We all go through it from time to time – you’re in a funk that you just can’t seem to shake. Pulling yourself out of a funk can be tough, but these quick and long-term tips will help get the pep back in your step and open the doors for transformation, through mind, body and soul!
I just came out of a 3 1/2 week ‘funk’. It was just long enough to make me wonder if I was ever going to snap out of it.
All the things happened.
- I got the flu that knocked me out for 10 days
- I felt inconsistent in the direction of my business and plagued with overwhelm
- My kids got sick
- My hubby and I got into a big spat
- We found out we have to move across the country
- The house was
kind ofabsolutely a pit
Everything piled up and I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of hiding under my covers and pushing life away. Every.single.day.
I knew it wasn’t depression or anything too concerning because I’ve been there before. But this time was a doozy. It seemed endless. *Side note, if you feel that it’s more thank a ‘funk’, please seek help or talk to someone. Mental health is so very important
Because this ’bout of the blues’ was so foreign to me and I wasn’t naturally shaking it, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Which meant digging into some mindset work to pull myself out of this awful funk – using so many lessons I learned in the world of starting a business and my experience dealing with challenges and adversity through a 13-month deployment raising kids solo, working full-time, and feeling oftentimes overwhelmed with life.
MINDSET IS SO IMPORTANT. I repeat, this is so so important for self-help skills critical for battling any funk or challenge in life. And most of the time we aren’t putting in the work to focus on it, because we can’t see the connection between brain power and our day-to-day interactions. But there is a powerful connection and it’s absolutely vital in moments like this. I’ll dig in a bit soon.
After finally starting to feel like myself again, I took some time to reflect and grabbed some important lessons about the best ways to pull yourself out of a funk, and I felt compelled to share with YOU!
Pulling Yourself Out of a Funk
There are many ways you can lift your mood when life’s got you feeling ‘bleh’, but these strategies aren’t just mood boosters, they are funk busters. I like to break these activities into two categories: quick funk busters and long term funk fixes
Quick Funk Busters
Here are a few quick hacks to pull yourself out of a little funk. Just a few easy things you can do to change the trajectory of a bad day fast, so next time you’re feeling ‘off’, give one of these a whirl!
Go On A Walk
Don’t underestimate getting outside and getting some fresh air to clear your mind. It truly can be a quick miracle-worker when life’s got you feeling down. This isn’t a time to train for a marathon, or call a friend. It’s a time to just CLEAR ‘yo brain. That could mean meditating or praying during your quick date with nature. Or maybe it’s listening to a good podcast (totally unrelated to the thoughts or events that have pushed you into a funk). I love putting on one of my favorite playlists and letting my mind just chill out for a bit. Breathe in that fresh air and trust that the universe has your back.
Bring Someone Flowers
Feeling yucky? I guarantee buy a bundle of flowers for a friend, coworker, or family member, you’ll feel better quick. It’s simple really – buy flowers (they don’t have to be expensive or elaborate), and deliver to someone that means something to you. Try it and not feel good. I dare you. Acts of service can be amazing to lift doom-and-gloom veil.
Compose Your ‘Amazing’ List
Society tells us to keep looking forward, to keep getting better, to keep staying busy and crazy. NOPE. That’s where they got it wrong. Next time you’re feeling like you’re in a funk, try taking five minutes to write down all the amazing things you’ve done in your life. Don’t limit yourself, just write freely. Then read it back to yourself – really sit and reflect on all the cool, accomplished, amazing things you’ve done and give yourself a little credit for how amazing you truly are. Positive self talk must be a part of your daily thoughts.
Work Out
Getting in a quick sweat session will get those mood-boosting endorphins up and can lighten your mood quick. Even just a 10 minute session (I have plenty of those you can do anywhere, any time in my membership site, Club Kitchness) will be the perfect way to feel good about your body and kick your booty into positive gear. There’s no quicker way to feel like a superhero then getting your sweat on.
