What do you do when you’ve got a deadline, self imposed or otherwise, and you just can’t seem to get out of your own way?
Any number of things can trigger it, a not so nice review, a Monday morning, an angry phone call, an unpaid bill, even something as simple as the weather. We’ve all had them and I’m sure we will again – but what do you do? What can you do to buckle down and do what needs to be done when you have a severe case of FuckItAll? Ten Ways To Get Rid Of The Suckies!
Take a Nap.
The most obvious. A good nap can reboot your entire day. Even if you don’t actually sleep. Get into bed, make sure the room is cool and as dark as you can get it. Set the alarm for 30 minutes and do nothing. No TV, no reading, no nothing, except maybe listen to soft music or a meditation. I call it a napitation.
Nourish Yourself.
A piece of juicy fruit, a small, high protein snack, anything chock full of nutrients. This is not the time to grab the bag of chips or some ice cream, this is about nourishment, not shadow comfort – although there is a time and a place for that, this is not it.
Eat the Frog First.
If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. – Mark Twain
Take the most looming, suckiest, the “I can’t possibly deal with this today, yet I don’t have a choice” task and just do it. Set a timer for 15 or 20 or 30 minutes, whatever you think you can handle without killing someone and just get that much done. You’ll probably find that you do have the wherewithal to finish the task and if you just don’t, well at least you’ve started it.
Move Your Body
Dance, walk, run, shimmy, hula hoop, stretch, downward dog, whatever. Sometimes the energy just gets stuck and a simple ten minute move fest can get that energy flowing again.
Music
Queue up your anthem. You know what it is…. That one (or ten) song(s) that always gets you going – that you just can’t sit still when it’s on. Turn it way up, sing at the top of your lungs, who cares who’s listening.
Lion Pose
I don’t really do yoga, but I love this pose. It makes me feel silly and fierce at the same time and it’s pretty energizing – as an added bonus, it produces a strong digestive and nervous system
Take a Ritual Bath (or Shower)
Find something citrusy (I love citrus essential oils to boost my creativity and energy. Anoint yourself, and give yourself permission to take a long bath or shower.
Doodle
Zentangle, Mandala, Coloring pages, all ways to get yourself out of monkey brain and just allow whatever comes through to come through
Call a Friend
Not just any friend, a supportive friend who won’t try to “fix it” for you, who you can laugh with, brainstorm with, who’ll just let you be right where you are for now.
Wallow In It
Yep. I said it. Sometimes we just need some down time. Make yourself a drink (soft or otherwise), get a blankie, turn on Netflix and find something to watch. I usually will pick a tear jerker that I’m nostalgic about – Steel Magnolias, Phenomenon, City of Angels — and just enjoy a good cry, or even a good mope. Maybe you just need to release a little emotion.
Don’t worry, the work will be there when you get back.
So there are Ten Ways To Get Rid of the Suckies. Do you have any additions?
Need some help?