Crush Thy Loops.

The Patterns Keeping Us Stuck.

Time to sit myself down and finish that Science of Exercise course I started but I just need to check one thing. Just a quick peek at IG, maybe react to a meme from a friend or two. Three hours later, I had somehow read 56 motivational quotes, learned a few more ridiculous moves from fitness infleuncers to attempt at the gym, scrolled through 87 LinkedIn posts about people finding their purpose, and attempted to clean up my entire mailbox full of promotional spam.

Did I accomplish what I originally set out to do? Absolutely not. But did I feel busy? Oh, yes. And in a world that constantly glorifies productivity, feeling busy is almost as good as being productive. Almost.

The problem? Life bloody works the same way! I’ll convince myself that I’m making progress when, in reality, I’m just running in dreadful loops. I tell myself I’ll make a change right after I handle just this one thing first but that thing leads to another, and another, until I wake up five years later wondering why nothing has actually changed.

And that’s what this is going to be about: the loops we don’t realize we’re stuck in, why they’re so damn comfortable, and how to finally (and hopefully) break free from them.

The ‘Oops, I Did It Again’?Effect

Every month, I tell myself this will be the one where I finally get my finances under control.

And then? Well, then there’s that one purchase that feels totally justified. Maybe it’s a limited-time offer (because obviously, scarcity makes it a necessity), or a gadget I “need” for productivity (like this shiny new Macbook I’m typing from) or maybe it’s time I get those hyaluronic acid fillers for my damn eyebags. Then there’s that fortnightly massage. Or that $200 Greek dinner at éla? Before I know it, the credit bill arrives, and I’m staring at a balance that looks scarily familiar?—?because it is.

But it gets better. Instead of dealing with it head-on, I find the ultimate financial loophole: paying off debt with more debt. Genius, right? Until the cycle repeats, and I’m trapped in an endless game of balance transfers, minimum payments, and mild financial panic every time my phone pings with a “Your Statement is Ready” reminder.

It’s not that I don’t know better. I do. But knowing isn’t the same as doing. And this, my friends, is how we end up in loops that feel impossible to break.

We Are Our Best?Liars

Breaking a cycle means admitting it exists in the first place. Unfortunately, we’re really, really good at lying to ourselves. Some of my classics include:

• “It’s not that bad.” (It is. I am just not ready to admit it yet.)
• “I’d rather live rich than die rich.” (lol, such profoundness!)
• “I’ve got to find an exit and elevate my position”? (But I wake up daily and sit around doing absolute f*ck all about it.)
• “I just need more time.”? (If time alone was the answer, I would’ve solved it by now.)

These aren’t reasons. They’re excuses wrapped in logic, designed to keep me (and us) comfortably stuck. And I swear, one day, they will all come back to eat me up.

“Personal growth is the process of learning to lie to ourselves less.” – Mark?Manson

Time to Shake Off the?Stupid?

So what do you do when you realize you’re in a cycle but breaking it feels about as appealing as assembling IKEA furniture without the manual?

For starters, maybe just acknowledge the loop exists?—?that alone is half the battle. Ask yourself:

• “How many times have I had this exact same conversation with myself?”
• “How many times have I said, ‘Something has to change,’ and then… did absolutely nothing?”

Spoiler: If you can count it, congrats?—?it’s officially a pattern. And if like me, you’ve lost count, then it’s Code Red!

There are thoughts that pop in and out, and then there are thoughts that camp out in my head like they’re paying rent. Those are the deep life truths I know I shouldn’t ignore.

So, if you’re feeling a little bold (or just sick of your own reruns), test the waters with a small, irreversible change.

• Say no to something you’d normally say yes to (and if it confuses people, that’s even better?—?keeps them on their toes).
• Quit a habit?—?just one, nothing dramatic (like maybe stop buying things to ‘fix’ your life? Just a suggestion, no pressure. I know I’ll struggle with this one).
• I don’t actually have a formula for this. So maybe you might want to try The Three-Week Test: If you feel the exact same way about something three weeks from now, it’s not a passing mood?—?it’s a sign.

And here’s the truth: breaking a loop doesn’t require grand, sweeping changes. Sometimes, all it takes is one tiny act of rebellion against your usual patterns. One small move that forces your brain to rethink what’s normal. That’s how it starts. I think.?

Disclaimer: The thoughts in this article are entirely my own and not endorsed by my employer or any official organization (trust me, they’d probably prefer to stay out of this). Any resemblance to real events, people, or workplace shenanigans is purely coincidental?—?or just an inevitable byproduct of paying attention. This isn’t professional advice, just food for thought. So, if you choose to apply any of it, do so with your own good judgment. And if things don’t go as planned, let’s agree that I was merely providing perspective, not a life manual.