5 Ways to Stay Sharp in a Slump
Feeling like Dorothy in a tornado of monotony?
In the whirlwind of our day-to-day routine, it’s easy to get lost in what my husband Jerry and I refer to as “white noise.” Wake up, get dressed, get baby dressed, daycare, work, come home, rinse, and repeat. We both consider ourselves creative people with our own varying hobbies that keep us sharp. I love reading, yoga, and attempting to sew; Jerry is a true athlete. He enjoys everything sports, fitness, and home improvement projects.
After another monotonous Saturday of household chores, we started to discuss ways to get out of our slump and get back into activities we love. Jerry and I noticed is that we sacrifice activities we enjoy separately first as a result of our daily routine. These feelings of being trapped in a loop slow started to trickle down to other aspects of our lives. It created frustration and tension in our relationship. For me personally, I started to feel withdrawn from my surroundings. I stopped dressing up and rocked the same messy bun for days. Jerry stopped being active, spending hours on the couch watching nothing of substance. It was official, we were in a slump, and we had to fix it before we imploded or worse…..this became our new normal.
So before our bodies permanently fused with the couch, we decided to make some simple but active changes to our daily routine. Once we enacted these 5 simple strategies, we got back to our normal selves and felt energized.
Here’s our shortlist of ways to stay sharp in a slump.
Read at least one viable news source daily.
One of the first signs that you’re in a slump; you have no clue what’s going on around you. I’m a pro at keeping up with celebrity gossip and whatever is popular on social media, but I had no clue what was going on as far as actual world news. This contributed to my feelings of being stuck in a loop; the days started to blend because, in my mind, nothing was changing; outside of J-Lo and Ben Affleck hanging out again.
Regardless of your political leanings, you should try and pick one to two credible news sources to subscribe to. Set up your notifications to get daily emails or notifications to your phone. I completely understand that staying aware of current events can be emotionally draining, especially with the media's obsession with doom and gloom. By staying in tune with current events, you minimize the feelings of being uninformed. By staying informed, you avoid falling into the loop of monotony to the point you eventually don’t even know what day it is. Keep your mental health in check here; make sure you read articles on various topics that interest you and include your local news in the daily cycle. Staying up on current events can also boost creativity and give you ideas, especially if a slump has led to a block in new ideas.
Give yourself one day.
This one is tough because it can easily spiral out of control; trust me, I’m right here with you, friend, but give yourself one day of the week to decompress completely. I’m serious; laundry can wait, maybe splurge on takeout and skip dinner (and dishes), finish that book. Unplug from the daily cycle of completing tasks. The break from routine resets your brain and brings a sense of accomplishment when you return to getting work done with a refreshed take. You may be thinking there is no way you can take 24 hours from anything. I’m here to tell you, you certainly can, and your body and mind will thank you for it.
Please write it down.
It gets crowded in there! You're obviously intelligent, or you wouldn’t be here reading this article; you have a pile of work, your freelance projects are coming due, you need to study for the bar (help me), got a small business idea? Especially for the more creative breed, your brain is constantly buzzing. Often, this can lead us to distract ourselves in ways that are legal and sometimes illegal. Instead of mindlessly self-soothing or, even worse, avoiding, take the time to tackle what’s in your brain and get it out. Set yourself a 15-minute timer and write everything that comes up in your mind. As thoughts come to mind, acknowledge them, jot down how you feel, then let it go. It doesn’t have to be perfect or make sense, but the act of actively putting them on paper frees up your mind to better focus.
Make Your To-Do List
Let’s be practical here; we still need to maintain a little bit of control, make that to-do list. Then cut it in half! Literally, take scissors and chop your list in half. Instinctually we put the most important tasks to complete at the very top of our list. Usually, after the first 5 tasks, the rest of your list is composed of junk that’s optional or has far off deadlines that are not imperative to your current work goals. The extra-long to-do list may seem ambitious and motivating.
“Yeah, I’m going to be super productive and finish my whole list!”
But in reality, your creating unnecessary anxiety for yourself. Inevitably you will hit that small wall at work, or inspirational block will come, and you’ll be sitting there with a half-completed to-do list feeling defeated. Chunking your list into more realistic expectations and completing a shorter to-do list gives you the motivation to keep working. You’re getting things accomplished, you’re not overwhelmed, and that sense of accomplishment release endorphins into your brain to make you feel a sense of accomplishment and completion.
Move your body!
Remember how I told you we were starting to fuse to the couch? It’s a cliche, I know, but this is probably the most vital step of all. We already know that exercise is not only essential for maintaining your body; it’s essential for maintaining your mind. Increasing blood flow and releasing endorphins into your body and brain keep you sharp and keeps your mind from getting foggy.
It’s easy to get stuck in the rut of your daily routine. Making a few minute changes to keep your mind sharp will improve your mood, mental state, and ultimately your life.
Exhale stress, inhale love. Namaste friends.
