…Or get over a break up. Or a loss. Or just get up off your ass if you’ve been sitting on it for too long.
You will notice a common theme with the items on this list and that is change. Life can get stale but that’s the nature of life. Lots of the same things day in, day out – neutral experiences, sprinkled with positive ones. Sparks, fireworks, orgasms (not just sexual ones). We need those sparks to be interspersed with the mundane because it makes them that much more enjoyable. Makes it easier to be grateful for them.
If you’re in a rut you’ve probably been on auto-pilot for a while and could use some arousing little speed bumps thrown in your path to trip you up – in the best way possible. Wake you up. Get you wet and excited about your life again. Here’s the list of speed bumps that work for me:
ONE: Switch up your workout routine. I usually do this every couple weeks or so but if I’m feeling particularly bored with life, it’s one of the first things I modify.
TWO: Reorganize your life. This doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul. I lean towards changing the way I plan my time. Switch from paper to electronic or visa versa. Refresh my morning + night routines and update my Google calendar. If the seasons are changing, I might clean out my closet, kitchen cupboards, fridge etc. Don’t get overwhelmed; just pick one.
THREE: Update your playlist. I’m usually listening to the same Spotify playlist in the car, playing in the background at home and to workout for at least a few weeks. I’m constantly updating it with new songs that I like BUT when I’m in a funk I’ll delete the list and start over from scratch. Sometimes changing the genre altogether. My usual playlist is a mix of Hip Hop, R&B and Pop. I’ve switched to one with strictly my favourite Drake songs. My Drake mood is simultaneously hype, calm and gets me on my grind. I’ll thank him later.
FOUR: Go somewhere you haven’t been before. I don’t mean like go away on a vacation (although if you’ve got the funds, do your thing). Just go somewhere different within your city. Try that new restaurant/cafe you’ve been meaning to go to. Try a different grocery store or go to a farmer’s market if you usually go to the grocery store. I went to a different park to walk Gannicus one morning. Being so close to the lakeshore has made me lazy with driving to different parks like we used to, so we drove 15 minutes east to walk some trails on a different part of the lake.
FIVE: Change your hair. In movies, after a break up the woman always gets a new hair cut or colour. The change is fresh start. I loved my blonde and I’ve been loving it as it’s growing out – then I got bored. So I added some pink to the ends. Lots of compliments. Love it.
SIX: Learn something new. A new language, a new skill, a new activity or sport. I downloaded Duolingo. No idea if I’m actually going to be able to speak Norwegian, but I’m planning a solo trip to Norway, so that should be motivating.
SEVEN: Buy yourself some time or peace of mind. I send Gannicus to day care once a week and it gives me peace of mind to know that he’s having fun with other dogs rather than being lonely at home. Plus it means I can run errands after work without feeling like I have to rush home to him. I’ve also been using a meal delivery service called Green Zebra Kitchen. You’d have to do your own math on the cost vs time savings but for me it’s well worth it. I don’t spend time thinking of what to make, grocery shopping or cooking and knowing that I have delicious and clean food to eat at home means I’m way less tempted to eat out.
EIGHT: Look up. We’re so busy going about our day that we don’t look at the world around us. I’m more intro than extrovert and I don’t like people, so I’m definitely not good at this but I have been trying to do it more at least when I’m walking Gannicus. The other day this cute construction worker used his sign to stop traffic for me while I was trying to cross the street. Maybe he thought I was cute, maybe he was just being nice. I’m going with the former because it makes me feel better but if I wasn’t looking up and didn’t catch his eye and smile at him, I would have missed the opportunity for that good feeling.
NINE: Buy yourself a little something. Emphasis on little. If a new halloween mug to have your coffee in makes you smile in the morning, do it up. If a new t-shirt brings you joy – grab it. Note whatever you get just needs to be new to you, so see Value Village, have your friend gift you a scarf she doesn’t want anymore, whatever works.
TEN: Protect your energy. This is everywhere but just in case you need to see it again, it is more than okay to say NO. If someone asks you to do something and you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. Your energy is precious and especially when you are in a funk, it’s even more important to keep good vibes around you and avoid bad ones. It’s more than okay to do what’s best for you.
What are some of your tricks to get out of a funk? I can always use new funk hacks.
This is certainly NOT sponsored but if you’re in the delivery area in the GTA and want to try Green Zebra Kitchen, you can get $15 off your first order with this link.
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