View Full Version : Do you ever get into a funk? What do you do to get out of it.
I have a long summer off before I return to work. Typically, at first I'm very busy catching up to things I haven't been able to do. My income is halved, so I can't do much in the way of spending, in fact I have to really put the brakes on extra spending, but I usually engage in cleaning, making things for school next year, watching movies, documentaries, reading books, blogs, organizing, gardening, fixing things, trying to get more exercise. Plus family life has been busy. I live mostly alone, except when dd is here.But right now, absolutely nothing is happening. DD is out of state and although I visit with DIL and GS and visit friends at times, overall things seem very staid. Usually I will slow down. And I kind of get into a funk. It gets hard to be motivated about getting things done. I already have some kind of attention deficit and I can't seem to focus on any one thing. I have 4 unread books that I've started but couldn't get through. The shed organizing has ground to a halt as well as the purging and organizing routine inside the house. Does anyone here ever experience a rut? Do you have anything in particular that helps you get out of it and get going again? Not asking so much for new ideas to do, but what do you do when you start to feel unengaged. It's boredom really. Having a hard time getting into to doing any of the dozens of things I should and could be doing. Even watching movies has become pretty dull and uninteresting. What brings you out of that rut? What gets you focused and energized again?
Exercise. Or really, anything that cranks out endorphins.
I remember seeing a couple of threads on this in the past few months. If you run two searches, one for "exercise meditation" and the other for "funk," you'll find that this happens to everyone.
What I do:
Exercise! Really get the body moving. If you're really in a funk, you might not want to move, but that will likely help more than anything. Just commit to 10 minutes and keep going after that if you are up to it.
Meditation - more for the stress-induced funk in my case. I know it's helpful to do it every day or at least on a regular basis, but - well, I don't.
Something creative.
Create solitary time. Sounds like you have enough of that (too much?).
Lunch with friends! A highlight of my week is a long lunch over which we chat about everything - and solve problems for each other.
Personally I get this way if I don't have a purpose. I need to be mentally active in something or I got nutty after about two weeks. Have you considered joining a committee in your community that works on something you care about? What about volunteer work that engages you both physically and mentally (habitat for humanity for example). Or simply volunteering in an area you are passionate about. (summer library reading program and book clubs for older kids, care-net pregnancy center etc..) Something that will get you working with and helping other people.
Sometimes just plowing into something helps me - by that I mean doing stuff that should get done regardless that I really don't want to do it. Sometimes accomplishment can be motivating. And even if it's not, when life does get more interesting, all these other things are done and don't get in the way.
AmeliaJane
6-30-13, 9:49am
I get like that in the summers--winter is our busy time at work and summer much slower. For the first 2-3 weeks I love having less structure and fewer things to do in my free time, and then I start to get bored. Two things that help me are doing check-off lists (even for fun things) and inventing my own structure. For instance, "Do One Thing Thursdays" (which I have let go for awhile, but want to get back to). Watching old movies feels aimless--working my way through a list of Top 50 Summer Blockbusters is fun.
Sometimes just plowing into something helps me - by that I mean doing stuff that should get done regardless that I really don't want to do it. Sometimes accomplishment can be motivating. And even if it's not, when life does get more interesting, all these other things are done and don't get in the way.
That's true. If I can just make myself, I often will carry on for a while. I've also been committing to riding my bike for errands instead of the car, and making sure to get the dogs I'm babysitting out early in the morning before the heat sets in. I've also taken to using a day calendar to record things I've done and to do later. Of course the friends thing, is well, the friends thing. I was busy with friends and family till this last week and now I am just me. People are out of town,.
Gardenarian
7-1-13, 6:53pm
I write.
I just start free writing and see what comes up.
Maybe organizing the shed is on the top of my to-do list, but I find that I'm writing about how I'd like to go swimming, or that I hate the living room curtains, or wondering why I haven't done any calligraphy in a while. Usually I find that the reason my energy is low is because I'm intent on doing what I think I should be doing, and not what I really want to do. It doesn't have to involve spending money, but sometimes a small treat - a movie matinee, a trip to the thrift store - can be a boost. That shed, sadly, is not going anywhere, and eventually you'll be in the mood to sort it out.
