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Comment by Swizec | Hacker News Reader

The best thing you can do about a rut in my experience is to get back on the horse immediately. “I’ll do it next week” quickly spirals into months and years.

When you set the date for getting back on the horse do it no matter what. But give yourself permission to do the bare minimum and suck at it.

Ruts are largely fear based.

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> Ruts are largely fear based.

I feel enlightened reading this. Will definitely keep this in mind as a handy reminder to help me understand my occasional ruts and remember the solution.

This strategy makes perfect sense, but how do you handle vacations?

Incorporate it during a vacation.

I guess that's not always realistic? And, more importantly, I'm not sure I like the idea of taking a 'fear-based approach' to solving this ("if I lapse for even a week during a vacation, I'll never be able to get back on track"), even though I understand the logic. Somehow that strikes me as an uncomfortable way to live.

You're overthinking with hypotheticals that aren't relevant.

It isn't lapsing for a week if you were in a rut in the lead up.

Staying in that rut isn't a healthy way to live either. The alternative is to get out of the rut. Blaming fear as a roadblock is a separate issue, entirely.

I typically use vacations to restablish good habits because I have time to do so. I cook and eat good food, I work out, I study and read.

I find it much harder to do that during normal time because there are pressures in every direction.

Depending on the thing you can do it even more on vacation. Or set it aside and take a break.

Then set a date after vacation and get back on the horse no questions asked

If you like your routine then you should look forward to doing it on your vacation as well.

More specifically, if possible continue your routine on vacation. Your routine is what you do every day.

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