Maybe you’ve noticed the silence round these parts and maybe not but it’s been a frustrating couple of months. It started, as it often does with life getting in the way. The stress of job hunting – I’m all good with change but uncertainty does my head in – then trying to settle into a new routine of commuting in London. My small support network in England was turned on it’s head when Mum and Dad needed to return to New Zealand to care for my Poppa for a few months. Then, I had a project that didn’t quite work out the way I’d envisaged. Then the sinking feeling began that, though a good company, the position I was in was not the best fit. Cue grumpiness, a desire to wear only pyjamas and No-mojo walking on in and settling down for a couple of months. My natural instinct is to be an optimitst, but this was an uphill battle.
I know I’m not alone in experiencing this from time to time, so I thought I’d share some small things that I find help.
THE LIFESTYLE BITS
One of the key things when you’re feeling stressed and time-poor is to remember that it’s not so much about time management as it is about energy-management (I remember reading this comment somewhere – I think it was from Tilly – and I hope I’m not misquoting too horrendously).
Spring Clean – Go hard for 1 hour, it’s amazing how much you can achieve and the workout provides much needed endorphins. It’s always much easier to clear your head in a clean space.
Broccoli Frittata
Eat a real meal – It can be hard when you’re only cooking for yourself but even grabbing a pre-made bag of salad and an omelette gives you a bit of protein and some green veggies.
Pop a B-vitamin – Ladies (and particularly vegetarians like myself) are often low in Vitamin B which can lead to feeling like a sad clown.
Meditate – I’m one of those people who can’t turn their brain off voluntarily so I like to try and meditate for 15 minutes before I go to sleep at night. Just google “free guided meditation” for a range of audio tracks. This is my current fave.
Sleep – Even a single extra hour helps so at 10pm on week nights on goes the guided meditation. I make a deal with myself that if I’m still awake at the end of it I can watch a tv show but for the most part I don’t make it that far.
Music – Find a playlist you love and crank it loud (suggestions heartily welcomed). I love 8tracks.com for it’s random selections.
Make a change – I’ve found a position that’s a better fit and had a verbal job offer on Thursday.
Appreciate your surroundings - yesterday I was riding on the top story of a double-decker bus heading to Oxford Street whilst reading the Guardian newspaper. It was one of those moments where I remembered how lucky I was to be experiencing life in another country.
THE INSPIRATION BITS
Spend time with your (Bloggy) Friends – Catching up on everyone’s projects and tutorials is a great kickstart. It’s such a genuine and supportive community to participate in. I’m putting together a Blog Roll page right now so it’s a great excuse to catch up.
Take on a Challenge – Me-Made-May’12, The Colette Palette Challenge, or if you’re not ready to part with the PJs then Karen’s Pyjama Party.
Window Shop – Like many sewers, I don’t really shop any more so taking time to browse through the High Street can provide inspiration. My British picks – Toast, Whistles, and Cos.
Cos/Toast/Whistles by lazystitching
Try a Different Craft – much like a change of scenery, swapping sewing for a knitting or crochet project can get your motivation running again.
Shopping – Browsing the newest releases like Colette Pattern’s latest can get the creative juices flowing or even better, fabric shopping with friends.
Colette Patterns: Hazel Dress
What do you do when you’re in a funk?
Well, I’m in an unexpected funk this afternoon so have climbed into my PJs and taken out some knitting. I find knitting very reassuring. Thanks for the meditation link. You’re right, a good night’s sleep can put most things right. Congratulations on the new job! You’ve been very brave and strong and deserve lots of happiness now.
I know what you mean about knitting – there’s something almost meditative in the repetition!
Oh I’ve been through a good 6 month struggle. For immediate pick me up, pink grapefruit, both the smell and food remind me of being a happy little kid essentially stealing my dad’s breakfast as he was cutting into a grapefruit for himself.
