I’m having one of those periods where I feel like I have fallen into one of Dr. Seuss’ slumps and then wandered into the Waiting Place (from Oh, the Places You’ll Go! if you’re not a Dr. Seuss aficionado).
It’s certainly not that I don’t have enough to do. Right now I have more than enough on my plate, but I’m still having one of those slumps. It usually takes me a couple of days to figure out that’s where I am and then I have to find my way out again. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has this happen. I’m sure it’s a normal part of life. But just because it’s normal doesn’t mean we have to stay there. I don’t know what you do, but here are some of my tips for getting out of the Waiting Place.
Express Gratitude.
Often when I realize I am in the Waiting Place, I find that I have failed to have an “attitude of gratitude” in my life. I forget to be thankful for all the blessings I have and focus on my challenges instead. When I begin again to count my blessings and focus on the good things in my life, almost immediately, I can feel the fog begin to lift. This one thing alone can go a long way toward moving me out of a slump.
Do Something Different.
I am such a creature of habit. I find I’ve gotten pretty predictable in my daily routine. This all by itself can send me to the Waiting Place. Just changing the first thing I do in the morning, rearranging my daily schedule or just getting away from my work and my chores for a little bit–even walking the dog–helps pull me out of my slump. Instead of getting up first thing in the morning and knocking out a blog post or two or throwing in a load of laundry, maybe I need to whip up a batch of bread dough, go outside and see if I can photograph some early birds or early-blooming flowers or even go for an early morning bike ride. Just something different.
Get Some Exercise.
If you’re like me and you spend a good chunk of your day in front of the monitors (I have two on my computer–but my son has three!), it’s easy to get sedentary and lazy. A little exercise not only gets your circulation going and your heart pumping, but it can clear the cobwebs from your mind. So, now that my bike is working again, getting out is definitely in order (my favorite forms of exercise are hiking and biking and swimming–but swimming is kind of pricey these days and requires public appearance in a bathing suit-need I say more?). When I don’t have time to ride, I’ve started doing T-Tapp, which I find to be a really amazing exercise program, not only for getting everything moving, but for taking off some inches, too.
Have Some Fun.
We adults, we get way too wrapped up in all the stuff we HAVE to do. Good thing for me, I have kids. They are more than willing to remind me that I need to make time for fun. Fun is every bit as important as work. We all know that “all work and no play makes [me a dull mom].” It also doesn’t do much for my motivation and my creativity.
Eat Chocolate.
Scientists tell us that dark chocolate does all kinds of good things for our moods. And who am I to argue with such pleasant science? It stimulates endorphins, contains sertonin, lowers blood pressure and helps to relax us. Sounds like a recipe for getting out the Waiting Place to me. In fact, I think I’ll go and make some brownies right now.
I’m feeling better already.
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What do you do when you find yourself falling into the slump? How do you pull yourself out and become positive and productive again?
Wow! I don’t know what to say first!
I like the phrase you call it, the waiting place…makes it ‘feel’ ok to go through those times.
I am in that place right now and i hate it..i end up beating myself up for being ‘weak’ or something equally unrealistic.
I too am a creature of habit, sometimes its good and other times it isn’t yet i cant seem to break the cycle.
On the positive side, we know its temporary if we just change little things…one at a time. I really hope you move from your waiting place soon
Hugs from the uk.
I call this my wilderness, and I’ve spent a fair amount of time there. Although I agree wholeheartedly with your wise tools to get ourselves out of it, anymore I sometimes pause and consider whether it would be useful to spend some time there. I was reading the other day in Luke (about 4 I think) when the Lord “was led into the wilderness by the spirit” after his baptism. Sometimes our dark places are intentional, with great things to teach us. My wildernesses have provided me with great strength, and opportunity to converse quietly with God without other distractions, and solidified my trust in a God who brings us out of these times. I like how the Hebrew tardemah (sometimes translated “dream”) that was the state Adam was in before Eve arrived on the scene has the connotation of a depressed and therefore suggestive state.
I imagine you’re talking more about a funk, an unnecessary heavy state that is more a physical and emotional sludge, but I thought I’d also throw these thoughts in. I’m going to go get off my tuckus and get some exercise now!
Great thoughts, Bonnie. I like the “wilderness” idea. I find that when I am feeling in the wilderness that I do come out of it with the feeling that I’ve had the opportunity to make some new paths in my life and to discover previously uncharted territory. I always learn something in the end, though I don’t always enjoy it when I’m going through.
But of course, let’s eat chocolate! (and have fun while we’re doing it) If we can take the time to stop and really listen to that inner voice, happiness is ours for the taking!
Absolutely, Martha! And I’m quite sure that chocolate opens up those creative pathways and enhances everything. Right?
Gratitude and Chocolate! I am in one of those slumps too! But I know why…although it really doesn’t make it any easier
Thanks for posting this! I am confident it will help a lot of people 
I think it’s a common experience to hang in the waiting room every once in a while. Sometimes you have to regroup, recharge and move forward. I love your ideas! All of them require taking action and that’s truly what helps me get out of a slump. Thanks!
Marie Leslie, great to know some one else with a first name for a last name! Being from the South when I say my name is Brenda Lynn, I have often heard “Brenda Lynn what?” I am also a very avid Dr. Seuss fan and often an quoting the good doctor!
I too am in that Waiting Place. I’ve had very radical changes in my life in the last 3 years. I know where I want to get to, I am just trying to find the right vehicle to get me there!
Great post!
Brenda Lynn
Wow! There’s another one of me! I’ve gotten that too many times to count as well. I am in the same boat as you, Brenda, in the middle of redefining my focus and redrawing my map. Perhaps we can share a bit of our journeys together.
The waiting place is uncomfortable for sure…but always the dark before the dawn. If it includes dark chocolate it is bearable.
“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”
― Dr. Seuss
I see you are a fellow Dr. Seuss lover, Elaine. Thanks!
When I’m in that waiting place, that usually means I have to take a break. I’m over-thinking, I’m over-analyzing, I’m being too impatient for results. That’s where I get stuck.
Last week I attended a meeting and instead of going straight home to work on a blog post, I made a detour – to the movies! It was a much-needed break, and it allowed me to clear my mind a bit.
Loved the post – we all need to be reminded to get unstuck sometimes!
Sometimes a break from routine–and something completely different–is the best thing we can do. Sometimes we really need to upset the apple cart and stir up our lives a little bit to get back in the groove.
Great tips! Your choice for #1 was right on.
The last one was good too – lol
I load up on some chocolate til I fell better Marie! A Walk and Chocolate are great ways to lift a mood!
You know, the gratitude or even better appreciation makes all the difference in the world. When we write down about 10 things and feel … wow it just puts us in a wonderful and uplifting place after just doing it. Love all of your tips Marie, they for sure will get anybody out of that waiting place. Thank you!
My family must be in The Waiting Place. We want to move into a house, get a pet, and move out of the state. We want my husband to get a different job that will let him, you know, see his kids on weekdays. It seems like everything is on hold, waiting on that job. I can especially tell when it’s getting him down. I find that setting other goals and projects–things I can actually control–helps a lot. I’m writing a book, I just started blogging, and I’m working slowly towards my black belt in Shotokan Karate. I’ve been focusing a lot on those things lately, so I don’t get caught up in how other things seem stagnant right now.
Smart ideas, Heidi. When we focus on the things we can do something about, the “waiting place” things aren’t quite so prominent anymore. I spent a whole year in the waiting when my husband got a job out of state and I had to stay behind with the kids to get our house sold. It was so tough to feel like my entire life was on hold, so I definitely get where you’re coming from.