There’s a tendency to assume that work, by its very nature, is destined to be dull. It makes sense to think that way – after all, it’s the same job day after day, and you’re getting paid to be there… it’s not going to be the most exciting way to spend your time, right?

But while demanding an adrenaline-packed nine-to-five with brand new experiences every day might not be reasonable, we shouldn’t be accepting absolute monotony at work, either. Feeling like you’re in your own personal Groundhog Day of endless emails, pointless meetings and dreary drudgery is not a path to happiness. Plus, if you’re completely disengaged from what you’re doing, the quality of your work output is likely to dip, too.

We know this, and yet we all too often find ourselves in this exact cycle of meh-ness. Recognising that pattern is helpful, sure; more important is actually breaking out of it. How do we do that?

“Experiencing a sense of stagnation and frustration in your professional life is a place we can all find ourselves, regardless of the type of industry we work in,” Paolo Gallo, an executive coach and the author of The Seven Games Of Leadership, tells Stylist. “You may feel unmotivated and disengaged or find your tasks have become monotonous and unchallenging, or you might be noticing the dreaded red flags of signs of burnout. You’d rather be at the dentist than at the office. Not good stuff.”

The good news: Gallo says that there are ways to “break free” from the monotony. He breaks down his steps for escaping your work rut ahead.

Stuck in a work rut? Here are 5 steps to breaking free from the boredom