Hi, babes! One of the things I’ve promised to always be with y’all is authentic and that’s exactly what I’m going to continue doing here today. For the most part I’m a super positive person and can easily see the bright side. But the last two days I’ve been in quite a funk. I don’t feel creative, I haven’t had a desire to write, I haven’t felt motivated to work, and I’ve just felt kind of blah. Because I’m typically positive and high energy, I think it’s throwing my family off.
On our walk on Monday night Trav asked me why I was in a funk. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure how to answer when he asked that. I had no idea why I was in a funky mood. After thinking about it a bit, I think this whole work-from-home, shelter-in-place, be a mom-teacher-influencer-friend, etc. is just wearing on me. And when I really break it down even further, I think what’s really wearing on me is not being able to be with other people.
One of the main ways I feel energized is by being around others. Being with people fills my bucket. It gives me energy and puts me in the best mood. While some people require time alone to feel rejuvenated, I need people. And I haven’t had that in so long. It’s wearing on me.
I let myself sit in my funk on Monday (I like to really feel my feelings sometimes), but by Tuesday I was ready to snap out of it. I sat down to write out some ways I could be proactive and get out of my funk, and I came up with some things that usually do the trick! I’ve listed out some suggestions below, but if there’s something you do that helps, drop me a line in the comments!
6 ways to get out of a funk:
- QUIET TIME ALONE – spending time alone can take on many different forms depending on what resonates with you. Some forms of quiet that help me get out of a funk are meditating, spending time in the word, or journaling. I’ve also found that something as simple as a bath can help quiet your mind.
- DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE – this is a tip from a friend and it most definitely works. Anytime you feel stuck or down or in a funk, shift your attention off of yourself and onto someone else. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but can be something as simple as writing a friend a note, baking bread for someone, or helping out your neighbor with a chore.
- GET OUTSIDE – nature has always been where I feel most alive and closest to God, so for me, getting outdoors is always a great way to clear my head. But, there’s also some scientific proof to why getting outdoors can help you get out of a funk. Sunlight releases a hormone in your body called serotonin which can boost your mood!
- STEP AWAY – from whatever it is that you are stuck on. Instead of fixating on the thing you are in a funk about, take a break from it both physically and mentally. For me I’ve been in a writing funk so instead of forcing myself to write when I don’t feel creative, I gave myself permission to step back from my blog for a few days. To not write and to shift my focus elsewhere so I can come back with better and more valuable content for you all!
- SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY – by doing something you don’t normally do! Read something out of your normal genre, paint something, write in your journal, etc. Sometimes simply shifting your focus and creativity onto something else can end up sparking your creativity where you want it.
- GIVE YOURSELF GRACE – one of the hardest things to do and also one of the best things to do is to give yourself grace. I tend to beat myself up when I get in a funk – whether I’m frustrated that I’m in a funk or frustrated that I can’t pull out of it faster. What I’m learning though is that it’s okay. I can give myself permission to feel all the feels and then rest in that for a bit. I love this quote from Glennon Doyle regarding being in a funk: “I have not written a word during quarantine. Just a reminder to worried artists – there are times for creating and times for becoming the person who will create the next thing. For many of us, this is a becoming time. Rest and become.“
