How to get out of a slump

Have you ever found yourself in a slump? It’s a horrible feeling. You feel as if you’re at the bottom of a pit, and the pit is full of quick sand, and that pop song you hate is stuck on repeat, and then it starts to rain…

You know the feeling. Me too.

Regardless of the length and depth of the slump you’re in, I’ve always found breaking out of it to be simple once you focus on two things.

Our actions and attitudes.

The good news is these are two things we can control.

Here are three simple keys to retake control and break out of your slump:

1. Remember what you want  – When you’re in a slump it’s easy to forget your goals. Focus on your next goal and get a clear picture of what it is. I’d recommend writing it down and speaking it out loud a few times per day. Clarity and commitment to those goals will lead to results. Aim small to win big.

2. Daily habits – Good habits are hard to make and easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to make and hard to live with. Make sure your daily habits are consistent with the outcome you want. What you do every day is in your control.

3. Be hopeful and accept the results – Accepting the results will allow your creative mind to think about what’s ahead instead of dwelling on the past. You can’t “undo” the past, so why complain or get upset?

Exercise:

If you can accomplish the keys above for an entire day, give yourself a “+“ for that day. If you forget to look at your goals, don’t complete your daily habits or whine about something not going the way you expected, give yourself a ”-“ for that day. At the end of the week your goal is to have 7 “+‘s.”

Use this exercise and the three tips above to master your actions and attitudes, and you’ll be on your way out of your slump.