Surely, we all want to know the secret to getting out of a funk. But it’s no secret!
The good news is right here in this blog post. And it’s called taking firm, purposeful action against the funk so you return to your normal self pronto.
Okay, let me explain further, if you will.
Ready To Get Out Of A Funk?
The first step in tackling any challenge/bad mood/funk is to decide to tackle it rather than sweeping it under the carpet (which is what a lot of people do.)
Here’s an example.
For me, today’s just been one of those days where a bad mood’s taken over everything. Y’know those days?
Where everything seems like it’s just crashing down around you, and you have no idea what to do next. There’s a chronic lack of motivation and present-moment awareness, and the hours drag by without end.
Evil, negative thoughts take control, and even the cutest picture of a puppy or baby couldn’t bring on a smile.
Yet you plough on and hope for the best, knowing tomorrow’s a new day. A fresh start.
The Three Questions You Need
Rather than wallowing in my own self-made misery, I took on a different approach. One of the most frustrating things I find is people staying stuck when there are limitless ways to get out of whatever it is they’re stuck in. Ok, perhaps only one or two ways to get out of sticky mud, but you get the drift.
So, back to my bad funk this morning.
After a pep talk or two later in front of the mirror, I took a few deep breath (one of the best ways to reset a bad day) and did some ‘self investigation’ work.
I asked myself these three questions: AKA an instant shake-up for my negative emotions…
- What’s actually wrong?
- Why am I feeling like this?
- How do I want to feel instead?
Amazing what happens when you check in with yourself and catch yourself out, eh?
The truth is, I found out through answering these questions that there’s nothing wrong with me today.
I’m just being a grump! What more could I want? I want nothing more. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
To answer the second and third questions – I’ve no idea why I’m feeling so down and grumpy, but I darn well know how I wanted to feel.
So, I got to work, encouraging myself to feel better by doing some things I love, such as listening to my favorite songs, reading a good book, or writing a bucket list for myself (there goes the writer in me, haha)
I make it sound easy, I know, but the truth is, nothing easy is ever worth it.
And here’s the first thing you need to know. I didn’t ‘spring back to normal’ straight away after answering these questions.
This is where most of us get it wrong. Expecting instant results.
In fact, it’s taken most of the day and a nice walk in the fields to burn off my bad mood.
So, what am I getting at here?
Human Beings Indeed
Our days turn into being sh*tty because of how we feel. Sometimes, there’s no explanation for how we feel on any given day.
And yet, other times, there’s a valid reason for feeling sh*tty. Such as…
– We’ve had a hard time with someone
– We’re under a lot of pressure
– We’ve had a bad night’s sleep
– We’re hungry
– Being pulled in different directions
– Zero physical activity so our bodies become stagnant
– Not feeling well and our immune system takes a beating
But… and it’s a BIG BUT!
We don’t have to stay miserable. Never! Even if we suffer from clinical depression or any form of mental illness, we can still help ourselves feel better rather than become victims of our own thoughts.
We can always choose to stay in the funk or get out of it. Regardless of whatever dark place we’re in, we always have a choice.
So what will we choose? Will we stay as we are or do something about it? The answer is yours.
Now, if you decide you want to do something about that funk, first ask yourself those three questions.
See how you get on and try out getting straight with yourself.
If they don’t work, read on. I’ll offer my best advice to help further.
The important thing to always drill in is it’ll take a while to feel better, and that’s normal.
Stick with it.
You’re not a machine. You’re a human being.
The body always takes a while to catch up with the mind. Our minds can switch thoughts pretty sharpish when we ask it to, by talking to ourselves in a certain way.
But what’s CRUCIAL here is the choice and making the choice.
You won’t feel any different straight away, like I said, you need to wait for your feelings to catch up and they will!
By answering those questions, you’re getting intentional with how you want to feel, and that puts you in the driver’s seat for creating the feelings you actually want.
So give it a go.
It really is one of the best ways to get out of a funk. What have you got to lose? See how you get on.
Moving In The Right Direction
Below are my top habits that get me out of a funk sharpish. Like, in minutes. I know. I’m no machine, but… well, maybe I am. Who knows!
Clean Space
A surefire way to regulate your emotional state and get out of a funk is to get outside and breathe fresh air.
This is often the first thing I do to boost a low mood.
A brisk walk or run and some deep breaths are a great way to boost serotonin levels and literally shift your brain into a more positive state.
Get your heart pumping by getting active outdoors, or if it’s raining, switch on an exercise video and do a workout in the living room.
Another perfect way to put you back in a good mood is to play your favorite song or have a dance party in the kitchen.
Any form of moving your body a little bit to get blood flowing will make a huge difference to kicking that big funk in the ass.
You’ll quickly be cheering on a bright hello to a good day!
Attitude Of Gratitude
Good days come from choosing to be grateful for what is – NOT focusing on what you want or striving to achieve more and more. I’m talking about spending time in that zone of gratitude. From the warm cup of coffee in your hands to the feeling of being beside that special person in your life.
What I often do to end the day is write down a gratitude list. This can be your list of things that make you smile, make you happy, or for which you’re thankful for no apparent reason other than they make you feel good.
It genuinely could be a Netflix binge or, at last, ditching that toxic person in your life who makes you want to drag your nails down a blackboard.
Gratitude brings us closer to deep, meaningful connections, even if those things are the warm room we sleep in, the table we eat from, the air we breathe, or the clothes we have on our bodies.
There is always something to be grateful for, no matter what major life events we’re going through.
By spending 15 minutes writing down everything you’re grateful for, I guarantee you’ll get out of that funk and be ready to hit your day running.
Adding a gratitude practice to your daily routine should also help minimize low moods. Gratitude is the foundation of several meditation apps and professional mental health treatments such as ACT. And if you add the three questions along with a form of exercise daily, you’ll be feeling so much brighter within days, truly.
Baby Steps
Ultimately, we’re all different, and you reading this post right now might be thinking, “That’s all well and good for you to say this stuff, but my life is somewhat harder than yours.”
I get that – perspective is everything.
All I’ll say is that you know yourself best, and, well, most of us are chronically lacking emotional support. So be kind to yourself, first and foremost.
With that – these foundational truths (aka habits) are the backbone of a happier mind:
– Having a sense of purpose
– Regular exercise
– Healthy diet
– Talking to a real person
– Taking time away from social media
Summary
I hope this post inspires you to move toward good times. For more reads like this one, click here.
Leave a Reply