Monday, March 21, 2022

Beyond Blah

In 2021, the New York Times published an article outlining the dominant emotion of the year: languishing.

Languishing means you’re not quite depressed, but you’re not thriving, either. You’re stuck in that awkward middle place of just feeling blah.

According to the article, languishing is a “sense of stagnation and emptiness. It feels as if you’re muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield.”

Although languishing is not a mental health emergency, it can still decrease your motivation and focus and make you indifferent. If left untended, research suggests it can often lead to a mental health crisis.

At work, a prolonged sense of languishing could decrease morale, increase minor mistakes and missteps, and even compromise safety. So how can we lessen languishing and move beyond the blah at work?

5 Ways to Beat the Blahs

1. Check in
Make it a daily practice to check in on yourself and take your mental temperature. Am I feeling drained? Tired? Empty? Could I use an emotional pick-me-up? If so, try some of the options listed below.

2. Celebrate the small
The pandemic was a catastrophic world event that disrupted many things in our personal lives and workday routines. To avoid feeling overwhelmed and defeated, focus on small, everyday accomplishments. Did you eat a delicious breakfast this morning? Did you share a laugh with a coworker? Did you finish a task that you were avoiding for weeks? Take a moment to celebrate small successes.

3. Creative connections
Stay-at-home orders and multiple lockdowns made normal socializing and get-togethers much more difficult, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. If you can do so safely, find ways to connect with friends and coworkers alike. Even a simple 15-minute chat break can do wonders for your soul.

4. Changes and challenges
Start thinking ahead. When you have something planned for the future to look forward to, it may keep the blahs at bay. Think of new things to challenge you or small changes you can make to disrupt your daily routine. Could you learn a new skill? Tackle a task you’ve been delaying? Create a plan and list small, concrete steps you can take to get there.

5. Care for yourself
If you were feeling under the weather, you might take vitamins, drink herbal tea, and get some rest. Try doing the same for yourself when you’re languishing. Don’t push yourself to be energetic and peppy if you’re feeling blah. Get some rest, stay hydrated, and take some time for yourself.

Sources: nytimes.com, betterup.com

Beyond Blah

5 Ways to Beat the Blahs

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