You know what it feels like when you are at your best, in the flow, and just “rocking it” on all cylinders. You look forward to getting out of the bed in the morning, are excited about your contributions, and you like the person you see reflecting back at you in the mirror both physically and mentally. You feel connected to an electric energy and like you can conquer the world. You are in the groove.
And I’ll bet if you are like most of the coaching clients I work with, you also know all too well what if feels like to lose that groove. To feel so overwhelmed and burnt out that you no longer are excited about what you are doing. You soothe yourself with convenience and comfort foods and the last thing you feel like doing is working out. You are going through the motions of your day, and things weigh on you like heavy responsibilities and duties rather than impactful and meaningful endeavors.
Even as someone who loves what I do for a living on most days, I can find myself losing my groove easily when I get overworked, overwhelmed, or bored with routine tasks or lack of challenge. Since my particular job requires me to be 110% present for people and focus on them, I can also find myself depleted of energy without any left for myself at the end of overbooked days. Here are some strategies both I and my clients use to get back in the groove:
1. Identify Your Triggers & Plan a Counter Trigger
Learn to recognize what triggers create burn-out for you. For me, working on too many routine, detailed tasks is one trigger that creates overwhelm for me. Doing the same thing over and over again is more overwhelming for me than having too many things to do. Another trigger is being around toxic behaviors for extended periods and feeling powerless to influence change. When you recognize triggers that can induce overwhelm or a groove-reducing state, plan the antidotes in advance. For example, if I am going to be doing repetitive work for an extended period of time, I plan a “light at the end of the tunnel” activity that is pleasurable and enjoyable to engage in when I am done. (Even doing some mindless window shopping suffices for me.) This allows a reconnection and recharge.
2. Practice Regular, Non-negotiable Self-Care
When your physical body and spiritual self are neglected, it is harder to rebound out of a funk.
If you prioritize your personal health and self-care as sacred and precious, you will be able to rebound from funks much easier. I know you know this already–but regular self-care, including eating healthy foods and exercising regularly are not to be treated as optional items on our “to-do” lists. Neither is finding time to connect with something deeper inside of ourselves on a regular basis. Whether it is meditation, a spiritual practice, volunteering,or spending time in nature, your soul needs nurturing and care too. Whatever else you are placing before your physical and spiritual self-care rituals will only be enriched when you are healthy, centered, connected, and grounded.
3. Create a Personal Purpose Statement
Re-visiting your “why” and having a clear statement about what you intend and want to contribute to the world always makes it easier to rebound from a funk.
Ask yourself who you are at your best and what you contribute to the world. Create a purpose statement that reminds you why you are here on a grand scale.
My purpose statement is “I am the Alchemist here to help people transform their lives to gold.” (May sound a bit grandiose or corny, but it absolutely isn’t to me.) When I remind myself of this higher purpose, it helps me summon the best part of myself.
4. Take a Re-Group & Soul Search Break
There are times when all the counter-trigger planning, purpose re-visiting, and self-care still don’t cut it. There are those times in our lives when we just know that we need to make a big change or re-prioritize things in order to get that groove back.
When I was on a corporate ladder climbing track several years ago, I found myself at a personal crisis point where I needed to take a break and do some serious soul searching. I spent a couple days really doing some serious reflection on what was important, what I wanted, and who I was at my best. I then came up with a plan and a manifesto to make some big changes and live more in alignment with what was most important to me.
Taking a break to re-evaluate where you are, who you are, and what you want to create is a critical way to ensure you are not just going through the motions but are staying true to your own internal compass. Only you have the answers to what makes your own soul sing, and what depletes it.
Practicing these strategies above should help with getting your groove back when you are in that funk or burnt out.
If you ever need some assistance in your personal soul search, let me know. My “Soul Search Sessions” coaching program is designed to help you with a “re-group” break when you realize you are at a key turning point and need to make a big change. I designed a set of questions to ask yourself along with some self-reflection exercises to help you figure out what is most important, who you are at your best, and take steps to move towards what brings you the most joy. I call it “Soul Search Sessions” for a reason. In our contemporary world, it is easy to lose sight of the deeper meaning and connection we seek in our lives. Being at our best depends on taking the time to find and keep it.
And always remember this:
Every moment you have a choice.
A choice of what you say, what you do, and how you make people feel.
Choose intentionally—as those series of choices are who you become.
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