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- How to Get Out of A Rut
Welcome back to The Intelligent Marketer, where over 14,538 growth-minded founders, agency owners, and marketers go to learn modern marketing strategies.
Let’s talk about the 3rd week of January…
The energy from “new year, new you” is wearing off.
The gym is emptier. The calendar’s full again.
Reality sets in. Old habits creep back.
This is the part I see few talking about.
And for a lot of people, founders, creators, marketers, this is when a rut hits.
That weird mix of low energy, slow momentum, and the quiet guilt of you’re “already off track.”
So let’s pause and make something clear:
You’re not behind, you just need a reset.
Here’s how I approach it.
1. Shrink the Frame
When you’re in a rut, your brain tells you to do more:
Fix everything. Overhaul your habits. Redesign your schedule. New tools, new workouts, new routines.
That works… for about a week. And then you find yourself back in the same spot.
What actually works? Shrinking the frame of how you look at things.
Go from 2 hours of deep work to 30 minutes.
Go from 5 posts a week to 2 that are sharp.
Go from a new funnel to just following up with warm leads.
Go from a full rebrand to updating your one-liner.
The goal is to create momentum… even if it’s small.
Because momentum creates clarity. And clarity pulls you out of the fog.
2. Make Structure Your Default
Ruts thrive in ambiguity.
When everything is “open-ended,” the friction often gets worse.
That’s why I’ve started defaulting to structure, especially when I feel off.
Whether it’s content, team tasks, or personal habits, I fall back on simple systems:
Morning writing block
Themed days throughout the week
One decision-making framework
3. Make One Win Inevitable
When you’re in a rut, the quickest way out is to prove to yourself:
I can still win.
So I try to create one small, inevitable win:
Send that message I’ve been putting off
Go on a walk with no AirPods and just let your brain wonder
Publish something without over-editing it
Knock out one system improvement we’ve been delaying
Doesn’t matter what it is, just make it winnable.
Then stack another.
4. Zoom Out
This week isn’t the story.
It’s a moment in the story.
So if you’ve fallen off your routine, your goals, your content plan… welcome to the human experience.
And if you’re not in a rut, more power to you…
Use this as a chance to reset your pace and keep going.
Quick Challenge:
Reply with one thing you’re committing to this week to reset your momentum. Doesn’t have to be huge, just real.
I’ll reply back with mine.
See you next Friday.
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