little guide to starting fresh: getting out of a funk

Taking a baby step forward is still making progress.

I’ve had my fair share of funks so far this year (it’s July 2024 at the time I’m writing this, and I’m looking back at the funks that I’ve had this year alone). However, one thing I’m always proud of myself for doing is knowing how to bounce back.

I’ve learned that when I am in a funk, the first thing I need to do is feel good about myself again. I’ve learned overtime that whenever I achieve something, even if it’s the smallest little tiniest thing you can accomplish, I feel amazing about myself.

And that’s what the list of steps in the blog post are. I will share with you the six things that I do whenever I am in a funk. You can simplify it even more if you’d like because no matter how small the goal may seem, and you accomplish it, you’re going to feel great about yourself.

And whenever you create a trajectory of achieving things, even the smallest things, you feel motivated to keep going.

Now, let’s dive in.

Step 1: Choose 3 to 5 non-negotiable habits

Your non-negotiable habits are what you do no matter what day it is.

It doesn’t have to be the most complex habits, it can just be simple habits (including the ones you already do). For example, your daily non-negotiable habits can include doing your skincare and brushing your teeth. The easier and simpler they are, the easier it is to stick to.

If you want to take it a step further and practice more self-discipline, you can include a new habit that you want to build.

Nonetheless, choose at least 3 to 5 habits that you are going to do every day no matter what. If you are starting fresh, it’s best to choose simple habits to stick to. Whenever you succeed in getting these habits done (even if they’re simple), you feel good about yourself. 🙂

My list of non-negotiable daily habits includes:

• Reading 10 pages of a self-improvement book
• Listening to one podcast
• Self-care activity
• Going for a daily walk (even if it’s just 5 minutes)
• Prayers

You can also check out the blog post below for ideas of non-negotiable daily habits you can do.

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RELATED: Non-Negotiable Daily Habits List

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Step 2: Plan your day for tomorrow

This is so when you wake up tomorrow, you already know exactly what you are going to do. You don’t need to spend extra time figuring out what you need to do because you already have the plan in hand.

A rule of thumb you can use is to make sure that you have a plan for the next day before you go to bed. Once you wake up, you can already start being productive in the morning and work on your important tasks.

This is a great step for when you’re starting fresh because you’ve got to admit that having a plan feels good. Even if you didn’t have the best day, having a plan for tomorrow will help make it a little better.

Step 3: Follow a maximum of 5 accounts for inspiration & motivation

This goes for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Pinterest.

You may be wondering… why only five?

Well, sometimes when you follow too many accounts, you can get an information overload. By choosing a maximum of 5 accounts that you’ll get inspiration from, and even tips and strategies to implement, you don’t feel too overwhelmed with the amount of information out there. It’ll also be easier to navigate what works for you based on your lifestyle.

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RELATED: Your Diet is Not Just What You Eat

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Step 4: Set realistic goals for the week

When you are starting fresh and getting out of a funk, a good starting point is setting realistic goals for the day, or even the week.

What I mean by realistic goals is that they are goals that don’t have high expectations to the point that you’ll beat yourself up if you don’t end up accomplishing them. From my personal experience, whenever I set high goals after a funk and don’t accomplish them, I fall back into a slump again.

That’s why, realistic goals are when you just start small. For example, if you only worked out once a week, you’re not going to go straight to working out 6 days a week. Instead, you’ll start small, and increase it to at least 2-3 times a week.

When it comes to setting goals, achieving them isn’t the sole purpose. Instead, setting goals sets your direction and gives you a challenge. For example, with my goal of becoming a lawyer, achieving the goal isn’t my only purpose. Instead, setting this goal set the direction in my life (going to law school, doing legal training, etc) and gave me a challenge (like all the exams, assignments, and balancing studies with life).

But ultimately, when you are getting out of a funk, setting realistic goals can help you set the direction and give you a challenge. When you do achieve them, you feel good about yourself. Just remember, that you can still feel good about yourself even if the goal you set was a small one.

Step 5: Create a routine that you’ve been inconsistent with

Think about any time of the day when you feel like you could be more productive.

For example, if you feel like your mornings could be more productive, then you can focus on creating a morning routine. Same with a night routine, or even the middle of the day.

Just remember that any routine doesn’t have to be 10 steps. The best number is three steps.

Like what was mentioned in the previous steps, it’s best to start small to not feel too overwhelmed.

If you need some ideas on what routines you should build, you can click the blog post below for essential routines for personal growth.

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RELATED: Essential Routines for Personal Growth

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Step 6: Create a list of 5 rechargeable activities

Rechargeable activities are what recharge your batteries. For example, when you’re in the middle of a study/work day, or you need to wind down.

Examples can include:

• reading a book
• going for a walk
• watching a YouTube video
• drinking water/favorite beverage

By having a go-to list of activities, you have a good idea of what you can immediately do whenever you feel like you need to recharge your batteries.

To Wrap Up

Even if you don’t do all these steps, or you just do one of them on the list, it’s still an action you are taking to feel a bit better. That’s what I love about taking small steps. You don’t have to feel the pressure of accomplishing big things, and even if you achieve a small goal, you feel great about yourself.

The free resources library has a goal-setting workbook that you can download if you need a step-by-step guide to achieving your goals (or at least knowing what direction to go). You can check it out here.

In the meantime, here’s to achieving small goals and feeling amazing about ourselves

-Lauren 🙂

P.S I suggest you read these blog posts next:

• Mental Health Day Checklist: 7 Things to Include
• How to Use Self-Care to Bounce Back From a Bad Day
• Times when you shouldn’t feel bad about your life

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