Leave the “Living Slump” and Get Spirited for Life Again
Here's how I charge myself after a messy week
The Living Slump
You’ll cry yourself to death. Tell me: Why are you so devoted to your pain?
—Sophocles' Electra
At times, life seems too hard and draining to live by.
You know you should get up and do something. There are pending tasks and obligations. Yet, your heart feels too lazy and unbothered to work.
The days get worse and worse.
Heaviness presses you from all sides. Dullness and lethargy surround you.
A “Reading Slump” can best be described as not being able to pick up a book and read because you just can't read.
The “Living Slump” is similar.
All of us have experienced this in bouts. You feel unmotivated, lost, sad, lonely, unproductive, angry, annoyed, or stuck.
Until you have extricated yourself of this worm, you will never know how beautiful life can be!
Here are some ways I use when my heart has fallen into a rut.
1) Bring drastic changes
Seeing the same mundane things everywhere is not going to help bring back your joy-filled spirit.
Change is what you have to seek. Small differences can do big good.
Here is what you can do.
»Room décor
My room’s walls may be cream, but I try to fill it with as much vibrancy as desired.
Change the bedsheets and turn the pillows! Paste posters and stickers of your favourite bands and books! Add scent to the air!
Go further by changing the alignment of the furniture.
The new outlook should make you feel different.
»Rearrange and clean
My bookshelf, study table, and closet are bound to get messy over time.
I love organising stuff.
It takes off my current concerns by keeping me engaged, while also subconsciously signalling to me that life’s problems can be cleared up similarly. The activity gets even better when I am surrounded by items I adore.
Begin a great playlist in the background and arrange!
»Other li’l changes
Wear clothes you haven’t touched for long. Switch your ringtone to your next favourite song. Cut or dye your hair. Cook your own food.
The list is endless to get out of this gloomy loop.
2) Just stay busy
An idle mind is a devil’s workshop.
When you keep busy, it keeps your mind on other things.
Time flies smoothly, leaving less space to whine and overthink.
There are thousands of things in the world waiting for you to put your eyes on them.
Turn to your hobbies — painting, writing, sketching, singing — even if you suck in them. Develop your knowledge and skills. (YouTube is a fantastic resource for this.)
During your lowest phases, the worst you can do is sit idle and let the pain overwhelm you.
Always have a task in mind.
3) Socialise
Most people loathe this term.
I can’t stress the importance of friends enough — of engaging with human life around.
Remaining in the same reeking room isn’t a solution. Too much loneliness can turn toxic and shorten your lifespan.
Good relationships are vital to keep us happier and healthier.
Here, it doesn’t matter whether you are an extrovert or an introvert.
Even if you are an extrovert with the most “superficial” friends, your moods likely won’t improve.
The quality matters more than the quantity.
“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”
— William Shakespeare
Good friends can raise your spirits is a whisk.
Vent out to them, roam together, and experience the magic of life.
4) Go outdoors
Nature is divine.
Sitting under the shade of a huge banyan tree, going for walks under the moon, or simply jogging in the park — all activities in nature's vicinity can hearten you.
Don’t confine yourself to your cell-phone sized prison-like room.
Go out. Exercise. Meet with your peers. Take gulps of fresh air and relax.
5) Express your emotions
Whenever my emotions are at the extremes, I can’t help but pick up a pen and write all my thoughts down.
This is the rawest form of expression you’ll ever encounter.
The practice makes me analyse the events and my reactions better. It dampens the flares within.
Be it by a brush, mic, or pen — pick a tool of your choice and bleed your heart.
Express your feelings.
Let all the burden out.
Life’s too short to not live on the edge. So, savour every moment you can.
One Red Flag…
It is horrifying that people consider this trait a green flag!
Nobody sees the bad coming when it does.
The trait is Jealousy.
Most of us find it adorable when a person is jealous over us.
It strokes our ego.
After all, we are humans, and we want to be desired by the world.
You take it as a sign that the other person likes you. Maybe a bit too much. This troupe has been used a billion times in novels and films, alluding to the male interest who stays persistent for a “Yes” despite multiple rejections by the woman (and vice-versa).
Can you figure out why this is problematic?
What if the Stars, the World, and the People DO Love You
Till a few months ago, even as an extrovert, I was uncomfortable with meeting people.
Y’all can relate to the reason:
I thought I wasn’t good enough. A mere annoyance. That they’d be better off without me and my jokes.
Here’s something interesting to consider:
What if…
Book recommendation
I fancy the friends to lovers trope the most.
When done right, it is the best thing ever.
“It isn't accurate to say that my heart stops, because really I feel it's existence intensely, a phantom limb.”
― Christina Lauren, Love and Other Words
Love and Other Words did just this.
The book captured my heart by showcasing how delicately two young people could fall in love, how brutally it could be blown apart, and how many kinds of “love” there are in this vast world.
(Don’t you think we put too much pressure on the four-letter word?)
This book was also about words and how they can make or break one’s life.
We experienced two timelines in this book; one was the present and the other flashed back to the protagonist’s (Macy’s) youth.
I got to first-hand experience how awkward and fragile teenage love could be. It started with sharing common interests, becoming friends, and then something more.
By Jove, my skin felt the sparks due to the chemistry between Macy and Elliot.
Both the characters were instantly likeable and intriguing. You could picture them together in the future.
However, one teeny mistake and the bond can blow apart, as it did.
A page-turner, I was hooked by this book from chapter one, wondering why the bond between them had to snap, and why Macy was settling for someone else she barely understood.
The second timeline proved how the past never can leave us. The scars always remain and affect the present relationships. Running away rarely does good.
Things kept coming out of the blue and punched you hard.
The prose had a musical tinge to it.
Macy was forced to confront Elliot after years of no contact. What followed ahead is painful and eye-opening to both people.
You would get that insanely satisfactory sensation when the circle will complete itself — when the dots will join in the end.
Small changes in everyday life Avan bring a great change. Compounding is truly everywhere!
Loved this article and tips 😊🙏