too soon to start studying for the GRE. lol

And Dave Matthews announced tourdates yesterday--so planning my cross country follow the band trek is fun too.

I just hope I can shake this restless feeling--it usually leads to no good-- like buying a new car or moving into a new apt--neither of which i need right now!!!! LOL

:)
Amy

Your Welcome Amy :D Just remember your not alone. You have your sisters, your family, and all of us from gc to lean on. :)

Kevin

PUT ON MUD CHAINS!?

Hell I am so damn Boring Even I cannot stand my self!:(

Amy, I go to Christine's every weekend (or do my best to get there). I have been going there forever too!!! I am sure we've seen each other before b/c I always see the same people in there! Too funny. Now every time I see an Amy on the list in front of me I'm going to wonder if it's you. LOL.

The Crunch commercial that I saw the other night said something about new classes. Hopefully it's true. I am sad b/c BIM got rid of one of my faves: candlelight yoga. It was the best way to relax after a boxing or spinning class when you just weren't ready to go home. I wish we had circus sports. That sounds like a blast.

Glad to hear that you had a fun night out with friends.

Take care,

Laura

bump