How To Get Out Of a Funk: 4 Strategies I Use Every Time
You're not alone in how you feel, ~and~ you can do something about it.
Welcome back to the Weekly Hurdle! This newsletter is free and will stay free thanks to sponsors and the individuals that opt-in to give. Your support is so really appreciated.
Presented by Hyperice:
I really loved your feedback on this post a few weeks ago. My goal, as I say at the beginning of every episode of Hurdle, is to help women live healthier, happier, more-motivated lives. And although I have a slew of certifications to do that safely — including my CPT (certified personal trainer) via ACE, certified running coach via UESCA, level one Precision Nutrition, and Certified Professional Coach via iPEC (you can liken this to a life coach) — that doesn’t mean I always have all of the answers or am able to follow my own advice. Sure, I could pretend to be flawless and all-knowing, but eh — it’s just not my schtick.
Vulnerability is relatable. And although at times “perfection” can be aspirational, it’s not.
Earlier this week, I fell deep in the comparison trap and it really threw me for a loop. I’m talking about that on today’s installment of 5-Minute Friday (if you’re not yet subscribed to Hurdle, go ahead and slam the button below).
… I’ll save the particulars for the pod, but I did want to offer up the four strategies I used to get out of a funk here, should they be useful for you, too:
1. Remove Yourself: Something I started doing within the last few years of being my own boss was making the call when things just aren’t clicking, to pivot. Frustrated at my desk, I made the deliberate choice to get up, go into my bedroom, and do something else on my to-do list that had nothing to do with work — go through and re-organize my entire closet. Me standing next to a massive pile of clothing, making progress on said pile of clothing, and completing a task made me feel more calm.
2. Talk to Someone: Coincidentally, I had my weekly appointment with my life coach this day. It felt so good to talk to her about where my head was at, and I definitely felt a bit lighter after our chat.
3. Write Things Down: Paired with the life coaching session, taking time to journaling was something else that helped me get the thoughts out of my head. The phrase “there is help in the hurt,” was something I said during the call that really stuck with me, and I wrote for about 15 minutes on why the things that are frustrating me could be happening for me and what I can do to choose the gratitude in this circumstance. I also answered the prompt: “What does success look and feel like to you?”
4. Move My Body: I had already done a run in the morning, it was absolutely gross outside, so I decided to do a 10-minute yoga class from Open (get a free 30 days here). I’ll be honest, I rarely (if ever) do at-home yoga, but the 10-minute class I picked really was exactly what I needed. I’ve been telling myself forever that at-home yoga just isn’t as good as in-studio, but really, it’s just different. Sometimes, different is necessary.
After yoga, I braved the dreary and took myself to Trader Joe’s to snag some dinner ingredients. I treated myself to some eucalyptus (above), and the fresh air did me good, too.
Ultimately, I know this to be true: I have the power not to let a bad minute (or, hour) make the day bad. And so do you, too. So, we keep moving and grooving. We get to, after all.
So tell me: When was the last time you were in a funk? And what did you do to get out of it?
Keep hurdling,
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
I’m Listening To: Cowboy Carter by Beyonce
”Blackbird” and “Protector” on repeat. Also, “II Most Wanted” is fire. I’m not much of a country fan, but this album has been looping all week long in the studio.
I’m Watching: March Madness Final Four
The excitement I have for tonight’s UConn v. Iowa match-up is unrivaled. Game’s at 9:30 p.m. ET, which means I will most definitely need a nap today.
I’m Watching: Girls5Eva on Netflix
I don’t know how I missed this in 2021, but I stumbled upon it last week, I’m not on season two, and it makes me giggle. I think anything Sara Bareilles touches turns to gold (Waitress, anyone?) — so when I saw she was in the cast I was sold.
Gear I’m Loving: Reebok FloatZig 1
Been running in these for weeks, and now that they’re finally out — sharing them with you! This is one of those rare sneakers that is ideal for both running and hitting the gym. It feels both sturdy and cushioned — as well as mega lightweight. You know I adore the all white colorway.
Prompt I’m Loving: How do you want to feel and what can you do to make that happen?
Quote I’m Loving: “A woman who doesn’t give up can never lose.”
Thanks to Hyperice for supporting Hurdle.
I take recovery very seriously, and a integral part of my toolkit is the lineup of Hyperice products, including Hypervolt percussion massage, Normatec air compression technology, and Venom heat and massage wearables. I use all of their products throughout my training for the Tokyo Marathon, but my favorite are the Normatec Go sleeves, which are portable compression sleeves small enough to fit in any travel bag so I can recover while on the road. Sat in the Normatec Boots myself for about an hour yesterday while answering emails — talk about hyper-productivity :)
Get 15% off the entire product suite on hyperice.com with code HURDLE15 at checkout.
NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎧: 296. Finding Inner Peace: Rebeckah Price On How To Combat Stress & Come Back To Calm
Open up your notes app or grab a pen and paper because Nike global trainer and yoga teacher Rebeckah Price is back on Hurdle. Centering our conversation around combating stress and how to come back to calm, Rebeckah offers so many good nuggets of advice when life feels hectic. We talk about the importance of movement and breathwork, seeking out talk therapy, utilizing routines in life and taking note of what your inputs are — from people to food to social media — and how to adjust to curate a better experience.
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Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next week.
I am in a funk and have been for the past month. A lot of uncertainty with my career right now and at 25. I feel very lost in what my best next step is. While I know all this change is good and eventually something is going to be transformative, I’m going to lean into writing, (as you stated above) and be intentional to how I my body. I’m training for my first marathon, so I’m putting a lot of energy into that mentally.
I recently descended into a funk after sitting through (an unexpected) talk about eating disorders and it brought up a lot of feelings I didn’t realise I had about my experiences with binge eating. While I spiralled initially after a few days of reflection and a session with my therapist I decided to focus on being grateful for the fact that I am no longer in that place. Changing the perspective helped a lot.