Music… Jamiroquai if I need energy, The Undesireables/Corin Raymond have lots of great songs about lonliness and emotions that can be interpreted as needed (One Fine Day for example) if I want to wallow.
Sewing is good for me when my thoughts are circling around negative words, I have to focus on the next stitch rather than whatever crap has been circling around endlessly. The problem can be about starting a project because I struggle with decision making at that point. That’s where pushes like a sew along or blogs or something like Sorbetto that is so easy you can’t feel overwhelmed is great. Or fabric shopping for some retail therapy…
Seraphinalina recently posted..I may have gone to Fabricland
Oh a big yes for Jamiroquai! Little L used to be my pump it up song when I was working hospitality
I am so thrilled that you’re back! You have single-handedly revolutionized my knowledge of the full bust adjustment! The funk is a perpetual thing – I’ve been working two people’s jobs at work which has been the ultimate drain, but somehow my sewing has been the thing that seems to recharge me, that is of course until I hit a snag with fitting a pattern or something else. I find my favorite music helps, especially Joni Mitchell, coupled with some chai tea. Glad to hear you’ve found a job better suited to your talents! Hope all goes well!
Thank you! Joni always reminds me of my mum so I love it all
I totally get where your coming from! What with dissertation and other Uni stuff my mojo went south too! I’ve been mucking about with a few things but they haven’t been working. Don’t stress is a great tip!
Congrats on the new job! xx
Stevie recently posted..In Progress or Reveals?…
Thanks chick, wishing you lots of good thoughts with the dissertation x
Hey sweetheart. So nice to see your head popping up again, I was both missing you, and worried for you. I’m sorry to hear you have been in a bit of a funk, sounds like you are dealing with in a really healthy way though – I’d just drink my way out of it
. Don’t forget I am just an email away if you need an ear (well and eye, but you know what I mean). Hope Poppa is improving, just as life seems to be for you. Kia kaha Alana.
Thanks hun xo
Nice to see you back Alana! It can be so frustrating when your mojo goes but you just have to go with it and do something else for a bit. I agree with you that sewing should be fun, so when it stops being so, having some time out is a good thing.
Kerry recently posted..Finished: 1940s Fairisle Sweater
I’ve been thinking about you. So glad you’ve lifted that fog. I’ve been there, so I feel ya. Congrats on the new job!
Melizza recently posted..A lovely Monday
Love your action plan for revivement of mojo!
Plus, v. brave re: job move (but you gotta do what you’ve gotta do to be happy ‘n’ tru to yourself so well done on taking that step) – and good luck on that front hun.
(P.S. The offer re: loan of my old overlocker still stands.)
Claire (aka Seemane) recently posted..Double Ham on a Roll, Hold the Mayo!
I find going for a long walk helps me to clear my head when everything is too much. Hope you’re ok.
unlabelled clothes recently posted..Making the wild flowers top
Glad you got your mojo back and many congrats on the new job, I’m really pleased for you! This is an excellent post, one that many (including myself) will relate to. It’s super helpful because I haven’t figured out a single way of getting out of my funks yet…so frustrating!
Marie recently posted..Want a crotch this hot?
I’m having a bit of a stressful time at the moment too so I’ve been throwing myself at the gym and doing this running program called Couch to 5K (or C25K for short), it’s just what I need, some goals outside of using my brain and I am doing surprisingly well at it.
I also did a hardcore 1 hour spring clean in my mess of a sewing room on Saturday morning and surprise, surprise, I actually got quite a bit of sewing done on the Sunday!
I also agree with the music thing (I’m using it to zone out while I run for periods longer than I ever thought possible for me!) and also reading is great too. I love a good fantasy book (currently hooked on Robin Hobb), it’s great to curl up and escape into a completely different world for a bit.
