How to overcome a dull day?

Ever had a dull and drab today where your zeal was at an all time low and then suddenly:

1. An old friend rings you up out of the blue OR
2. A curious message pops-up OR
3. An appreciative email arrives OR 
4. Your social media post receives an unforeseen response OR
5. Your favorite movie crops up as an OTT recommendation OR
6. You get invited out for a sudden plan

Wouldn't we all want to have such external things motivate us time and again whenever we are down?

Looking elsewhere for motivation seems easy but we keep forgetting that:

1. Nobody has time for us  The same people who thronged to our side when we are popular and successful also limit their interactions when their priorities change. Over time any tête-à-tête with such people becomes ponderous and only adds to our discontent   
2. Diversions aren't a long-term remedy An edge-of-the-seat OTT series, a heart warming movie, an inspiring win for the side you are rooting for, an evocative trip with buddies. All of these provide much needed shots in the arm for a short while but what happens when the routine resumes. Sure, you can hunt for something more stimulating to watch or plan more outings with buddies. What happens when they get over too? What happens to the life that happens in-between these plans? Will your life be all about finding exits for the tedium you encounter?
3. Idle mind is devil's workshop
   Managing ourselves on the days we have work is fairly easy as our schedule takes care of our sluggishness. The holidays and days-off are a different matter altogether. We are more susceptible to negativity when we are not occupied with our mind wandering off into pointless analyses and futile comparisons. Instead of wasting an entire day reimagining what could have been its healthier to refocus in the direction of what's next. 

Make a dull day count <Credits: Siavash Ghanbari>

Life is all about making dull and drab days work for you. While there could be a multitude of external motivating factors, you should also try looking within for the boost to rev up your life's engines. Next time, you come across a tedious day: 

1. Think of one thing you can get right on that specific day
2. Tackle at least one of the items on your backlog - Specifically take on that item which you have been putting off for a long time. Try to fix/get it fixed such that you don't have to come back to it later. The best thing you can do on a dull day is setting a micro-goal and then go about achieving it
3. Evolve a plan for achieving a goal on your bucket list - If you don't have one, start building a bucket list. Activities like this help you fight negativity and move your focus away from the past events.
4. Make a list of people you need to thank for moulding your life in the right direction
5. Make a list of all the fortuitous factors which got you this far
6. Surprise yourself by doing something unexpected - Jolt your routine and spice it up. Anything that you can do to step out of your comfort will be a treasured memory. So:
1. If you are a movie buff go watch a play
2. If you are an outdoors person stay indoors and 
3. If you are an indoors person go out for a trek 

Finally while doing all of this, do cultivate gratitude for the life you are experiencing coz there are many others who are not nearly as fortunate as you. Remember it's up to us to infuse life into each day we are afforded. Next time, don't let a dull day overtake you. Fight it and make it count. 

 

Until Next Time,

Your dull day fighter,

Chaitanya J.J.