I agree that exercise helps but when you're feeling super lethargic that's exactly what you don't feel like doing. Getting outside is good, if the weather is tolerable - just sitting back in a chaise lounge with a novel and a glass of iced tea can be very therapeutic (for me, anyhow :-)
I find that when I've been with other people all the time it sometimes takes a little while to get back into my own skin.
Personally I get this way if I don't have a purpose. I need to be mentally active in something or I got nutty after about two weeks.
+1
I'm still working--on two self-employment ventures, so I'm not too "funky" lately. But like artist said, if I have downtime for too long, I get bored. However, I don't have to "work" to be engaged.. I'll draw, do a free French lesson, walk the dog, do a yoga class, sit in the back and read a book, weed, meet my son for lunch, clean a closet or work on a home improvement project.
I get like this too--in the summer when I'm off from work and all my friends are away. I get a small notebook and create a schedule for the week and things I'm committing to myself to do each day. What helps me is to actually put a check mark next to each thing as I do it. Maybe something like that might help.
Exercise. Or really, anything that cranks out endorphins.
Chocolate.
Still in a rut. Today was worse as it was my birthday, which I spent alone. I ended up looking through some old photos and letters and felt even worse. It was part of an organizing project in a room, but they made me feel worse. All I can do is try again tomorrow. Today was a loss.
Tussiemussies
7-3-13, 4:48am
Still in a rut. Today was worse as it was my birthday, which I spent alone. I ended up looking through some old photos and letters and felt even worse. It was part of an organizing project in a room, but they made me feel worse. All I can do is try again tomorrow. Today was a loss.
Sorry Tiam that you had to spend your birthday feeling down. Do you think you are depressed? Maybe it wasn't a good idea to think about the past. I don't listen to music or think about the past a lot since it will make me cry and feel old. So I work to block that out.
If you think you are depressed there is a vitamin regimine that my Dr. Put me on. One item Deplin is considered a food-medication so you would need a prescription for that. My meds were wearing off and I went on these vitamins and it has really helped me a lot. If you are interested, I will post the list for you.
Hope you are feeling much better soon....
Blackdog Lin
7-3-13, 7:16am
Happy belated birthday Tiam. Sending wishes that you find your way toward some joy.....
Happy birthday!
Would it help to get out and do something that you would enjoy? Go somewhere, see something, be a tourist in your own town or state? Invite a friend to join you for lunch at home or at your favorite restaurant? Watch a funny movie?
Are you on any medications that may have depression as a side effect? A little over 2 years ago, I went into a pretty serious depression as a result of a sleep medication that I was taking.
Happy birthday, Tiam, and I agree with others - not a good time to look at old photos and dwell on what was.
One other way to look at this is to realize that the uncomfortableness is telling you that something needs to change in your life. Let your mind wander and try on some scenarios that you could see being a better fit for you - whether it's job, relationship, where you live, whatever. Doesn't hurt to daydream and consider all the possibilities.
Gardenarian
7-4-13, 1:05pm
Happy Birthday Tiam!
Although birthdays are supposed to be a time for cheer, sometimes they can really drag you down. Do you think your birthday has anything to do with your feeling in a rut?
Another thought: do you have a master list (of stuff you want to get done?) I find that just going over my list and checking off the things that I have accomplished, or that no longer matter, starts me up. I usually find something on the list that I'm actually interested in doing.
I start a project at home. Nothing cheers me up like painting and deep cleaning a room. I have also been in a funk for months and plan on working on a bedroom in about 2 wks when I take some vacation days.
I use a Philips blu light year round; it doesn't totally solve what you're talking about (I too have attn. deficit) but mostly. It's very small.
Gardenarian
7-9-13, 12:32pm
Hi Tiam! Hope you're feeling better!
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