Questions to Ask on the Rough Days
Sometimes you have to lower the bar for yourself…
Sometimes I just don’t feel like getting up. I don’t want to take my body out of my cozy bed. I don’t feel like interacting and I don’t feel like working. Usually, these days are accompanied by feelings of “blah”. Those days are normal.
A million sayings apply to these days- This too shall pass. A bad week is not a bad life, etc, etc, etc.
“Under any circumstance always do your best; No more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next. Everything is alive and changing all the time, so your best can sometimes by high quality, and other times it wont be as good” — The Four Agreements
On the days when I’m not feeling strong, I adjust what I’m doing to be less, to be easier, to be more doable. If you’re in a time when you’re feeling “blah” , think about how you can adjust.
You do not expect the same output from a sick person as you do from a healthy person. You shouldn’t expect the same from an energized, content you as you do from a “blah” you.
So when you’re feeling off, ask yourself ‘what does my best look like right now?’ Lower the bar for yourself accordingly. Let yourself put in 30–80% less of the effort that you would normally do.
This removes the idea that your performance should be at the same level every single day.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” Wayne Dyer
Sometimes how you feel is completely circumstantial. Maybe you feel off because of something that your friend said or something that they didn’t say. Maybe you feel “blah” because you have a ton of deadlines and they’re killing your freedom. When you experience this, try asking yourself ‘how can I change the way that I’m looking at this?’
When faced with a situation, look back and ask yourself ‘what has helped me to feel good in the past?’
Our emotions are messages. Sometimes they’re saying ‘hey, you need a day off and sometimes they’re saying ‘hey, you need to change.
Everyone, in their life, has a bunch of buckets that need to be filled or at least somewhat maintained. You’ve got your general self-care bucket — you need to sleep, eat decently, move around once in a while. All those things, when maintained, will make you feel a lot better as a human being.
But everyone also has their own personal buckets, specific to them. A bucket that, if not maintained, will leave them feeling weird. Take the time to get to know your buckets.
My personal buckets are writing, reading, staying organized, and staying active. If I feel off and unhappy, I can visit those buckets and know which one is not filled.
Once you know your buckets, ask yourself how “inline” you are with them. Where are you lacking and how can you fill up more?
There could be something lacking in your self -care and you don’t even realize it.
Another way to feel better when you feel “blah” is to take on a project that makes you feel excited. There are many resources available online that can help you get started.
Sprinkle small, achievable self care activities during your day. What are the small things that bring you joy that you can schedule throughout your daily routines? Is there a friend you could meet for a walk? A brief time for a spiritual renewal or reflection? A coffee or tea you enjoy? A pet you can cuddle with? Journaling a list of things you are grateful for? No matter how small, a self-care activity can go a long way.
I have to say I’ve been a fan of self-help my whole life. But sometimes you need help from an outside source. This information is geared toward people who are feeling “blah” but know that they can get out of it and they feel like they’re capable of moving out of that space. It’s just a normal bout of “blahness”.
If you think what you feel is not a normal bout of blahness, that it’s something bigger than that, I encourage you to seek outside help.
“On particularly rough days when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%. And that’s pretty good — Author Unknown