Normally, the word “funk” is awesome! Like, “play that funky music, white boy!” Or “we want the funk!” But sometimes “funk” means you’re stuck. You’re in a rut that you can’t seem to get out of.

If you find yourself in a funk (which we all do from time to time!), the good news is, your situation is temporary. Here are some steps you can always take to get out of a funk.

Create a routine

If you’re feeling totally out of whack, defeated, or just totally unmotivated, I’m willing to bet that you’re not following any sort of routine at the moment. Or maybe you ARE… but that routine just isn’t working for you (e.g. you wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner in front of the TV, go to sleep, and repeat).

I’ve been there.

And sure enough, every time I’ve found myself in a funk, there’s no helpful routine to be found. And because of that, I’m not devoting time to things that matter to me, working on my biggest “frogs” (and feeling the resulting sense of accomplishment), or fitting in workouts and helpful practices the way I need to.

Luckily, the fix here is easy: implement a routine. Or CHANGE your routine, if you’re current one isn’t doing you any favors. Make sure this routine happens in the morning, and sets you up for total success. (Check out my blog post on how to create your perfect morning routine here).

Start a daily challenge

Funks tend to happen when we feel listless – like we’re not doing anything of value, like nothing we do really matters, like we’d just generally “rather not.”

When you’re in a funk, you feel unmotivated. So, the best way to break out of a funk is to jump-start your motivation. And daily challenges are a great way to do this. Whether it’s an exercise challenge, a motivation challenge, a confidence-building challenge, or anything else, challenges help you create positive momentum. They build your pride since you can SEE tangible progress, and motivate you to keep going, and to continue those feelings of pride and self-worth.

Read a book

Netflix may be your go-to when you’re in the funk-zone, but consider picking up a book. Specifically an uplifting book (my current faves: You Are a Badass, Girl, Wash Your Face, and – of course – 35 Days of Confidence). When you open yourself up to the experiences, wisdom and inspiration of others, you may find something that resonates with you, and helps YOU in your moment of need. As human beings, we thrive on shared experiences. And you’re much more likely to find one in a book than on a Netflix binge. (Sorry – it’s the truth!)

Force yourself to hang out with other people

Similar to when you’re dealing with the after-effects of rejection, when you’re in a funk, you probably have a tendency to just hole up at home, and escape reality for a while. But cutting yourself off from the world will only make you feel MORE secluded and unmotivated.

Instead, force yourself to get out of the house and hang out with other people. Meet a close friend for coffee. Call a family member. Even just heading to a public place, like a mall or a movie theatre can provide you with just the teensiest bit of human interaction to help shake you out of your internal struggle.

Funks happen. Even to the most confident, self-motivated people! The important thing is to know what works for YOU to break out of them, and continue being your awesome, purpose-fueled self.