12 Ways to Pull Yourself Out of a Funk

Happy Friday, everyone! Except that… I’m not feeling very happy today. I’m not unhappy, I’m just… discontent. In a funk. I’m fine and it will pass, but… I just wanted to have share these feelings that I’m living with today, because we all get them. What was it for me? I read some news articles at the beginning of the week that left me feeling pretty down. I think it’s so common these days. We’re exposed to so much heartache–even things that, before the age of the internet–we wouldn’t have encountered. And then there are those stories that just hit you hard. I read one of those this week, then read another one that shattered my heart even more, and now I’m just scanning headlines so I know what’s happening in the world until I recover. That, combined with a few other things and ended with an encounter that started my day yesterday and left me frustrated and even more exhausted than I already felt, has left me in a funk. The “I don’t want to see or talk to anyone” kinda funk. If you need further proof of the funk, it’s currently noon on Friday and I have yet to open the blinds, much to Mina’s chagrin. She would love to bark at whoever is walking by the house that she can’t see but she just knows deep down is there, whether they actually are or not.

Since I’m in a funk, I thought I would reschedule the post I had initially planned to share today and instead share a few ways to pull yourself out a funk. If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know that I believe in feeling all the feels, even the negative ones. But I also believe if you’re not feeling positive about things, you need be aware of how long they last and pull yourself out of them before they drag you down. Sometimes it takes a little bit of work.

So, here are 12 ways to pull yourself out of a funk.

1 // Savor a comforting ritual. Make a cup of coffee or tea and sit with it for awhile, instead of rushing out the door with your travel mug. Is there a breakfast that you love, but don’t enjoy every day? Take the time to make it and enjoy it. Don’t have time? If you have a few extra minutes, stop at a coffee shop and pick up your fave fancy coffee drink.

[Tweet “If you’re in a funk, take time to savor a comforting a ritual.”]

2 // If you stop at a coffeeshop, pay for the person behind you! I did this back in December and it definitely lifted my mood. If you want to control how much you spend on the person behind you, put it on a gift card that you can hand over to the cashier. The cool thing is, if the person behind you doesn’t use up the full amount, it continues until it runs out!

3 // Pet a dog. Studies have shown that petting dogs releases feel-good hormones and can lower stress and blood pressure. We have comfort dogs for a reason.

4 // Speaking of comfort of dogs or animals, sometimes doing a little something for someone else can make your day. Do you know of an organization that sends out comfort dogs–or other animals–to people who need them? There are so many great organizations that provide comfort animals–or even assistance dogs to one person. I personally follow many of the LCC Comfort Dogs on Faceboook and I know someone who has greatly benefited from a dog from Helping Paws. Even the smallest donation is appreciated and you can help provide someone with the comfort you receive if you’re a pet owner.

5 // Read a book. Getting lost in a new world can pull you out of your own and take away some of that stress. That’s one of the magical powers fiction has.

6 // Schedule in time for one of your favorite hobbies. I haven’t painted for a long time, but it’s something that always relaxes me when I just let go and let the paint spread across the page. I’m going to schedule in time for painting this weekend.

7 // Remove one of your stressors from your life. If it’s Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, don’t open the apps. If it’s habit, log out of your account or delete the app. It doesn’t have to be permanent–just until it won’t drag you down again. I temporarily deactivated an email account from my phone.

[Tweet “If you’re feeling frustrated and stressed from social media or email, it’s OK to stop checking throughout the day.”]

8 // Think about what you’re thankful for. Gratitude journaling is a great way to put everything into perspective. Even if you’re dealing with crappy situations, there are things to be thankful for. While I’m not dealing with anything really negative in my life (gratitude #1!), I need to look for places of joy when I’m feeling down. For me it’s been: Mina (obviously), spending time with my niece last night at her school’s talent show, getting hugs from a bunch of students I used to work with, and talking about Harry Potter with my niece and nephew since they’re both finally reading the series(!!!).

9 // Watch your favorite movie. Bonus points if it’s one that will make you laugh or take you on an adventure.

10 // Go for a walk. Get outside, breathe fresh air, and enjoy nature. I would take it a step further and say go someplace outside of your neighborhood if you can. Find a walking trail or a lake that you can walk around. If the world seems a little too peopley, you can take breaks when you see others coming to take in the view!

11 // Get ready. And go all out with makeup. I’ve found that even though I often don’t want to, once I take that time to put makeup on (something I truly enjoy) really lifts me up and makes me feel better!

12 // Exercise. I guess this kinda goes hand in hand with a walk, but I see the walk as a way to get out of your usual environment and take in some fresh air, as opposed to working out, which really gets your body moving. My faves: kickboxing and dance. When you’re frustrated, punching and kicking can help release some of those pent-up emotions. If you dance, be sure to dance like no one’s watching to make it even more fun! I’m totally picturing Phoebe Buffay dancing right now. “You dance at dance class!”

[Tweet “In a funk? Dance it out! Just make sure you dance like no one’s watching!”]

If you’re looking for a place to start, I highly recommend watching the video I linked in that last one. I’m already smiling. And now I need to get ready so that I can head out to pick up a few plants and get them home before I have to pick up my niece and nephew from school.

What do you when you’re in a funk? And who are you when you dance: Phoebe, Rachel, or Monica?

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