To “get into a groove” is something many of us aspire to. To create beneficial, positive, routines that support a flow of work that builds on itself. A deepening practice where we see meaningful progress.
But as much as routine can be a boon, when unchecked over time we can slip into unconscious, unfulfilling repetition. We no longer question why we are doing what we are doing, and we no longer see the same benefit. We have successfully created ourselves a rut.
You know your groove has started to turn into a rut when it’s no longer enjoyable, when you’re no longer learning, when continuing to dig is no longer challenging. Where once you could effortlessly get lost in the task and time would pass without you noticing, you now dread the repetition, because there is no longer progression, only production.
The only way to stop a groove becoming a rut is to be vigilant for the early warning signs. Taking time regularly to honestly check in on how we are feeling about what we are doing, to look at our objective measures of progress, to get feedback from those that know us best. You may want to step away for a while, to try digging differently, or perhaps to work on creating some new grooves entirely?