Long-Term Funk Fixes
When you can’t seem to get out of feeling off, here are some ways you can really shift your perspective and start doing things that can truly your life. A few of these tips take a bit more mindset practice, but with the work!
Stop Being Lazy With Your Thoughts
Have you ever stopped to think about how ideas sometimes run freely through our head, without us having to put a ton of brainpower into actually directing those ideas? I speak from experience when I say in times of being in a funk, it’s very easy to let the negative self talk and ‘bummer thoughts’ inundate our perspective.
When life is crappy, it’s not hard to sit back and just let negative thoughts run through our head. What IS hard is purposefully stopping the negative thought patterns and MAKING yourself shift the perspective to positivity or empowerment. That means every time you want to sit in ‘lazy negative thought autopilot’ mode, you force your thoughts to be different. Some new thoughts might be…
- “I will decide how the rest of my day/week/month will go and I decide I’m going to do X to fix this”
- “I know things kind of suck right now, but I also know they will get better. I paint the trajectory of my life and I decide that tomorrow will be better because X”
- “This moment doesn’t define me, and will only make me stronger/smarter/more resilient”
- “I know God has my back and I trust Him”
Do you see how I make myself tell myself that this isn’t ok? You must purposely decide your thought patterns! Do this, and do it often.
Start A Project
Can you think of something that lights you up? A hobby or activity that brings you joy? Start a project doing that ‘thing’ and go all in. It doesn’t have to have a distinct purpose right now, but getting in tune with something that you love doing, can slowly help pull you out of a negative emotion into something that lifts and enlightens you.
It can be anything – crafting, baking, music, organizing, yard work, decorating, whatever. Just get busy!!
Live By A Mission Statement
Who are you?
No but really, what are you all about?
When you start to think of your identity as a mission statement about yourself, it that can be really effective for pulling yourself out of a funk and dare I say, achieving greatness.
For example, part of my mission statement is being resilient. So anytime I’m struggling with a setback in my business, an argument with someone I love, a curveball in life, or a challenging situation, I remind myself of my entire mission statement (reinforcing who I am <–something I decided for myself a long time ago) which is being resilient to the negative stuff in life, knowing I can handle it and I will do what I can control to change it.
What is one trait or perspective you’d like to believe about yourself? Make it a part of your mission statement.
I love this activity and teach it to my members because it’s such a pivotal part of mindset work that makes a massive impact in your life!
Change Something
Things not going your way? Life seems to be the same boring thing every single day? Sounds like it’s time to change it up! When you change habits in your daily patterns, it can trigger lightbulb moments to help pull you out of a funk. The bigger the change, the better.
The last time I was in a business funk, I went to a mastermind meeting with other entrepreneurs.
The last time my kids were really pushing me to the edge, I changed their daily routine and we went to a movie and got fro-yo afterwards (or I got a babysitter for some ‘me’ time!)
The last time I felt bored with life, I called a friend to have a gal’s day date.
Change something to break up the mundane. The pattern interrupt with help tremendously.
It’s Your Problem And Your Solution
Remember, when feeling like you’re in a funk, it can be VERY EASY (and almost natural) to want to blame it on something or someone else. But your life is yours, and your funk is your issue.
Even if a person or situation is causing your funk feelings, it’s really your job to fix your situation. Relying on someone else to do it, or waiting for an event to happen is being lazy and not helping you be resilient for the inevitable next time you experience a set back.
Be self-motivated to try different things (like the ones listed above). Create the path to pull yourself out of a funk. Be the operator of your life.
*personal religious beliefs can still be strongly interwoven in your life, but a mission statement is based on what a person can control in their day to day living
If you’re in a funk, you’re not alone. Tell a friend, ask for support. I believe strongly in the power of community and so grateful to have a group like Club Kitchness – being a facilitator of women who support and uplift each other is simply awesome and so powerful.
Funks don’t have to last longer than they should. So roll up those sleeves and get working to change things and get back to living your best life!
Has this helped you think of getting out of a funk in a totally different way? Share the love with your friends!
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