5 Ways to Get Out of a Slump, Explained

Have you ever felt like you were in a good self-care routine, only to find that - seemingly out of nowhere - you're suddenly not exercising, eating as well, or feeling as good about yourself?

Welcome, friend, to "Slump City" - population YOU (and many others)!

Today in the video, we will go over 5 quick ways to help you get over the slump, and get back to feeling your best. There is also a detailed video coming next week, so stay tuned!

The video description is below:

First, it's important to understand that everyone hits this at some point - even professional athletes, the highest-ranking CEOs, and the most put-together people at the school drop off in the mornings. At some point, everyone will find that they are not in the same space mentally and physically as they would like to be.

You may find that you are sitting and watching TV more than you were before, eating takeout more, or sleeping less effectively. You may find that you aren't exercising as much or as regularly, or taking time for yourself as much as you once were. This can affect your physical health, but it is often our mental health that we notice first when we hit a slump.

When we get out of our routine of exercise, healthy eating and stress management, we often first start to notice that we feel stressed more - we may feel anxious, or irritable, or our sleep may not be as long - or at all. We may feel depressed, we may feel self-conscious about our appearance, or we may not take care of how we look at all.

While our physical appearance does not determine our worth, if we notice we are starting to neglect it, our sleep, our nutrition or our exercise, this can be a sign of stress and can be a sign that we aren't taking care of ourselves in a way that matters to our physical and mental health.

So how do we get out of this slump?

Let's chat about that!

First, understand that it is normal not to give 100% effort all of the time, as mentioned above, even professional athletes don't exercise 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Top CEOs don't work 7 days per week, and even the most organized parent will have days when everything seems to fall apart and it's all they can do to get breakfast into everyone before getting to school and work.

It is normal to have "off" days, even "not so great" weeks, where our self-care may slide a bit. The key is to be compassionate to yourself, give yourself empathy, and understand that it is ok if you need to take a break from your normal schedule of self-care, whatever that may look like on an ideal day.

Second, once you've given yourself compassion, take a look at why you've slowed down or stopped your self-care. Maybe it was too cold to walk outside so you stopped. Maybe you had an injury that kept you from the gym. Perhaps you got called back to the office, or now have a longer commute than previously and it's eating into your time for yourself. It could be that everything has simply piled up and become so stressful and hectic that you just don't have the energy to do what you used to, and you're not sure how to get back at it.

Again, understand that life can sometimes be out of your control, and it's ok if you can't always put the time into yourself that you would like. There is no room for guilt or shame here! Be kind to yourself, you're doing the best you can.

Third, take what you learned from the second point (what happened to stop your self-care), and use that knowledge to empower you to make a positive change. Instead of going outside to walk, you can find an indoor walking track. Maybe you find an online platform, like the AnyTime Studio with different types of self-care activities for all levels, to get you back to moving consistently, and even working around an injury, or time constraints, that seemed impossible to do before. The great thing about the AnyTime Studio is that there are a variety of types of yoga/exercise, mindfulness, and natural wellness videos and printable content, that are great for the absolute beginner, right up to intermediate levels, with Chair yoga and Chair fitness, right up to Power yoga and HIIT. There are even different lengths of videos, so that you can fit your self-care into your schedule, no matter how jam-packed it is! Plus, with a free 7-day trial, you can explore the unlimited access you'll get in the AnyTime Studio with no obligation - if you don't like it, cancel within the trial period and you won't be charged a penny.

Whether you use the AnyTime Studio or another resource, know there will always be something to help you get active again. With the knowledge of why you stopped, you can find something that will work for you, and knowledge gives you power!

Fourth, tell a friend. Talk to a friend or someone close to you, and tell them you're in a slump; it's always good to be able to talk and let things out; they will probably also relate and commiserate and tell you they are in a slump as well! This creates a fantastic opportunity to try to do something together - it gives you time with a friend and an accountability buddy to help keep you on track. If you need more accountability and guidance, consider personalized coaching - with one-on-one coaching, you'll learn sustainable self-care. Even better, our transformational coaching program gives you the AnyTime Studio for free while in the program!

It's always ok to talk to someone if you are struggling. I always recommend talking to a therapist or counsellor to improve mental health. Especially if you are finding that you are feeling depressed, anxious, or just not yourself, you are worth getting help. Just as it is important to get medical attention if you break a bone, or have a heart attack, it is also important to get help if you are having challenges with your mental health. Mental health IS health, and you are worth being healthy in body and mind.

Fifth, try something new! Variety is the spice of life - whether it is a new fitness class, a new art class, a course, or a new book, giving yourself something new to look forward to is a great way to help energize yourself, not just with this new thing, but in every aspect of your life. Try something you are passionate or curious about, and permit yourself to have FUN. By giving yourself something new to try, you are showing kindness, compassion and care. You are showing yourself you are worthy of taking care of yourself.

Of course, if you're looking for something new, try the AnyTime Studio, with new videos and content added regularly, there will always be something to explore. Get your 7-day free trial here: www.healthgirl.ca/join

As always, I'm here if you have any questions or need help, feel free to email [email protected] and we can chat.

Cheers!
Meg