6 Ways to Break out of a Funk

How I get out of my own head when my mind is stuck

Photo by Dmitry Schemelev on Unsplash

Sometimes when I watch too much of the news or have worked long hours too many days in a row, I find myself having potato chips and wine for dinner and falling into a confused state of blah. Here are six ways I get my brain and body back on track. I usually can force myself to pick at least one thing from the list, and it typically does the trick.

1. Be creative: negative feelings can be a catalyst for art. Write a poem, draw or paint a picture, write a story. If a cohesive piece won’t flow, sometimes I try to just describe in words my feelings of funk as specifically as possible to use as source material for future writing or poetry.
2. Exercise: get your body moving and your blood follow, and your brain will tag along. Go for a brisk walk or follow along an exercise video. One of my go-to body weight workouts are a combination of air squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. 5 reps of each for as many rounds as possible for 10–15 minutes. Do your push-ups against a chair or a wall if you need to, and crunches can be substituted for sit-ups.
3. Meditate: If sweating isn’t your thing, exercise your mind by strategically calming your thoughts. If you’re used to meditating, turn on the Meditation Spa Pandora radio station or search meditation music on YouTube. If you need some help, search “guided meditation” on YouTube and there are plenty of videos that will talk you through meditation routine. For a quick calm down, I breathe in through my nose for a count of 4, hold for 4 and breathe out through my mouth for a count of 8 while focusing on feeling my heart beat slow down. The counting plus listening to my heart beat helps other thoughts simmer down.
4. Escape through fiction: Take your mind off reality with a funny TV show, favorite movie, or good book. I’m really careful here not to sink into an all night depressed binge watching session. A 30 minute sitcom is enough.
5. Properly fuel your body: If you like to cook, prepare a favorite (healthy) meal. If cooking stresses you out, take yourself out on a solo date and indulge at a favorite restaurant, or at least get out of the house to go pick up take out.
6. Call a positive friend: Catch up with a pal who always makes you laugh. Purposefully steer the conversation in a light and cheerful direction. If needed, be clear that you’re trying to fix your funk. Sometimes I find naming my feelings and voicing my confusion out loud helps clear my mind and lift my spirits.

For an even better chance at success, double up some of these suggestions. Focus on breathing and get your body moving with a yoga routine. Talk to a friend while going for a walk. Triple bonus: talk to your friend and walk around the house while you’re dusting or sweeping. The added bonus of feeling productive with your chores is sure to bring a smile to your face and banish that funk to another day.