5 Things That Happen When You’re In A Funk & Ways To Bounce Back

In May for Mental Health Awareness Month, I started reflecting on my personal mental health.

Lately, my mental health has been weighing on my mind because I’ve been in a weird funk. Not the groovy kind of funk, but the kind that just makes you feel so “blah.”

When I have moments of lost motivation, I can’t seem to focus on my daily tasks and have no drive to do anything. Have you ever had this feeling?

I think we all have those bad days and sometimes those days can feel like weeks.

In this post, I share my personal experiences in how being in a funk has affected me and what I did to get out of it. You’ll also find some other ideas in how you can bounce back from your funk.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

WHAT'S IN THIS POST?

What Can Happen When You’re in a Funk?

I’m not a professional by any means and this post is my own personal thoughts and opinions. If you feel like you’ve been in a funk for a long time and nothing you’ve tried has been able to get you out of it, it may be time to reach out to a therapist.

Seeking therapy has helped me in my stress management and adapt to new life changes. It gave me a neutral space to share my feelings without burdening my friends and family with the same story.

When I catch myself in a funk, I can better adjust myself to get back on track to a more productive lifestyle which feeds my personal growth and happiness.

Here are five things that can happen when you’re in a funk and some ideas to bounce back.

Being stuck in a depressive funk can bring you down and you need to recharge your mental health so you can become more productive

#1: Stop Wanting to Try

The first thing you might notice if you’re in a funk, is that you’ve just stopped giving it your all. Maybe you’re just doing the minimum to get through the day or you’ve stopped trying completely.

This is one of the first things that happened to me when I was in a funk and I lost all motivation. My mind was so distracted and unwilling to do what I knew really needed to be done.

Maybe it’s the anxiety talking, but when I stopped wanting to try, the flood of all the other negative things associated with being in a funk flooded in.

When you’re feeling this way, you’ll have to bring yourself to just try the task you want to accomplish. Tell yourself that you’ll just try it for 15 minutes and see how you feel. Maybe you might find yourself starting to get into the activity.

For me, the act of starting can be challenging but once I sit myself in front of the computer to start my tasks, I start getting into it and can actually stay focused for a long time.

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#2: Negative Self-Talk

That’s right. The negative self-talk starts to happen. When I stopped trying, I began to over-analyze my life and the fears of not being good enough came rushing in.

A verywellmind post about the toxic effects of negative self-talk defines negative self-talk as a personal dialogue that can actually limit our abilities and our true potential. Our inner critic is our worst enemy and there’s no one else in this world that can hurt us more than ourselves.

Just imagine if you have a friend or family member tell you all the things you’re doing wrong all the time or make you feel less of a person and you never hear a positive word of encouragement from them. How would that make you feel?

And don’t think for a second that if you’re the one doing it, it makes it okay. You are feeding the same beast of self doubt (maybe even worse) that is holding you back from who you’re meant to be.

My self-doubt gets me at times and when I catch myself doing it I have to stop it in its tracks, give myself a pep talk, and maybe even list some affirmations.

Side note, if you have a friend or family member who makes you feel bad about yourself and has nothing positive to add to your life, you may want to consider setting some boundaries or cutting ties entirely.

Related Reading:

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#3: Make Excuses

Making excuses for lack of trying and even using the negative self-talk as a way to justify your position in life might happen if you’re looking for some explanation to your funk.

But is it really productive? Are those excuses that “you’re not good enough,” or that “you don’t know what you want in life so you don’t want to do anything,” going to get you anywhere?

Short answer, No. And you’re not alone, I’ve been there too. I’ve tried to justify my personal lack of productivity by making up excuses all made from my fear and self doubt.

I was so lost in myself. As an over-thinker and a detail personality, I think about something for a long time before I act.

In the end, I came to the conclusion that if I want more in my life I can’t keep hitting the rewind on my past and consider all the potential failures of the future. I just have to act and see what happens. Be adaptable to any changes and embrace the challenges to come.

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#4: Compare Yourself to Others

When you’re not feeling like your normal self and lost all motivation and drive, you may start to scroll your social media feed or even think about all the people who you feel insecure towards.

Being in a state of mental and emotional negativity mixed with comparing your life accomplishments and position can really bring you down.

As I’m working on this new business venture, the perfectionist in me is screaming that I am not as far along as I thought I would be. I forget to acknowledge how far I’ve come in something that I once knew nothing about.

There are so many other things you can do instead of comparing your life to others that can ultimately lead to a much more productive life.Tiny Buddha shares 13 things you can do instead of comparing yourself to others and here are some of my favorites from the article:

Accept where you are – Instead of dwelling on the past, embrace how far you’ve come and what this next phase of your life will bring you.
Know that this isn’t the end of the movie – This isn’t the end of life, but the beginning of a new adventure that you will help you grow as a person.
Decide not to let fear guide your choices – Be in control of your actions and don’t let your fears prevent you from making your next move. Fear is a mental mindset, but you are the driver.
Realize that you’re not perfect – Embrace the imperfect and acknowledge there will always be room for improvement and innovation. No one is perfect.
Be your own ally – Give yourself pep talks and take deep breaths when you’re feeling the negative self-talk creep in.
Tell a better story – Reframe the story by eliminating the negatives and focus on the good that has happened and what you’re doing today for the future that you want for yourself. Even if you’re not where you want to be in life, you’re still making progress towards that.

