So, you’re stuck in a rut. You feel like you’re at the lowest of the low, and you can’t really find a way out of it. You’re just wandering through life, and every day feels the same. You go to school, you go to work, you run errands…it all just blurs together. You’re not really sure where you’re going or what you’re doing. There’s no destination. You wish you could just snap out of it and feel like you again.

But it’s not that easy.

You tell yourself that tomorrow will be different; you’ll be productive in trying to live it to the fullest. But, that never happens. And then finally you look in the mirror one day and you realize just how unhappy you are, and that the only thing that’s changed is you.

So what do you do?

It starts with your routine. It’s so important to make sure you’re taking some time out of your day for you. Now, that’s not me saying that it’s okay to disregard all of your other priorities and responsibilities and blow off school or work, and that’s where a lot of people get into trouble. It’s easy to get in the habit of using “me time” as an excuse. Don’t do that.

Instead, look at how your day is structured. Do you find yourself rolling out of bed at the last minute, stumbling out the door to school? Set an alarm a little earlier and allow yourself to actually wake up. It might not be the most fun thing in the world to wake up earlier than I’m sure you already do, but once you get into the habit of doing it, you’ll be amazed at how much more energy you have in the morning. Take a shower, eat something for breakfast, make some coffee, and get organized. During the day, incorporate some small things into your routine that are for you, because you want to. Light some candles while you study, play some good music while you walk to class, or maybe even go for a walk on your day off work. Throw on some makeup or try out a new hairstyle just for the heck of it. Switch it up day to day. It’s important that these things don’t feel like a chore.

Communication is also incredibly important. Find a friend, a family member, anyone, to have an open conversation about what you’re feeling. It doesn’t have to be a therapy session. Just let someone know that you don’t feel like you. That way, you’ll always know in the back of your mind that someone’s got your back, and that you’re not alone. And if you’re having an off day, you’ll have someone you feel comfortable going to and already knows what’s going on.

Also, get off your phone. I could go on and on about how it’s so easy to get sucked into the screen and lose track of time scrolling through Instagram, but honestly, we’ve all heard it already. Just keep in mind that when you have free time, that’s your free time. Not everyone online’s free time. Coming from a student who has maybe five minutes of free time per week, it's still important dedicate those five minutes to yourself. Browse the internet for something cool to do, a hobby to explore, or a new outlet to pursue. Do something outside the box, that’s going to shake up your week. Just try.

Lastly, it’s good to keep in mind that this rut is only going to last as long as you let it. You’re only going to continue to feel down and out about life unless you make the decision to do something proactive. And once you make that decision, don’t give up. You’re worth it.