A recent study revealed that 59% of British people polled recognize that they're in need of a change, while 61% feel that they're "stuck in a rut." These findings seem to reflect a general trend in the United States and elsewhere that a growing number of people feel stuck and want change in their lives.

We might think this is just a sign of the times, but the expression "stuck in a rut" dates back to the 1800s, when it had the literal meaning of a wheel stuck in a groove in the road or a groove worn by a wheel traveling many times along the same track. Today it carries the metaphorical meaning of a person who feels like they're stuck or trapped in a mundane routine or predictable pattern of behavior.

How can you tell if you're stuck?

We might be stuck in a rut if we're feeling an ongoing sense of unhappiness, a lack of motivation, low mood, and low energy. It's a state of mind that may involve a persistent sense of boredom or monotony with regard to relationships, career, or life in general. It feels like everything is tedious or dreary, day in, day out, and that there's nothing to look forward to anymore. Being stuck in a rut is a pervasive feeling of "meh."

Of course, being stuck in a rut isn't a clinical disorder, although it can be underpinned by mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. A closely related mood disorder is dysthymia, a mild but long-term form of depression that's characterized by symptoms including loss of interest, low self-esteem, disturbed sleep, and poor concentration. Treating these underlying complaints will improve the feelings of being stuck in a rut, but if they're caused by lifestyle factors instead, they'll require a different approach.

How can we break free of feeling stuck?

It can feel difficult to get out of that rut, but it can be done. The first thing to do is try to identify exactly why we're stuck. This cause can hold the key to a solution. For example, if our career leaves us feeling stuck, then finding a new job is in order. If we're overworked, this can be a sign that it's time to take a break and go on a holiday. If the feelings are more generalized there are plenty of things to try, like shaking up our routine, learning something new, and taking on a new challenge, hobby, or sport. It's useful to create healthy habits like exercising, improving diet, meditating, and practicing mindfulness.

For those in need of a change, this can be something as simple as a changing their hairstyle, home decor, or fashion style, through to more drastic decisions like moving to a new house or even moving overseas. Making change, no matter how big or small, can help us to break free of our humdrum routines and to start feeling happier.