We (don't) want the funk!

I thought I'd post this thread as a bit of a self therapy session and see how your experiences and tactics fare compared to my own...

The last couple of weeks, I've been in a bit of a funk. Not depressed, not angry, not regretful, just a funk. Some of you may have noticed my activity here drop off a bit. I can't really explain exactly how I'm feeling other than to say it's like a sense of frustration, though at or over what I cannot say.

To an extent, my job is in the same state as before I began feeling this way, though I have had a bit of added pressure recently. My marriage and fatherhood are still intact and thriving and seem healthy. I haven't lost any friends, nor had arguments with them. My self confidence is up where it normally is, and I really have few regrets in life. My diet and sleep schedule haven't changed either.

I just seem unsatisfied or ready for a change, which is usually the case when I get to feeling this way. This time just feels different, though. Stronger, somehow... I almost wonder if this is what getting old and crotchety is like, even though I'm in my early 30's...

After much internal reflection, the exact cause eludes me, but deep down, I know the solution is to simply pick myself up by my bootstraps and carry on. There's no sense in wallowing in bad feelings.

So, how many of you get into a funk from time to time, and what are your tactics for overcoming it? What do you think the main causes are (for you, anyway)?

I have noticed my energy level drop in the past month and I think it is due to the decrease in daylight hours. I am also eating more.
I have been fighting off a funk for at least six months-caused by financial problems, relationship issues,this wicked little town, and more financial problems. Something that helps me de-funk is hiking, fishing, and exercising.

Addition: I broke out my copy of The Three Pillars of Zen by Phillip Kapleau this morning. Reading some of the personal stories and meditating has improved my mood in the past. And of course, I find shaving with a straight and hanging out here at SRP inspirational and meditative.

I know what you mean, had a bit of a cold lately, starting to get a little chilly up here, and feeling a little bit of the old funk!

I take things as they come, I am where I'm supposed to be, and sometime you fade a little to blue, we can't all have great days. That, and a million other sayings, cliche's etc....

So, had to get some things accomplished today, did those without a great deal of steam, then figured I had better get my shave out of the way.

Down I went to my personal bathroom, sighed, lathered up, had a really nice shave (loving that Proraso Red more and more), used my brand new TI (wow), rinsed off, used the alum block, splashed some Club Pullman on....and lo and behold...I felt a lot better! Refreshed! Maybe the shave was a nice "grounding" for me, was just enough to change my attitude...remind me of the things I enjoy!

Everyone goes through similar down times. Exercise or an athletic sport definitely helps to break the cycle. Is there a project you've been wanting to do but never find the time to do it? This is the perfect time. The sense of accomplishment can get your mind turned around and your energy level up even if it's a fatiguing task. All the better if it's something you will enjoy afterward.

I don't know the daylight changes that occur in the other posters areas. I know for me, the summer months give us daylight from 3AM to 11PM, and the winter solstice approaches, it is 9AM to 5PM. This has an effect on me. I'm like a bear and feel the need for a lot of sleep and not much energy for activities. Perhaps we all feel it no matter what our latitude is and that is all we are going through. Perhaps a hemispherical migration may be the solution.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RezDog

I don't know the daylight changes that occur in the other posters areas. I know for me, the summer months give us daylight from 3AM to 11PM, and the winter solstice approaches, it is 9AM to 5PM. This has an effect on me. I'm like a bear and feel the need for a lot of sleep and not much energy for activities. Perhaps we all feel it no matter what our latitude is and that is all we are going through. Perhaps a hemispherical migration may be the solution.

---

A hemispherical migration might make a difference... though the one I'm currently considering involves moving from Georgia to New Hampshire... kinda counter intuitive to your logic...

But, you may be on to something by saying it might be seasonal/weather/climate/daylight related.

