Seven Warning Signs That You’re Stuck in the Rat Race

The ‘Rat-Race’ is a phrase we’ve all heard. For some, it’s become a flippant phrase that we use to describe our day-to-day lives, but the reality is quite different and can be incredibly consuming and damaging. It can hit our health, our happiness and have a negative impact on our families.

I wonder if you feel you’re in the Rat Race? Read on to see if you’re really stuck in the rat mode. Here are the “Tell Tale” signs …

1. You’re Exhausted

Low energy levels are indicative of a lot of problems. For example, poor sleep patterns due to stress, long days, consuming too much caffeine, etc. Or perhaps you’re not taking care of yourself. Are you sitting around during your home time, doing nothing, watching the television? Exhaustion can even be a sign of depression. We can all be hit by this.

2. Your Work-Life Balance Is Terrible

Do you work long hours to support your family? Do you spend the half-term with your children? Or even if you do, are you constantly checking your phone or taking calls from colleagues? Can you spend time with your family… and when you do, can you switch off? If not… you’ll find that ... (hit the next point)

3. Your Relationships Are Suffering

Whether it is with your friends or family, the ones you love might not be feeling very loved at all. Are you angry, irritable and uncaring? Do your kids refer you to you as “The Walking Check Book”? Or “Here comes moody!” Do you feel your second job is a Taxi Driver?

Do you never have the time or energy to be spontaneous with your partner? It’s nothing any of us are proud of, but it can be easy to stop putting effort into our relationships because work has taken everything else out of us. We need to work for a purpose not for work itself.

4. You Gain/Lose Significant Amounts Of Weight

A bad diet is an easy habit to fall into - especially if you have no time to cook or money to buy fresh ingredients. Bad diets and stress affect us all differently. From shedding pounds and losing appetites to comfort eating and snacking all day – weight can be a helpful indicator for someone’s happiness. We can all fall into this.

5. You Keep Saying “That’s Just The Way It Is”

Essentially, you’re resigned to feeling stressed, rubbished and on occasions a failure. Why do we believe nothing can be changed? Don’t panic. If this sounds like you there is a way out. It is never too late. Take a deep breath in and out and make a list of what you want to change. It’s a great place to start.

6. You Think About The Past, A Lot

Avoiding thoughts of the future are a way we protect ourselves from what we think is coming. If you’re worried about the future or don’t like to think about it in a positive way, you might be stuck in a rut and you need to confront your situation.

7. You Lack Purpose

No purpose + no goals = a deadly snowball effect.

If you don’t set goals (however small) and set out to achieve them, you will spiral downwards into a world where you achieve nothing every day. You will feel no progress and in that rut! And that’s a horrible feeling. Work out something easy to achieve and you will start making progress and feel much more empowered. Learn more about Goal Setting here.

What You Should Do Next

These 7 warning signs aren’t here to worry you or panic you. If this sounds like you and these sorts of thoughts weigh on your mind regularly, it’s time to make a change and take control of your situation.

Start with the easy tips included above if you need help or if you’ve been through this and are out the other side, let others know how you got out of the rat race in the comments.