Good luck with the new job, sometimes you just have to do what makes you happy xx
kaitui_kiwi recently posted..BurdaStyle Magazine February 2012
So glad to see you back! These are all good tips. I went through a horrible funk that lasted for about a year after I moved to Florida. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone! I’ve had a similar experience every time I’ve moved but it’s been well worth it in the end
Good luck at your new job and I hope things get better for you soon.
Shona recently posted..Colette Spring/Summer Palette Challenge
Great to see you back and good on you for recognising that your previous job wasn’t what you hoped and having the courage to find something that was a better fit.
Excellent tips for working your way through a low patch – I find Dave Dobbyn’s ‘Welcome Home’ is great if I just need a good cry, and I agree music and more sleep help immensely!
Wendy recently posted..Jalie 2911 Women’s Pullovers
I go for a walk. And listen to happy music. And then I have ice cream, either Sara Lee Rocky Road, or Maggie Beer Burnt Fig. Either make me happier.
Hope it all goes well with the alternate job!
Michelle recently posted..Me-Made-May – the red dress dream
Maggie. Beer. Burnt. Fig. Yes.
Pixie recently posted..Completed: Scalloped and sleeved sorbetto!
Okay seriously – I am going to have to hunt this out although I’m guessing if it’s Maggie Beer then it may only be available in Austrailia
congrats on the new job! hope it goes well for you
interesting post – thanks for the link to the meditation track – I often find that when I’m in a funk my mind wanders and I can’t get to sleep. I find the best way to get out of a funk is to get into the countryside – trees and grass and sky usually fix me, but aren’t so easy to come by when living in central London!
shivani recently posted..Just too too lovely
Yes – at home I’d jump down to the beach which is a little harder to do in London
wow, thanks for sharing all this, I’ll fav this post because I think I can need some of this even when not feeling particularly down. I really like the lifestyle bits, they’re simple things but can make a great change
sophie (monbouton) recently posted..Preparing pyjama party sewalong
Thank you x
Glad to see you back! Your new blog design looks lovely – very clean and fresh. When I’m in a funk I find painting my toes/fingers bright red cheers me up no end! Hope things continue upwards for you.
Thanks – Spring cleaning the blog too
Great to see you back! I confess I went directly to your website a few times to make sure my Google Reader wasn’t missing you!
All of your suggestions are great, but making good food and cleaning a bit are huuuge ones for me. When I’m in a funk I seem to make these things into much huger ordeals than they actually are. Your suggestion of just setting a goal for an hour of cleaning is amazing – I’m always surprised at how much better I feel when I attack my surroundings in a short burst!
Sometimes when I’m in a creative funk I love to tackle something really technical. I’ve been a bit blocked this week and sat down last night to measure all the dimensions of a 60s shirtdress pattern, and devise fit strategies before the muslin stage. My head was so swimming with numbers and adjustment methods that there was no room to worry about anything else!
Pixie recently posted..Completed: Scalloped and sleeved sorbetto!
Absolutely – sometimes when my brain is full I try sudoku for that same reason.
Thanks for all the reminders and fresh ideas. I have been job hunting too and find it saps my creativity. Best of luck with the new position!
Sigrid recently posted..New Things
Wishing you awesome luck, too x
Thanks for the tips – I’m experiencing jet lag coupled with too-much-to-do stress (which is why I’m procrastinating reading blogs), so these ideas really help. The energy management rather than time management thing came from my mentor – you can have all the time in the world but when you need to get stuff done what you really need is energy, so create it by looking after your health and save it by not wasting it on stuff you don’t really care about.
I hope you’re feeling much much better now, my dear. Oh and congrats on the job offer! Do give me a shout if you fancy going for a coffee or cocktail or browse around a fabric shop to keep our mojo levels running high
xx
Tilly recently posted..A Day in the Life of Perri Lewis – craft writer
Great post. Sounds like you have had an ‘interesting’ time lately. Good luck in your new job – I hope it fits better than the last, and that the mojo returns in good time!
Glad to see that you are back at it! Don’t let grumpiness rule the day!