I am going to cut to the chase: I am having a hard week. Over the last few weeks, I have been riding the highs from a few different (random) things. It felt like the chips were falling in all the right places. However, all that momentum gradually stopped, and I am now at a point where nothing is really exciting me. It feels like I am doing all the hard work with no reward.

It is a challenge for me to not turn to the extreme and question my entire existence when I am feeling down. I sometimes catch myself thinking I have a horrible life when, in reality, I am just having a bad day. When this happens, I step back and acknowledge what may be causing this feeling of being in a slump. For example, right now the weather is cold and gross, I have a lot on my plate academically, I have a demanding sports schedule, and I have other commitments to upkeep. So, if at the end of the day I feel a little burnt out, that is really normal.

I hope whoever is reading this is having a good week. If you aren’t, though, I am with you. This feeling really sucks, especially if you are like me right now, and you cannot pinpoint exactly what is causing this slump. Here are a few steps I am taking to get myself out of this rut.

When I am in a rut, the first thing I do is prioritize going easy on myself. I let myself rest without guilt because, chances are, I am in a rut because all I need is rest. In addition to this, I get off of social media as much as possible. As human beings, we often resort to quick fixes to numb feelings of sadness or loneliness. Going on my phone is an example of a quick fix I jump to whenever I seek a distraction. When I am feeling down, I subconsciously open Instagram and scroll but always end up feeling worse after closing the app. I do not gain anything from Instagram besides negative feelings of inferiority. The same thing goes for Snapchat. I want to see if the boy I like snapped me, and I often make my mood dependent on whether or not he snapped me. On the contrary, when I am off of social media, I feel much more in tune with my feelings without the negative noise social media adds to my life.

I am also currently prioritizing self-care as a way for me to get out of this rut. As far as self-care, I have a few things that are game changers. Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! A good run is always helpful. Exercise to me is a good reminder that I can do anything. Also, reading is a great alternative to going on my phone. Books provide value to my life in a calm, gentle way, whereas screens sometimes give me feelings of sensory overload. In addition to this, I establish a very positive morning routine that puts me in a good mood. I like to play pump up music like “Keep your Head Up” and “Shake it Off.” If I have time, I also do a short meditation on the Calm app. As far as being social, when being with my friends sounds fun, I go for it. Being with my friends usually makes my mood better. However, if I am in the mood to be alone, I also listen to this internal cue, because there is no need to force myself to go out when my body is telling me to stay in.

Being in a rut is really hard and oftentimes unexplainable. However, it always gets better! Sometimes, all it takes is one piece of good news or one really fun day with friends to snap out of it. If you are having a hard few week or moment in time, prioritize yourself and everything else will fall into place. We are in this together!

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