How to Get Out of a Funk: 5 Simple Things That Actually Help
Keep reading this post to learn:
Why trying to "snap out of it" usually doesn't work
The five simple habits I use whenever I'm in a funk
How to move through a hard season with more compassion and less pressure
If we’re honest, we all end up in a funk from time to time.
Maybe you're in one right now. Maybe you're just coming out of one. Or maybe life is actually going great (love that for you 😂), but eventually you'll find yourself in one because...that's just part of being human.
The thing about a funk is that it doesn't always have a big, dramatic cause.
Sometimes, you just feel off 🤷♀️
You're less motivated than usual.
Your routines have fallen apart.
Your to-do list suddenly feels impossible.
Even the things you normally enjoy don't sound all that exciting.
If you've ever found yourself wondering, "How in the heck do I get out of this?" bestie, you're in the right place.
Today, I'm sharing the five things I do whenever life feels a little heavy, foggy, or just... blah.
Step 01: Let Yourself FEEL Your Feelings
I know this probably isn't the step you were hoping for 😂
But, as recovering hustle culture girlies, our first instinct is usually to fix everything as quickly as possible.
We tell ourselves we shouldn't feel this way.
We try to stay busy.
We force ourselves to be productive.
But honestly? Fighting your feelings usually makes them stick around longer 😅
Instead, give yourself permission to wallow...for a little while.
Notice I said for a little while.
I'm talking about creating a container for your feelings, not moving in with them.
Maybe that's 20 minutes.
Maybe it's an afternoon.
Maybe it's a full day.
Cry. Journal. Watch Gilmore Girls (especially this one). Eat ice cream.
Then, when your time is up, we're getting back up together.
Step 02: Go Do Something You Love
And yes...I said go!!!
I don't want you sitting in the same spot you've been sitting in all day.
Change your scenery.
Go grab coffee.
Walk around your favorite bookstore.
Visit the farmers’ market.
Read a book outside.
Meet a friend for a mocktail.
Whatever it is, choose something that's simply enjoyable!
Side note: This thing isn’t productive, for work, or for someone else.
It has to be something that reminds you you're a whole person outside of your responsibilities. Got it?!
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Step 03: Move Your Body
You had to know this one was coming 😌
Movement has been part of the Hustle Sanely 5™ from the beginning for a reason.
It helps us reconnect with ourselves, and it gets us out of our heads and back into our bodies.
And no, you don't have to do an intense workout!
Go for a walk.
Dance around your kitchen.
Take a yoga class.
Lift weights.
Stretch for 15 minutes.
The goal isn't burning calories! It’s to remind your body that it's okay to move forward 🫶
Step 04: Spend Time With People
One of the sneakiest things about being in a funk is that it makes us want to isolate.
Trust me, I get it 🫣
I'm an introverted homebody through and through.
But I've also learned that community is one of the greatest gifts we've been given!
Text a friend.
Call your sister.
Invite someone to grab coffee.
Go to church.
Take a workout class.
You don't have to have a deep conversation if you don't want to.
Sometimes, simply being around people who love you is enough to remind you that you're not alone.
Step 05: Do a Guided Brain Dump
This is where we get curious and clear, bestie.
Instead of trying to immediately fix the funk, let's figure out what's underneath it.
Grab your journal and ask yourself:
☁️ When did I start feeling this way?
☁️ What feels heavy or unresolved right now?
☁️ Is there anything I've been neglecting that I know helps me feel like myself?
☁️ What do I actually need in this season?
☁️ What's one small thing I can do in the next 24 hours to care for myself?
Please know that you don't have to solve everything today. Simply putting words to what you're feeling takes away so much of the fog andn allows you to see things a bit more clearly.
Remember: Funks Are Temporary!
If you're in a funk today, I hope you hear this:
You are not lazy!
You are not failing!
You are not "behind!”
You're simply having a human experience!
Meet yourself with compassion 🫂
Take one small step. Then another.
Before you know it, you'll look back and realize the fog has started to lift.
One peaceful step at a time 🤍
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