Get Out of The Loop

​In life there are some tasks worth repeating over and over. But there are also some tasks that are not worth a bit. Identify those tasks that are hindering you and once and for all get out of the loop.

​You’d be surprised at how many things we do over and over without being completely aware. Some are positive, some are neutral, and some are hurtful. Learn to identify them and how to handle them.

​What are loops?

When I was in college I took computer programming classes. In programming there was a command that told the operation system that you want to run a determined task repeatedly until certain goal is reached. This type of repeating the same activity is a called a loop.

The computer program could have one loop, or many, where the same activity is repeated over and over. There could also be loops running within loops.

The purpose of the loop is to execute the necessary tasks to advance the program to a desire outcome which it's usually to solve a problem.
​

​Loops in life

If you pay attention, loops not only exist in the programming world but in our lives. Have you noticed how you do the same things over and over during your day?

Loops in our life are when we keep doing the same tasks over and over. These loops can be good –they advance you to where you want to go. Or they can be neutral loops –they keep you doing a task over and over and it gets you nowhere but it doesn't hurt you either.

Or they can be loops that you keep repeating over and over until they take you away from where you want to go making you waste your time, effort, and sometimes your money. Once you identify which kind of loop you’re in at all times, you’ll be more in control of your life.
​

​Identify the loops in your life

Some of the loops in our life are necessary, like: sleeping, getting up, getting ready, going about the day, eating, etc. And if you pay attention you’ll also notice that there are loops within each one of those loops. For instance when it’s bed time, you might do the preparation to go to sleep in the same order every night, or when you’re showering you might do the tasks in the same order every time.

Some loops take you nowhere like spending too much time watching TV, too much in social media, too much time doing nothing, etc. You might even say these are neutral loops but if you pay attention sometimes those loops do not help you advance in your goals and may even hurt you if you do them for too long. I'm not saying to never do things that take you nowhere; I just want you to understand that you’re in total control when on purpose you decide to not do anything for a period of time. Just make sure you're going to be okay with that decision.


But the loops I want you to be aware the most of are the negative loops. Loops that take you further away from your life goals. These loops are totally unnecessary and detrimental you, your life and to those around you.  Some of those loops could be any kind of unhealthy activity or addiction like fighting, arguing, drinking, gambling, shopping, overeating, or any activity done in excess.

Or any tasks like thinking about the same painful experience you had when you were a child, or about engaging in conversations that are hurtful to you and to others; or about watching movies and videos with images that don’t make you feel good; or listening to depressing songs and stories... you get the idea.
​

​Get out of the loop

Any repeated task that puts you in an emotional state that doesn’t feel good is a task that has you in the loop. When you are in this mode it means you’re stuck in it just like a hamster is stuck in its hamster wheel. The great news is that you have the awareness, control and power to get out of that loop.

The first thing to do to get out of those hurtful loops is to recognize what’s happening. You first need to realize you’re inside a loop that’s taking you nowhere. Once you’re trained to recognize your not so good loops, you’ll recognize them quicker and will snap out of them sooner.

The next step is to adjust course. Meaning, stop the loop and focus on something else like in your goals for the day, in your goals for the place you’re at, in your goals for your life. If what you’re doing doesn’t align to your goals, move on to another more positive task.

The last step is to act. It’s one thing to recognize and realize what you’re doing but if you don’t act and get out of the loop it means nothing. Stop bringing the past to the present, stop having toxic conversations, stop watching depressing movies, stop listening depressing songs, and stop watching shows and videos that make you feel bad.

I’m not saying that you have to be productive all the time -takings steps that only move you forward to your goals. No, sometimes we need rest from those things. Just make sure you plan for them, stick to that plan, and whenever you're done continue moving forward to a better and fulfilled life.
​

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.” –Paulo Coelho
​

When you’re aware that you’re in a loop and you do nothing to get out of it, you’re hurting yourself. This happens because as soon as you realize you’re doing something you no longer what to do you begin to feel negative emotions of frustration and hopelessness which affect your overall energy and vibe. Remember, you can always get out of those unhealthy loops... always.
​

Did you like this post? Subscribe here to send you more like it to your inbox. Also, share this post in your social media or with someone you think might benefit from this information. Thank you!​​​​​

---

Related Publications:

Are You Living By Default?

Both Suffering and Joy Begin In the Mind

What Does It Mean To Live A Meaningful Life?

7 Inspiring Quotes To Help You Succeed In Life​

---

Image: ​https://www.123rf.com/profile_tiero

---