Building Your ” Get Over the Slump ” Plan

Building Your “ Get Over The Slump ” Plan

get over the slumpSlumps happen to all of us at times. We all get tired and drained. We all get overwhelmed. We all feel our enthusiasm and passion wane. As Dr. Seuss explained: “And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”

And when you find yourself in a slump, you have a choice to make: either A) choose to stay in the slump, wallow in your misery and let the “oh woe is me” take over, or B) choose to shake it off, get back on the grind and continue pushing toward your dream. It’s okay to choose Option A for a little while, but the longer you wallow, the worse you will feel.

One of the keys to being able to bounce out of a slump quickly is to be prepared. Just like every household here along the coast in South Carolina should have a hurricane evacuation plan, you as a small business owner should have a “ Get Over The Slump ” plan. Here are some suggestions as to what might be in your “ Get Over The Slump ” plan.

Slump-Buster #1: Gratitude List

This one is easy. If you haven’t already done so, sit down today and write out a list of all of the things you are grateful for. Once you think you’ve written down everything you can think of, review the list and I can guarantee you’ll think of more things. Keep adding to the list regularly. Then, when a slump hits, read the list to yourself, out-loud, from the very beginning. And really pay attention to the items on the list that hit you emotionally. Focusing on what you are grateful for in your life is a great way to bust out of a slump.

Slump-Buster #2: Upbeat Songs Playlist

get over the slumpMusic is one of those things that can change your mood in an instant. Make a playlist of all of your favorite happy, motivating songs. Any song that makes you feel energized and motivated should be on your list.

Slump-Buster #3: List of Parks, Walking Trails, Beautiful & Peaceful Places

One of the best ways to break out of a slump is to get out of the house or office and enjoy some nature. Take a walk. Soak up some Vitamin D. Listen to birds. Smell flowers. Listen to waves. Create a list of places to go because when you are in a funky slump, you won’t remember that fabulous boardwalk on the other side of town. You will only think about your backyard. And breaking out of a slump is easier when you change up your scenery and surroundings.

Slump-Buster #4: Stock up on Art Supplies

Feel a slump coming on? Spend some time being deliberately creative. Paint, draw, doodle, write a poem. The next time you are in the dollar store, pick up some crayons or watercolors and a drawing pad. Just let yourself play. It will do wonders for your mood and get you back on track to tackle the tasks on your to-do list.

Slump-Buster #5: List of Books You’d Like to Read

All entrepreneurs should have a list of books they want to read. Reading is essential to keeping the mind sharp, to learning new skills, and staying positive and motivated. Make a list and when you feel icky and overwhelmed, go to the library or your favorite book store and pull the book off the shelf and start reading.

Slump-Buster #6: Vision Board & Mission Statement

A lot of times, you can get out of the slump simply by re-connecting and re-committing to your Big Why and your vision. One of the best benefits of spending the time to write out your reasons for doing what you are doing and capturing your vision on a Vision Board is so that you can use them to motivate yourself to push forward. We are hosting a Vision Board workshop on June 14. Click here for more information.

Slump-Buster #7: Motivational Audio CDs

get over the slumpWhen I am in a slump, I know that I can pop-in Zig Ziglar’s CD of his “See You at the Top” presentation and I’ll be motivated and energized in the next hour. Invest in some audios of great motivational speakers like Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, and dozens more. Play them any time you need a boost of energy.

Slump-Buster #8: List of Supportive Colleagues to Call

No one should ever feel like they are in business alone. You aren’t! There are thousands of us out here and we’ve all felt frustrated, lost, overwhelmed, and ready to throw in the towel. Make a list of the people who have your back and support your dreams and visions and call them when you are feeling down. There’s nothing like a pep talk from a friend and colleague to get you back on-track.

Slump-Buster #9: A “What I’ve Done” List

Instead of focusing on your “To-Do” list, focus on what you have Done. Create a list of your accomplishments. You’ll amaze yourself when you see on paper how far you’ve come and what you have actually done. It’s a great motivator.

Slump-Buster #10: Meditate

Take some time to sit quietly by yourself and meditate. You might want to pop in a soothing meditation soundtrack or listen to some binaural beats. Whatever works for you. But sitting quietly for 30 minutes to an hour can often turn a slump and bad mood around.

Notice that none of my suggestions included getting on Facebook or Twitter. Social media is probably one of the worst places to go when you are in a slump. None of my suggestions involve watching television, especially the evening news. Feelings of overwhelm are usually a signal that you need to spend more time on YOU.

So get busy creating your “ Get Over the Slump ” plan so you’ll be prepared the next time the slump hits. Leave me a comment below of your favorite “ get over the slump ” activities.

Have a beautiful day,

Trina

2 Comments:

  1. Great ideas! I have tried several of them and found them to be quite positive. I love the idea of writing down what you have done rather than what you need to do. Thanks for the good advice.

    • Thanks Geri. Yes, the “Done List” really allows you to understand just how far you’ve come — it motivates you more than looking ahead and sighing at how far you still have to go …

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