Whatever the cause is, if you find yourself in one, you want it to be over as quickly as possible. However, seeking to end it might just increase your struggle and prolong it. You might want to consider instead how to turn a professional rut into something positive.

When you wind up in a professional rut, you are likely to deal with a lot of stress about the situation. This causes actual physiological responses in your body from the hormones released, and they can actually paralyze your thinking and ability to respond. Start by forming a new foundation in your daily life. Don’t focus on the big-ticket items in your life all the time. Be mindful and grateful for the small things as you start to rebuild.

Once you’ve learned to breathe a little bit, start finding ways to boost your stamina. You just don’t know how long you will be in a rut, so you need to do anything you can to maintain your energy level throughout this part of the process. This will involve your physical metabolism, but you also need to keep your mind sharp, too. Do anything you can to fill your heart with some joy on a regular basis.

Next, turn your trauma into growth. Consider what you liked about what you had previously, but also think about what you might like to do in the future. When change is forced upon your life, you need to move away from the disarray and despair it causes. Even on a small, daily basis, do what you can to minimize your self-judgement and move more towards practicing self-compassion.

Finally, reinvent yourself. Your life is in new circumstances, and the world around you is new. You should be a new thing, too. It might just be a new set of clothes or a haircut. It could also be some new career or class.

Professional ruts can happen to anyone. Dealing with adversity is a part of any life, but maybe instead of overcoming the odds against you, the chance is there for you to actually make the best of it.