Have you been in a funk lately? I know I have!
Here are seven tips you can use when you’re in a funk and can’t seem to move forward.
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Struggles of Being in a Funk
There are days that we are in a funk. Let’s admit it, we all get them and we all have those moments. And when we have these days, it’s like you just can’t feel normal and move forward.
For some of us, it can cause writer’s block, depression, or other issues. But it is not a good feeling, at all.
I’m a very optimistic and positive person and I don’t normally struggle with depression. But the last month or so, as I’ve been deep into this book project Broken Crayons Still Color, I have been in a funk.
I remember recently, I was unable to do anything for almost a week. I didn’t even get out of my pajamas!
I would just sit the whole time and so my back and neck was sore.
I was in a funk! I told my husband, “I feel like I’ve been in depression.”
He said, “I don’t know that it’s been depression. I think it is oppression.”
I really do think it’s partly a spiritual battle because of what I’m sharing, teaching, and doing in this new book and video series.
But whatever it is for you I want to share with you seven tips for when you’re in a funk.
Tip #1: Pray and Ask for Prayer
First is to pray and ask for prayer.
When I started this project, I immediately decided to start this with prayer. I could feel the resistance from day one.
I actually put the book off for a year, and I know many of you have done that. You know you’re supposed to write something and you just don’t want to so you’re like, “I’m just going to put this off.”
I decided to send regular updates to my prayer team. I have an entire training on my blog all about forming a prayer team. I recommend every Christian author have a prayer team.
Tip #2: Feel Your Emotions
Sometimes you simply need to feel your emotions.
I was really, really low one day last week that I think it even shocked CJ because he’s not used to seeing me like that. I’m usually upbeat and enthusiastic and I’m the one usually cheering him on and motivating him. You know how I am on my videos and that’s just my personality; that’s who God has created me to be.
But I was really low that day. So he said, “Shelley, I think I need to pray for you.”
He put his hands on me and prayed for me. While he was praying, I started sobbing and sobbing.
And you know what? Sometimes we need to feel our emotions.
Writing this book has brought a lot of emotions to the surface. I’ve had to deal with some stuff again that I thought I’d already dealt with. I had to talk about hard things that happened to me that’s not always easy to talk about.
Sometimes tears can be cleansing tears, when we allow ourselves to feel. Feel what you’re feeling, and allow that to flow through your tears.
Tip #3: Take Some Time Off
Sometimes we just need to unplug.
I’ve had really extreme deadlines over the last month or so trying to get the book done. I’ve talked about it in other videos, so I’m sure you’ve probably already heard, but I have all these things that I have to do every week in order to stay on schedule.
Now, I can always push it back if needed, but so far I’m on schedule. But sometimes you just need to take some time off, so I took a couple days almost completely off last week, and just did not do any work as I also didn’t feel like I could do it; I wasn’t in a place mentally to do it.
So when you’re in a funk, take some time away and take some time off. It is OK if you need to pivot and shift, change the deadlines, or change things up a little bit.
I’m a driven person and I sensed God saying to me, “Shelley, it’s OK. It’s OK if you have to move this back. It’s OK if you don’t get everything done right now. These are things you’re putting on yourself, pressure you’re putting on yourself, and it’s not helping.”
And I finally realized, “OK, if I don’t get it done this week it’s not the end of the world. If I don’t publish this book in November it’s not the end of the world.”
Although, I really do want to publish it in November so that it’s ready for the Christmas book buying season. They say that a majority of books are purchased from November 15th through January 15th. So we started an accountability group to get a book published before Christmas in AuthorAudienceAcademy.com last week. So fun!
I’m going to continue working on my book. That’s my goal. I want to finish it in time for the book buying season. But I also need to realize that it’s OK if I don’t get it done.
Tip #4: Get into Nature
Nature is a good way to refresh and restore energy.
I forced myself to get out and take some walks, to get out and be in the sunshine and fresh air.
If you have a trail close by, you can just take a short walk and enjoy nature. It’s so refreshing to be in nature, disconnect from technology, and reconnect to our Creator through nature.
Tip #5: Listen to Music
Research has proven that listening to music changes your mood.
I have several playlists that I have on my phone. They are available through Amazon Prime so I can also get it on my computer as well. I have playlists that I can just put on and I can listen to that music and it almost immediately starts help in changing my mood.
Although it doesn’t always do the trick of the complete flip, it really does help.
Tip #6: Talk to Someone You Trust
Sometimes the swirling thoughts get going up in our mind and we can’t get free of those swirling thoughts until we get it out.
It really helps if you just talk to someone you trust. My mom, my sister and my husband are three people that I talk to. I’m able to process some things and so I’m able to talk it out.
Sometimes talking to a pastor and counselor can also be very helpful. I’ve been through Christian counseling many times and it’s been helpful just to talk it out and process it.
Journaling can also be something that can help. However, when I recommend journaling, people are like, “but I don’t want anyone to see my journal!”
Tear it up, throw it away, or destroy it afterwards if you have to. Sometimes it’s just good to get it out on paper.
Generally, it’s just good to get it out.
Tip #7: Reevaluate
You don’t have to feel bad about changing something or modifying something.
I’ve been reevaluating my systems, the way I do things and I’ve also been reevaluating my book project. So it went from twelve weeks, which was the original plan to eight weeks. And now from eight weeks it went down to seven. This is a good size. This is a good length.
And now, we’re over halfway through. So sometimes you need to reevaluate.
You don’t have to feel bad about modifying some things if they are for the better. We need that at times.
Bonus Tip: Be Careful About Making Decisions Too Quickly
If we are in a funk, our emotions can get the best of us.
So give some time to whatever major decisions you have to make and see if you still feel the same way a couple days later.
There are times that today, I’m in a funk but the very next day, I’ll wake up in the morning and it’s almost like a new and fresh start, and I’ll actually feel completely different. It’s like what the Bible says, “His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;” [Lamentations 3:23].
Then I’ll be so glad that I didn’t make a rash decision in the moment that I was in a funk.
So what helps you? Do you have other tips to share?
I shared this inside my private group for Author Audience Academy and had just a ton of really, really good feedback.
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Thank you so much for being here with me today. I pray that whether you’re in a funk now or later, these tips will help you, and you will continue to move forward in your book project.
I love to help you cross the finish line.
They say a lot of stress that people face is because they have so many unfinished projects. It’s really good just to start completing things and that’s what I specialize in. I’m a get-it-done type of author coach, and I’d love to serve you inside my Academy at AuthorAudienceAcademy.com.
I’m in our Facebook group, active, every day, multiple times a day, and I am cheering you on. Have a great rest of your day, and I’ll see you next time.
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