You know the mood. You cannot get out of your own way. Laying on the couch or bedroom floor alternately scrolling through every social app in existence- open, scroll, close, repeat- until your hand cramps or you drop the phone on your face. The feeling of guilt as you do nothing weighing heavily on your chest. Yet, no motivation to take any action to solve the troubling feeling.
It might last a day or more. And it always hits when least expected, needed, afforded, etc. Life is just too busy to deal with it, but it happens. There’s no need to describe it because the feeling is universal.
I’ve been feeling it now and again these last few weeks which is why I was inspired to share my tips. There were moments I did not want to move from wherever I was laying or awkwardly slouched over. However, I started to take notice of the moments I was able to break through. Like, the day I pushed myself to deep clean my bedroom. Removing everything from the floor, shifting furniture around, and seizing the moment to toss some clutter. The end of the task was the lightest I’d felt in days. Every time I stepped into my newly cleaned room, I felt a little better.
So, I took it upon myself to seize more moments like this. To find the small things that cause a wave of change. These tips are pretty simple, straightforward, and commonly shared as “self-care” practices. It’s because they truly work. They promote just being and being present in the activity. Directing all of our focus to that moment instead of feeding what’s consciously or unconsciously affecting our mood.
I challenge you to try one the next time you’re in “a mood.” Or, better yet, find your own activity to focus on. The only catch is that you have to give it all of your focus at that moment.
Here are my 5:
SUN. It’s my current obsession. The warmth. The vitamin D. The calm. I’ve dragged my butt outside a lot since I know this glorious weather in New England isn’t promised for long. It’s a great opportunity to meditate or practice gratitude or even have a heart to heart with yourself.
WORKOUT. I’m not suggesting hitting the gym to pump iron and break PRs. More like- just move. Go for a walk or dance around the kitchen. Try the playlist I created below which has a little of everything to help you “bust a mood.” If it’s bad energy, Jillian Michaels is my favorite route to go. She’s a feisty one who’ll put you in your place.
READ. Something easy and enjoyable. Jodi Picoult, Elin Hilderbrand, and Kristin Hannah come to mind when I think of relaxing reads. These authors make it easy to shut out your surroundings and tune in to the story’s settings. The Bible, if that’s your thing, is totally cool, too. Just read about drama somewhere other than Facebook for a while, ok?
CLEANING/ORGANIZING. Like I said previously. Clear some clutter. It’s always refreshing to have a clean space. I used to love rearranging my room as a kid and highly recommend giving it a try. Maybe you can find things to donate or sell while making space for the new.
TREAT YO SELF. Such a dangerous concept, I know. But, I’m not suggesting a full-on shopping spree here. Not in this emotional state. I do recommend getting yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea or kombucha. Someplace you never go. Sip it slowly and enjoy it. Again, this is a great time to practice gratitude and maybe soak up a little silence if you can. Combine with sun for double the fun! Sorry, had to.
Just so you know…I get it. I get it that there are days you just can’t. Health, be it physical and/or mental, can be a daily, unpredictable battle. It’s ok to not do anything. It’s ok to accept that. Please, don’t stay defeated. Listen to your body, and take all of the baby steps necessary on your own timeline.
If you have other “simple tasks” suggestions you’d add to your list, please share them with me! We can all use a little new and different to shake things up. Oh, and speaking of shaking things…
Here’s a link to my Bust A Mood playlist on Spotify.
And here’s a link for Bust A Mood in Apple Music.
Enjoy, friends!
trainliketaylor@gmail.com
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