5 ways to get out of a slump when you’re not motivated
By Esha Ahmed
Everyone goes through slumps where they feel unmotivated, unproductive and depressed. Slumps are unpredictable and can show up at the most inconvenient times. My slump happened just months before I was scheduled to sit for the IB (International Baccalaureate) exams at a time when I should have started studying. It put me extremely behind in school, and pushing myself to catch up had negative effects on my health. I realized even after I took the exams how bad my situation was and how I could have made things easier on myself.
Even some of the most successful people out there have gone through slumps to get to where they are today. Shonda Rhimes, the adored writer of the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” faced severe writer’s block and dealt with hateful comments from the audience as she wrote the script for the show. She still managed to write out a wonderful script, making sure to include diverse characters while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats through the climatic plot twists.
No one is perfect all the time, life has its ups and downs, but working through everything shows real strength and courage. As my favorite writer Haruki Murakami says, “and once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
Here are some things you can do to help break out of a slump.
Talk and release
Our world teaches us to believe that our low points in life are things we should be ashamed of and avoid discussing with other people. But we are not perfect and there will be fluctuating moments in our lives. It can be helpful to talk about your feelings with loved ones and make a plan with them to help you get back on track.
Talking about it is sometimes easier said than done, but it can be helpful simply knowing that you have support and that you’re not wrestling with your thoughts alone. You are not the only person that has experienced or is experiencing this, which can be comforting to know.
Once you have talked about your situation, remember to let it go and release those thoughts as they leave your mouth. Don’t let them stay in your mind and develop into more negative, unmotivating thoughts. It can be easy to stay attached to your thoughts because you are able to pity yourself for feeling this way. Make room to grow and move forward without these thoughts. This will allow you to avoid a repetitive loop.
Avoid fishing for sympathy
There are a lot of benefits to sharing your feelings with others, but it can be easy to overdo it. People tend to pity themselves when they talk to others and the automatic response is sympathy. If you share with more people, you will keep receiving their pity, which blocks out room for growth and keeps you in your slump. Sympathy is easy to get but can eventually become painful to live with and can harm your well-being. Understanding the balance between sharing for personal benefit and sharing to get sympathy is crucial for your own well-being in order to get out of a slump.
Surround yourself with positivity
When you are feeling unmotivated and depressed, it is important to surround yourself with positivity and clear out the negative thoughts. Going out in nature, listening to music or watching a lighthearted movie are some of the ways you can distract yourself from your thoughts and take in some positive energy.
Positive energy is also in the kind of people you surround yourself with. Connecting with loved ones may be able to shift your mindset completely and help you get out of the slump.
Raise energy levels
When we’re in a slump, we often feel tired and have low energy. Raising your energy levels will help you break out of the slump. The most common way to increase energy levels is to get moving and exercise. This can be any activity of your choice whether that be going to the gym to crank a workout, swimming in the pool, playing a sport with friends or even going out for a walk. Increasing activity levels will increase your energy levels which allows you to feel productive and it can be an effective way to push yourself out of a slump.
On the other hand, inactivity will only sink you deeper. You may need a break for a day or two but then it’s time to get yourself up, make yourself a nice meal and go out for a walk. Aside from exercise, eating nutrient-dense and quality foods chemically improves your brain which also helps you get things done. If working out and eating quality foods is already part of your daily routine before the slump, it will be a lot easier to get back on track and take care of yourself.
Change your routine
Routines, although designed to structure and standardize your life, can be tedious to follow when you are in a slump. The same routine over and over can put you in a rut where you feel like a broken record. Even though routine can be comfortable, it can also make a slump worse. A change in routine can shock your system and help you get back to feeling like yourself.
Try changing your skin care or makeup routine. Wake up earlier or later than you usually do. Take a mental health day from school or work and do something fun. Try out a new restaurant or coffee shop with a friend.
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