Waking up in a Funk

Some days it is harder to Jar The Ground than other days. We all have experiences like this. You may wake up in a funk; with a mind set that is tainted from the moment your eyes open. This happened to me just a couple days ago and that urge to just sleep in (really, brood in) was strong.

I woke up in a funk after having a dream about my brother, who passed away five years ago. I could not remember the exact details of the dream, but I dream about my brother regularly. It is part of having unexpectedly lost my only sibling, who I was very close to. Occasionally these dreams can even make me agitated and fearful. This is not often, but when this happens the dreams bring on a wave of grief that is reminiscent of the first year after my brother died.

Many people awaken more than a little bummed they have to go to work, start some task they dread, have to deal with confrontation with a friend, loved one, or coworker, etc. We all encounter this morning funk at some time. The activity below can help with that funk and other things that get in the way of your efforts to Jar The Ground.

In order the deal with this and get moving, I find it helps:

• To write about what I am feeling in my journal and get those emotions out and acknowledge they are there. Writing can be very cathartic and helps to relieve some of the stress and feelings of powerlessness. Also, I am DOING SOMETHING, which is better than lying in bed staring into space or the alarm clock.

• To think of one item from my to-do list and focus in figuring out what it will take to get all or part of it done before the end of the day or an earlier deadline if needed. As an example: if I need to clean the garage, I write up a list of the various things that need to be done and pick a reasonable set of items that I can accomplish in the allotted time for the  project for this day. If I have a work item that has to be finished: I look at the smaller pieces that need to be accomplished. I make a check list. Feeling organized helps A LOT!

After I have accomplished the writing (about 10 minutes) and have made progress toward a goal, I usually feel better knowing I took control of the situation.
Not everyday will be the same. Some days it will be more difficult for you to Jar The Ground, The point is that when you are in a funk you try and overcome the demotivating mindset and continue to work toward progress. This feeling of doing better in the face of upset, worry, stress and sadness is a huge part of the Jar The Ground philosophy. Make forward progress every day that it is possible, no matter how little or insignificant that progress seems at the time.