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A post shared by ecofolks (@ecofolks) on Mar 31, 2019 at 3:00am PDT

The God-forbidden “slump.”

It can happen to the best of us, but we aren’t sure why or how we ended up there. All we know is we don’t feel as confident, we’re less driven, and way less down to get that drink with the old friend we’ve been promising to see more often.

Soon enough, we find ourselves caught up in a routine where our family and obligations are taken care of, but our personal well-being is repeatedly neglected.

I’m here to tell you that it’s equally important to give yourself the attention and appreciation you deserve, especially during a time when you don’t feel like all that and a bag of chips.

Here are some things you can do to find your way out of the slump:

1. Fuel your body.
You hear this all the time, and it seems obvious, but what you choose to put in your body really is one of the most important choices you’ll make in your day. The nutrients found in healthy foods play a huge role in keeping you feeling and looking great, so it’s important to keep your body well-nourished. Fine-tuning your diet will do wonders for you mentally and physically, then your confidence is sure to follow.

2. Get active.
Getting active doesn’t mean you have to go buy a gym membership and start following fitness Instagram or Pinterest pages. It just means you should take up an activity you enjoy and start including it in your weekly routine. Whether it be running, hiking, walking, or yoga, just make sure you’re actively moving your body and getting your heart rate going at least two to three times a week. Working out is proven to improve sleep and relieve stress—not to mention you’ll look better and better in the little black dress you’ve stuffed away in your closet.

3. Change your scenery on social media.
We all have 24 hours in a day, and there’s no use in using your valuable time to look at what somebody else does with their 24 hours—especially if that somebody only posts their seemingly “perfect” lives on social media. Try following pages that feature art, nature, food, animals, or anything more inspiring than an Instagram model and an expensive piece of property. You’ll start seeing more positive images fill your feed, instead of photos that might make you feel like whatever you’re doing isn’t good enough (because, spoiler alert: you’re doing great).

4. Get more sleep.
It’s a common misconception that adults only need six hours of sleep a night, and whoever came up with that is quite frankly full of it. You still need a minimum of seven hours of sleep, preferably seven to nine hours per night. And, no, five hours of sleep plus four cups of coffee is not an acceptable equivalent. There are several reasons why an adult might not get as great of a sleep as they want. They may be sleeping on the same old, saggy mattress they’ve had for 12 years, or maybe their mattress simply isn’t right for their sleeper type. For example, did you know side sleepers generally need a softer bed that provides ample pressure relief for their hips and shoulders?

5. Find a mantra.
If you’re anything like me, the idea of looking at yourself in the mirror and repeating a sentence over and over to yourself is pretty corny, and maybe even a little awkward. That’s why I’m going to suggest you don’t always repeat a mantra in the mirror, but instead you start reciting some kind of meaningful saying to yourself every day. Whether it’s to remind yourself how great you are, how beautiful you are, or how hard you work, repeat it to yourself daily with enthusiasm like the little girl in the video below, and you’ll slowly but surely get out of that slump.
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6. Treat yo’ self.
There’s nothing wrong with rewarding yourself at the end of a long week, and I’m actually going to strongly encourage you to do so. Throw tip number one out the window and order that pepperoni pizza from your favorite restaurant that’s covered in grease. Splurge a little and treat yourself to a mani-pedi, or skip the salon prices and go buy a quality face mask for a relaxing night in. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that truly makes you happy. I’m not suggesting you max out your credit card and go buy a Gucci bag, but spoil yourself.

You go out of your way to make sure everyone else around you is taken care of, make sure you take care of yourself just as wholeheartedly.