3 Things To Do When You're Slumping

Sometimes a slump happens after an intense few months of launching a book.

Sometimes, we slump when sales feel slow, or wonder why we ever got excited about our work, or we’re just bored in the day-to-day machinery of our lives.

Slumps happen. They are happening. They will happen.

Here are three things that I try to do when I’m feeling slumpy:

1. Thank someone.

Thank them, out loud, on the phone, to their face.

Thank them so off guard that you startle them.

Thank them when they’re doing their job on an unremarkable day.

Thank them for saying something that stuck with you three months ago.

Thank them for making eye contact, taking extra care to pack your groceries, for writing a review, for sharing a perspective so long ago but you’re still thinking about it.

I find getting out of myself and passing appreciation to someone else, not only straightens my emotional spine, but the recipients’ as well. Double-double.

2. Build up a business

I’m pretty good at recommending a fun restaurant, passing along the contact of a hair stylist, or hitting “share post” if I think it offers someone a laugh or value.

However, the real slump-off effort comes when it takes an extra three clicks or three extra minutes.

“That receptionist was really on it today” - make the exhausting three-clicks and type a one-sentence Google review for that business.

Enjoyed a coffee shop stop? Pic, post, tag. (Tag being the effort and the most useful to the business.)

Write a “say more” GoodReads review. I try to make my review headlines something that may stop a scroll and make a reader curious enough to read on.

And — (this is a WIP for me) — instead of telling someone they’d also love the book I just finished, just buy it for them. In my opinion, benefiting the book economy by giving something to both a reader and an author is a sweet $23 slump-expense.

3. Bench yourself. Take a water break.

This does not mean taking a lukewarm bath in your slump.

This means - take yourself out of your game for a period. Get some water. Listen to a song. Take a walk. Touch a tree in a random place. Walk your dog without your phone. Call your dad.

The next period is about to start - and it needs you fresh.

BUT…. if you’re still feeling too slumpy to try these things, I’ve got one last suggestion for you:

The next time someone asks how you are, tell them you’re “Currently working through moments of malaise.” At the very least, you’ll hear yourself sound clever, introspective and sharp.

Bonus points when you start believing it.

-Megan