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#5: Waste Your Days

Being in a funk can bring down your productivity and you can lose so many precious days not working on whatever it is that will propel you forward.

I had my days where I was a total shlump and did absolutely nothing and when I finally decided I was ready, I was so behind. Being behind made me feel the anxiety as my list of things to do grew longer.

If you’re feeling the funk bring you down, there’s nothing wrong with taking some time for self-care. But if it starts to become a type of addictive behavior and your lost days start to turn into weeks, then months it may be time to reset yourself.

This reminds me of an audiobook I listened to called The Tools, by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels. The book is about finding one’s potential through self-discipline and goes over “the tools” to move your potential into action.

The Tools, is actually one of my favorite self-development books if you have a chance to read it or listen to the audiobook.

Every day is precious and each day is a new opportunity for you to show the world what you are made of and to share your gifts with others. Yes, it’s easy to say “there’s always tomorrow,” but imagine how much further along you would be in your life if you choose to act today!

Related Reading:

Being in a funk can affect your mental health if it’s left unchecked for a long time and taking care of your mental wellness is essential in living a happier life.

Ideas to Get Out of A Funk

You can sit there and wallow in your funk or decide to finally do something about it. How to get out of a funk can be a post all on its own so instead I’ll just list some quick ideas here.

Remember what your original motivation and drive was. Going back to your why can be a strong reminder of why you started this chapter in your life to begin with.
Make a list of your accomplishments, what you want to do next, and how you’ll tackle them. You can download my daily to-do list, here. Acknowledging how far you’ve come can help get rid of the negative self-talk and promote more positive words of encouragement. By making a plan to where you want to go, it can be broken down into steps that are more achievable.
Listen to upbeat and motivational music. Music is a universal language and can play a role in your emotions. Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling sad or angry you’re more drawn to a certain type of music?

If you want to improve your mood, listen to the stuff that will really get you pumped up in a positive way.

Get yourself ready and prepared for the day. This may be a mental thing, but I always feel better after a shower and getting out of pajamas and into my day clothes if I plan on being productive.
Go for a walk to get your blood flowing. Getting out of your indoor space for some fresh outside air and moving around can help decrease your tension and give you mental clarity per The Active Times.
Read or listen to a motivational self-help book or podcast. When we’re in our head, finding another source of inspiration and motivation can give you the pep-talk you need.

It really helped give me a different perspective when I listen to motivational self-help audiobooks. Some personal favorites are:

Talk to a friend who supports you and can give you encouragement. Talking to others about your feelings, whether it be a friend or a therapist, can be a great way to offload all of the internal stress and anxiety you might be feeling from your funk.

Sometimes we just need someone else to give us the push we need and tell us the things that we are wavering about. Especially if you are in the negative self-talk or just finding all the negative things in your life in general.

Reach out to others with the same aspirations such as a Facebook group or a Meetup. If you’re a lone wolf or just to like to try things out on your own but have found yourself stuck, it may be time to branch out. You’re not weak for asking for help.

Facebook groups and Meetups are great ways to connect with those who have similar interests. You can learn from those in the group and even share your personal knowledge with.

Watch motivational Ted Talks or YouTube videos in the area you want to aspire in. If joining a group isn’t for you, you can find motivation and inspiration from videos that you can really connect with. You may be surprised by what you learn.
Learn new techniques and skills in something that you feel insecure about. If you’re struggling in your funk because of your insecurities and self-doubt on your abilities, you can educate yourself in those areas. It’s never too late to learn a new skill.

I’m learning things all the time and I love YouTube and watching videos on LinkedIn’s Lynda.com. If you have a public library card, you may have access to tons of learning resources for free!

You can even try Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) that are free online courses from recognized colleges and universities.

Conclusion

We all have our moments in life where we just lose ourselves and the drive to move forward. In those moments, it’s okay to take a break but don’t wallow in your funk.

I decided to share this personal experience with you because I feel like it’s something that everyone goes through. Maybe my experience will shed some light on what it feels like when you’re in a funk and how to bounce back from it.

You don’t have to be happy all the time and that’s okay. Take a break when you need it, and get back to it when you can. No matter what, don’t give up! Remember your drive, and keep going!

Here’s a daily planner that you can use to start making a list of your daily plans that you can download now to get your productivity back on track!

Have you experienced any of these things when you’re in funk? What have you done that helped you find your motivation again? Comment below!

Wishing you a Little Peace of Happiness in overcoming your funk,