In A Rut? 15 Ways to Break Out Of A Funk & Care For Your Soul

Fewer things cause me to freak out more than a creative rut. Well, maybe restaurants attached to gas stations and THEN a creative rut, but I digress.

Recently, I hit a MAJOR funk and think I finally figured out why.  I’m a fixer, I hate when things feel unsettled.  I want to get to the bottom of it, find a solution and keep plowing forward.  But sometimes your brain and body just do not get on board with that business.  They want rest and fun and they will get all kinds of defiant until they get some.

After a long stretch of going-going-going, my brain was, in the worlds of my nearly 2 1/2-yr-old nephew, “all done.”  I would sit down to write and would start a paragraph 5x.

I didn’t like a single one of them.

Then, suddenly without warning, all the words would blend together like some kind of psychedelic 1960’s shift dress from the 60’s. Nothing worth hitting publish would materialize.

Have you been there? Are you there right now?

When little things feel overwhelming and life is more “Ugh” than “Ah” or “Ooo,” you friend may have found yourself in a funk.

BUT GOOD NEWS: you’ve got me and I don’t mean to brag, BUT I’m basically an expert at getting out of a funk.

Be. Jealous.

Feeling stuck in funk, creative or otherwise, can make you feel so small, but you’re not alone and you’re NOT going to feel like this forever. Your solution is just a little bit of Soul Care away.

 

Here’s a few things that help me out:

1. Time with the Lord:

Shifting my focus to the Lord, His love, His grandeur, His sovereignty, His Word and His nearness puts everything in perspective quickly. He is the ultimate creative; the end all be all creator of all things.  He is tender with our weakness and at the same time, the spiritual fuel needed to propel us forward. Need some help or direction strengthening that relationship with Him? Check out this post.

And are you on spotify? You can follow our Worship Playlist here. Worship is a powerful tool when it comes to breaking out of a funk.  There’s something soul soothing about singing truth over yourself and over your situation.  Especially if you’re thought life goes dark & negative when you’re in a funk (here are 4 tools to help with that), you need a dose of truth to bring your thoughts back into right alignment.

 

2. Do something thoughtful for someone else:

Nothing will put you in a funk faster than when your world becomes all about you. When you determine to put a smile on the face of someone else today, one just might creep on your own as well 😉

 

3. Upbeat Music:

Sometimes, you’ve just got to go all T-Swift and shake it off, literally.  Music that makes you smile and dance connects you to a younger and free-er version of yourself. So go ahead and crank up your Spotify.  You can check out our workout playlist to get you going.

 

4. Phone a friend:

I have a short list of my people on speed dial when I need a boost.  Whether it’s shifting perspective, making my world larger than me, or just connecting to other people that know when I need encouragement or a little break in the routine.

 

5. Sleep:

Author Dr. Travis Bradberry says you need 7-9 hours to be at your creative best.  That doesn’t come naturally to most creatives, Coffee does-especially in really funny mugs like this, but sleep does not. Learn to actually listen to your body and turn in a little earlier.

 

6. Take a day off that isn’t productive:

Yes, I know how hard this is.  I’m really not good at it, but soul care could be exactly what you need right now. Give yourself permission to put the breaks on.

Do you know what fuels you? Do you remember a time before you were 100% concerned with being productive and caring for the needs of other people that you actually just did something because it made you feel more alive?  Go do that thing.  It might seems silly and non-essential in your big important life, but I promise, if you carve out a little time for you, the people in your life will benefit from it as well 😉

 

7. Get Outside:

Nature! I always feel like I’m returning to a better version of myself after a walk in the park, a run on a trail or being anywhere remotely near water.

 

8. Read non self-help:

Because most likely what you need right now isn’t to be better, it’s to take a break.

 

9. Listen to an interview:

We not only need each other, but we need each other’s stories because they can serve as fuel for our own.  If you’ve never heard our story, you can to listen to it here. I promise it will fuel your soul.

 

10. Do something artistic that ISN’T what you’re stuck on:

If you’re a writer, try painting something. And yes, you KNOW spray paint counts 😉 It doesn’t need to be “good” it just needs to be for you. Try stretching a totally-different- completely-unrelated muscle in your brain and just see if that doesn’t give you a fresh perspective.

 

11. Get dressed in something that makes you feel confident:

I get it. All things baggy and grey sound like your best friend right now, but they are not.

Run from them.

Tuck them away for the next time your get the flu and put on something that puts an extra spring in your step.  Check out our style posts for inspiration. And if your a girl, throw on a little lipstick while you’re at it. A drugstore tube may just brighten your mood #poet

 

12. Get Off Social Media:

I’m a social media fan because I love connecting with people. But when you’re in a funk, you’re less likely to connect and more likely to get caught in the Comparison Trap of mindless scrolling. Take a few to unplug.

 

13. Exercise:

The endorphin’s will boost your brain power and when you accomplish something physically, you feel like you can accomplish something mentally. Here’s a few workouts & some tips to get you started.

 

14. Clean & Organize Something:

Start small, gain control over one area and move on.  Never underestimate the power of organizing your junk drawer. 🙂

 

15. Laugh:

Laughter can completely change our perspective and remind us not to take ourselves quite so seriously. Preacher-Choir. 😉

Spare a minute to watch a fainting goat video or randomly bust out the the Heads up app   at the dinner table.  And if neither one of those do it for you, just let Jessica and her Daily Affirmations once again bring a smile to your face.

And if you’re really feeling Stuck today, check out our free e-book. We know it will help.

 

Being in a funk is never fun, but boss that funk around and don’t let it make you feel small. The highs and low of life are inevitable, but you can control how long you let yourself linger in the lows. 

I hope one of these 15 will be just the thing to help bust you out of your next rut.  What ways have you found work best for you?

Until next time,

Meg

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