I don’t know if it’s the Winter Blues or Mercury Retrograde or just a lack of sunshine, but these last few days I have been feeling STUCK. Drained, exhausted, blah, wanting to go right back to bed as soon as I wake up kinda stuck. Like you’re walking through thick mud. I hate feeing this way. Don’t you? Here are my tried and true ways of getting yourself out of the funk.
Look Within
Being stuck is usually a symptom of something greater. The first thing we tend to do when we are feeling stuck is start blaming our outside circumstances. I’m totally guilty of this. I’ve been an absolute beast to my boyfriend this past week, blaming him for everything. But guess what? It’s not about your circumstances or about the people in your life. Being stuck is about you! Often times being stuck is based in fear or the need for control. Ask yourself what you are afraid of? What are you trying to control? Where do you feel out of control? Embrace this process, what can you learn from your situation? Many times we will try anything just to feel better and end up feeling like we are hitting a brick wall repeatedly. Ouch. Slow down, learn what you need to learn, these feelings will pass.
This is a Catalyst for Change
Many times when we are feeling stuck, this is the moment right before the magic happens. We see it as an obstacle, but it is a necessary part of the change process. We tend to do the most growing during trying times in our lives, not during the easy, smooth sailing times. For me, I realized that I have been stressing about my career and where I see myself headed. My stress and anxiety lead me to many epiphany moments these last few days. Moments I may not have had if I tried to bulldoze through this phase. This funk has actually pushed me to find more clarity as far as where I am going and how to go about it in a way that stays true to myself.
Get Moving
Endorphins do a body good. Get your booty moving. Whether it’s a walk around the block or a solo dance party in your living room, moving your body will get all of that stuck energy moving. It will also give you a creative boost and make you feel better.
Nourish Your Body
I don’t know about you, but when I’m feeling stuck I feel spacey and flighty. I know in order to get myself back to normal it’s time to get grounded. Food is full of energy. If you haven’t figured it out already, what you eat really does matter. To feel more grounded eat warm comfort foods that are going to leave you full and satisfied. My favorites are soups or stews made from root veggies such as sweet potatoes, beets, carrots and parsnips. They have a way of calming the storm.
Grab a Friend
This is not usually a time to go at it alone. Although alone time is important, wallowing in your blah state is not. Reaching out to others can be exactly what you need to get out of your funk. Sometimes we need a venting partner or someone who is just going to listen. Other times we need a serious dose of good hard truth. Determine what type of friend you need in your particular situation and give them a call.
Remember this too shall pass. You won’t be feeling this way forever and hopefully these tips help the process run more smoothly.
What helps you when you’re feeling stuck?
Well I think your ideas are all good ones – slow down, reflect, move, nourish and share with a friend. Pretty good set for anyone I reckon. I’m pretty keen on the actual actions we take and one way I think about that is to reflect on verbs – doing words – pick one and explore it – I’ve written about a few on my heroesnotzombies.com blog – just search “a to z of becoming” when you’re there.
Oh, and one other thing you didn’t mention but you clearly do, and is great to do, is WRITE about it!
Thanks for sharing!
Bob
Thanks for reading Bob. What a great idea to reflect on verbs. I bet that could produce a lot of insight. Might have to try that one.
Getting exercise in is crucial for me when I’m in my “blah” state. Running, swimming, yoga or hiking… anything to clear my head, get my heart pumping and remind me of the miracle of breath & life. I see a huge change in perspective after sweating out the toxins (mental & physical!) Nice post!
Thanks for stopping by Leslie. I agree, sometimes the best way to clear my head is to sweat it out.
This was exactly what I needed to read right now! I have been feeling so stuck, and I was definitely in the rut of looking externally for the cause of my unhappiness. Thank you for the wonderful reminders for self-care. 🙂
Thanks Kathleen. Self-care is so important. Unfortunately, it often seems to make it to the bottom of my to-do list. I know if I can prioritize it though, I always feel so much more relaxed and balanced.