Have you ever had a day when you can’t get motivated? Things feel a bit off, and you can’t seem to focus. Maybe you simply couldn’t rally to get anything done and had an utter lack of motivation. So, what’s the trick to breaking out of a slump? 

Before we dive in, let me start with my definition of a slump. A slump is a lack of determination or “oomph,” a time of sadness, a dark place. We’ve all experienced slumps at different points in our lives. If we’re not proactive in addressing them, they could continue and lead to much more significant obstacles.  

My mood dips certainly seem to come more often these days. The isolation mandates have made it tough on everyone. When you add that to losing a business that I loved and attempting to manage my new body, I’ve spent quite a bit of time feeling sad over the past several months. 

When I feel this way, I don’t want to linger in sadness. I want to take action to feel better quickly. Therefore, I’ve come up with a few ways to keep myself going. They may not pull me entirely out of the slump, but they at least get me moving in the right direction.

These techniques may also help you. You don’t have to do everything in one day. See what comes naturally and work your way through them.

Acknowledge and Accept the Slump

A slump is no different than any other obstacle in life. It helps when we don’t deny it exists. Admitting when we feel low and acknowledging the existence of the problem will help us overcome it. 

We should feel free to allow ourselves to explore our emotions. But we shouldn’t linger there for long.  

It’s like my mom used to say when she put me in my room when I was little. “You can come out, but your crying has to stay.” It was her way of allowing me to work through my emotions, accept the facts, and move past the situation. 

Awareness

Stopping to consider what put us in the slump can be useful, as well. Have we been drinking enough water? How are we sleeping? Are there unhealthy relationships we need to address? 

Once we’ve discovered what put us in the slump, we’ll have a better opportunity to pull ourselves out of it. 

Think Small

Often, our slumps happen when we set high expectations for ourselves, and we’re not reaching our goals as quickly as we think we should. 

Setting small, bite-sized tasks will help us move toward our ultimate goal and make us feel more successful. 

Get to Work

Make a list of things to do to feel productive. It can be things like cleaning a room, cooking dinner, or answering emails. Productivity tends to lead to more productivity.

Get busy doing something. 

Exercise

You know I couldn’t get through a self-care blog without bringing this one into the conversation. I honestly believe movement is one of the best things we can do for mental stability. 

When we’re inactive, our bodies don’t require a lot of energy. Low energy levels lead our brains to think we’re tired and need more rest. In reality, we need to move.

Whether we do a full workout or simply walk around the block, the energy created by movement helps our bodies feel better, and our brains become invigorated and ready to take on other things.

Put Down the Junk

Foods full of sugar, fat, and sodium may make us feel happy when eating them, but that feeling won’t last. Study after study shows that eating junk food increases the risk of depression. Plus, we feel more impatient, and we’re more likely to spend money unnecessarily. 

Focusing on eating healthy foods like vegetables and protein and drinking plenty of water will ultimately lead to better overall health, including mental.

What better way to help pull ourselves out of a slump than treating our bodies well? 

Get Off Social Media

Freeing ourselves from the burden and commitment of social media will help us clear our minds. Committing to at least a few hours away can change our moods for the better. 

Remember, social media is where we try to make ourselves look good even when we’re struggling. The things we read and see on those outlets aren’t always the true reflection of what’s happening in others’ lives.  

Let’s not get hung up focusing our attention there. We should read, watch, and listen to things that will uplift us, not depress us more.

Talk About It

We should never feel ashamed for being in a dark place. It happens to everyone. Thinking there’s no one else who could truly understand is a lie.

When we find someone we trust and can completely open up to, we begin to realize we’re not alone. 

Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage. – Brené Brown

Focus on Others

Taking the focus off ourselves and placing it on others is a great way to improve our moods. Plus, we may be helping someone else get out of their slump. 

Pray and Meditate

Although I put this last on this list, prayer and meditation are two of the most important things we can do to get out of the dumps.

Talking it over with God and expressing our gratitude to Him for what he has given us will help us find our center and get back on track.

When we meditate on the positive things we are blessed with and give praise for the good in our lives, our slump will become less noticeable. We may even find ourselves forgetting all about it. 

Start Now

Everything on this list has made me feel increasingly better. These actions help reduce my stress and feel more like myself again, but they may not all work for you. 

Take some time to find ways to pick yourself up and get back to living the full life intended for you. 

You can start small. The whole point is just to do something. Something that will make you feel better.

Dive Deeper

When you’re ready to dive deeper, I can help.

Committing to a healthier lifestyle is a big decision. It takes dedication and determination. But believe me when I tell you it will be worth it.

As your Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Coach, my commitment is to provide accountability, understanding, and support while accomplishing life changes. 

Let’s talk! Book your FREE Strategy Session to discuss whatever is on your mind. I’ll also share my initial thoughts and coaching approach, and recommendations for the next steps. 

I’m looking forward to getting to know you!