Getting out of the slump
I'm in deep, send help!
I’m 36 weeks pregnant as I write this. My to-do list is as long as my arm. And I can’t summon the will to care.
Today, I ate, I napped, and I guess I grew a baby. That’s it. Everything else got thrown into the procrastination pile where it’ll likely rot until a pressing deadline means I can’t ignore it any longer.
I’ve been putting off writing this newsletter for days as I’ve had zero motivation. Zero inspiration. Zero energy. I’m hanging out in the slump.
What’s the slump?
The slump is probably different for everyone, but for me it’s:
Scrolling social media despite the fact I know it makes me feel worse
Starting work and getting distracted a few minutes in
Staring into the void
Boredom eating
Feeling sore (my back is killing me) but not doing anything about it
And the worst part is knowing that you’ll feel better if you can do something, but then… still not doing it.
How to get out of the slump
Here are some ideas for getting out of ‘slumpy mode’ and into ‘doing something’ mode that I’m going to try… starting tomorrow.
Morning pages (don’t actually need to be done in the morning) - this method of spilling your unfiltered thoughts onto 3 notebook pages comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. One time I described it to a friend as feeling like I was wringing my brain out like a sponge.
Draw a tarot card - sometimes the tarot deck tells me something I need to know, or already knew but need a reminder of. I did a reading at the start of the astrological year, and this month’s card is all about patience, calm, compassion.
Cold shower - much easier here in tropical French Polynesia than in cold, wintery Melbourne, I’ll grant you that.
Take a nap - this one can be tricky, because you’ll either wake up refreshed or feeling like a zombie. There is no in-between.
Pomodoro method - set a 25 minute timer, pick a task, do not stop until the timer goes off. 5 minute break and repeat.
Do some stretching - I feel like I’m carrying around a beach ball filled with lead, and my back and hips are not coping. I know I need to do more stretching and it feels so good afterwards… why’s it so hard to start?
Do something crafty - tactile arts and crafts are a nice way to reconnect when feeling a bit crap. I spent a lot of time knitting and crocheting during the pandemic.
Call up a friend or family member - sometimes the endless social media scrolling is me not realising that I need some socialising. A call to a friend or a family member can give me that little bump in spirits I need to get off my bum and do something.
Tidy or clean something - an easily achievable task (hooray! I made the bed!) can sometimes snowball into getting more things done. However this one’s risky if you lose the will to continue halfway through. More than once I’ve sat in my room surrounded by the stuff that I’ve pulled from the wardrobe having lost the motivation to continue decluttering.
Cook something while listening to some cheesy Italian music - if all else fails, I just retreat to the kitchen and make myself something tasty while listening to Louis Prima.
What are your top tips for getting out of a slump? I love what my sister-in-law did - made herself an anti-procrastination mug!
If you liked this post, try reading…
Making art versus making noise
I’m thinking these days about the modern art practice, and how so much of it has become a performance piece for social media.
trying to think of some wise words - but as your nana says ' this too shall pass' and when it does you will have a beautiful new bebe
Be safe and well my darling girl
I’m reading “Let Them” by Mel Robbins. The intro explains her 5 second rule (also a book) and one of the most watched Tedx. Maybe it’s worth a look? Meantime, enjoy your slump—you’re growing a new baby!