[snarfy]

> So I put myself in robot mode

This is the key insight. A rut is entirely emotional. When you don't want to do something but you need to do it there is an emotional conflict.

Robot mode is not emotionless. It's satisfying a different emotion (fear, anxiety,etc) than desire. It might even be considered a form of bravery. In a crisis situation do you panic or do you 'just start doing things' and help without thinking about it? It's a similar response.