Sometimes life is traveling along quite nicely, then – BANG – for
some reason you fall into a slump. You know the signs: low energy, lack
of motivation, a don’t-give-a-f attitude and maybe even depression. What
is harder to know, however, is how to pull yourself out of such a
slump.
Of course one option is to roll with it and hope it wears off. A
better option, however, is to implement some strategies that will boost
your mood and hopefully get you back on track. I am all too familiar
with such slumps, so I would like to share with you the following 5
strategies that I have personally found to be most effective in
counteracting them:
1. Ditch the Routine
I enjoy my daily routine, but every so often I need to throw it out
the window for the sake of my sanity. Instead of waking at my normal
time of 5am, I will turn off my alarm and wake up at my leisure. Or, I
might leave my ipod at home and just enjoy the sounds of everyday life
as I travel to and from work. Sometimes I even find that acts that are
seemingly against best practice – eg getting drunk, eating greasy
takeout or lying on the couch watching mindless television – are for
some reason psychologically beneficial.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a fantastic way to get out of a slump. It is well known
that exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, leaving you happier
and more relaxed than before your worked out. And by making you look and
feel better, exercise will also help increase your confidence and
improve your self-esteem.
3. Do a Good Deed
I always find that doing a good deed for someone else is a win-win
act because, apart from helping that person, I am left feeling better
about myself. The good deed could be for someone you know – your
partner, a friend or a family member. Or, you may choose to volunteer
for a good cause and/ or donate to charity. Personally I find that
volunteering to help the underprivileged is an especially good way to
regain some perspective on life and realize things aren’t so bad after
all.
4. Clear Your Mind From Clutter
Mental clutter is a major cause of falling into a rut. Over time all
those things that keep getting pushed back – your taxes, replying to an
email, servicing the car – can build up and cause you stress, both
consciously and unconsciously. You don’t need to necessary do all
these tasks to clear your mind. The key is to get them out of your head
by writing them down, and then specifying the next action that is
required to either complete the task or move it forwards.
5. Completely Change Direction
Sometimes a slump can be brought on by stress related to one
particular project or task. These can hijack your thoughts, making it
seemingly impossible to think about anything else. When this happens to
me, I find it is best to put the task or project aside for a few hours,
or even a few days, and do something completely different. It amazing
how returning with a new, fresh mindset will allow me to get done in 1-2
hours what may have otherwise taken a whole day if I had continued to
struggle along.
Any tips for getting out of a slump? Please share them in the comments below….
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