Residents offer advice: books, cleaning, friends
By: Linda J. Field
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‘When I start to feel in a rut, I clean out cupboards, closets and even the basement.’ Cindy Gropp |
The dreaded late summer rut has hit some Lawrence residents.
You know the one – it’s not quite the busy season of fall, nor the early excitement of vacation season. Instead, the time drags, as most days resemble the days before. Life itself seems repetitious.
Yet there are some in town who have either avoided the problem, or have ways of getting out of a rut should one hit. Interviewed at the Ben Franklin Swim Club last weekend, these residents had lots of information to share.
Alison Gernhardt, a freshman at Dickinson College majoring in biology, tries diversity to shake off ruts.
"I make lists of things to do," said Ms. Gernhardt. "I’m sure to put on a lot of different things to do. New ideas to try, so I do different things every week."
A new member of the family can help avoid a rut.
"I have not been in a rut," said Ann Stearns. "I have not been in a rut this year because we added a puppy to the family. You can’t possibly get in a rut when you have a puppy around. It’s always something new going on."
Sometimes ruts do happen, but the best way to get out of them is to avoid them altogether.
Scott, who withheld his last name, had some thoughts.
"Between work and kids, it’s easy to get into a rut," he said. "I try not to be in a rut by doing even the slightest different things. I’ll read a book, or take a walk while at work. I also try to find some time alone just to do something."
One mom found just having an afternoon at the pool, alone, with a book was plenty of reward and a major step toward getting out of the summer rut.
"I’m here alone," said Randi Alexander. "I’m here with the kids all summer. Today they’re home with their father, so I got to come alone today. We’ll be doing some back-to-school shopping soon, and that changes the routine. Today I’m enjoying having quiet time here just reading a book."
Then there are those in the education field who found that summer vacation was a definite change from routine and enough to break out of a rut.
"I’m a secretary at Lawrence Intermediate School," said LouAnn McCrystal. "Summer is a big change for me. I could keep doing this."
"Summer vacation got me out of a rut," said Roseann Bozzone, a first-grade teacher at Eldridge Park Elementary School. "Because I teach, summer vacation is a completely different thing from the rest of the year. I go on vacation. All this time makes even doing the laundry something new. I’m able to do things in a reasonable amount of time. It’s great. I can actually read the newspaper. It makes going back to school fresh for us."
Having families can make days too busy to worry much about ruts.
"I’m not in a rut," said Cathy Schneider. "With the diverse needs of a family of the diverse ages of 22, 20 and 16, with unpredictable needs, it makes every day a little different."
"With four kids, every day is a new challenge," said Mary Scott. "Two are leaving for college. They range in ages from tomboys, pubescents to college co-eds. It’s fun and allows me not to get into ruts. My plates are always twirling on those sticks. The ball is always in the air."
For some residents, physically changing things is enough to break out of a rut. (Even a certain special writer has attacked the dust and clutter and attempted to put some semblance of order into her existence with the help of a friend.)
"For the most part, I’m a pretty upbeat person," said Cindy Gropp. "But when I start to feel in a rut, I clean out cupboards, closets and even the basement. We’re having a garage sale on Saturday. By doing this, when you see some (physical) improvement, it’s very uplifting. It’s definitely my quick fix for being down or in a rut."
Two Lawrence High School seniors had some interesting insights on rut avoidance.
"I try to hang out with different people every day," said Karen Buzzi. "I look up old friends, maybe people who I used to go to school with."
"By coming up with creative things to do," said Erin Weber. "I look in the newspaper for cool things to do. It’s easier now that I have my license. There are more things I can do. I’ve done a lot of the things there are to do around here."
So if you’re feeling a little stuck, there are ways to escape that horrible boredom of a rut. There’s a book, time alone, shopping, old friends, new friends or even helping someone else get out of their rut. All it takes is for you to make up your mind to do it, by listing things, reading the paper for events or just doing something new.