I had one of these at the beginning of this year, caused by too much routine and too little quality time spent with my girlfriend. We started ballroom dancing, to spend some time together. She's been begging me for years to do so, but I refused because I don't want to start all over, as I've been dancing for four years. Now, though, I think I made the right decision to give in :)

Before I moved to my current house, I used to excercise a lot. There are plenty of sports clubs where I live now, but I simply miss my old friends and don't feel connected to these new guys. Cycling 10 km to the university and back every day, ballroom dancing, shaving and restoring razors have filled the gap, but I think I'll be going back to table tennis or doing gymnastics again soon (been saying that for a while).

What might also help, is going to a wellness resort for two days with your lady. We did and came home feeling like we'd had a vacation of a week!

You could, of course, also buy a motor cycle or a convertible, but then you'd be diagnosed with an early mid-life crisis.

The transition from one season to the next is generally what causes the 'funk'. We are going through a mental, physical and hormone re balancing act. In some its almost instant, "I'm the same all year around", to the long and drawn out with a lot of mood changes, "Where's my psychiatrist when I need him". I know that for me the Summer means a slowing down of creative energy because I'm heat sensitive and do not thrive at anything over 82 F. By the end of Summer I'm lethargic physically with a slow mind not far behind. Fall, for me, is my liberator where I slowly come alive again. The creative juices start flowing again, physically I become more active and I catch up on all the things undone from Summer. That carries me right through Winter into Spring when, for some reason, I find the need to do a reassessment of the previous two seasons before giving in to the inevitable Summer doldrums. All this followed by a double Vodka Gibson.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crouton976

A hemispherical migration might make a difference... though the one I'm currently considering involves moving from Georgia to New Hampshire... kinda counter intuitive to your logic...

But, you may be on to something by saying it might be seasonal/weather/climate/daylight related.

---

Yea, don't they call it SAD...Seasonal Affective Disorder, mood changes, feeling funky, over-sleeping, over-eating, etc...seems to be well identified, looks like I got my piece of the SAD pie as well....

Maybe now is not the time to be using a straight razor? :cry:

Perhaps something is annoying you, something so routine you're not even thinking much about it?
Take a mental stroll through your week. Is there something that recurrs regularly and which you already dislike in advance? I agree you shouldn't wallow, but if something is draining away your energy, it's a good idea to deal with it instead of sucking it up and keep going.

It can happen to anybody. A couple of years ago, I got a really awesome student teacher assigned. After a couple of weeks of increasing responsibility, she was doing great, a born teacher. I sat up in the teacher workroom for weeks feeling more and more useless (and more and more depressed as a result), while she taught "my" students (who quickly became "hers.") The only cure was when she graduated and I got my classroom back, with all the attendant stress and chaos. But it's my mission in life, literally what I live for. I think men especially have our self-esteem all tied up in our careers and work life.

I was just told the other day that I'm getting another student teacher in the spring. Sigh....

I get that way on a couple of occassions during the year. During the late Autumn and winter period, I found that the decreased daylight is the cause. During different periods of the year, the cause is doing the same things in life over and over again. So, I try to change things up in my life.

I do small changes, like taking a different way home to/from work, visiting places (e.g., stores, museums, etc.) that I often pass by but never bother to check out, reading a new book, playing a new video game, etc. It is all a change in scenery for me.

I also do bigger changes, like starting a new project, taking a minivacation locally, or revisiting something in the past that I forgot was around.

I like to keep busy, and keeping busy + coffee helps me get going. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bruno

Perhaps something is annoying you, something so routine you're not even thinking much about it?
Take a mental stroll through your week. Is there something that recurrs regularly and which you already dislike in advance? I agree you shouldn't wallow, but if something is draining away your energy, it's a good idea to deal with it instead of sucking it up and keep going.

---

I've definitely been doing this... When nothing else sticks out like a sore thumb, the only option left is to examine the subtle things you might not be noticing.

Sound advice, as always, Bruno! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by henryconchile

I get that way on a couple of occassions during the year. During the late Autumn and winter period, I found that the decreased daylight is the cause. During different periods of the year, the cause is doing the same things in life over and over again. So, I try to change things up in my life.

I do small changes, like taking a different way home to/from work, visiting places (e.g., stores, museums, etc.) that I often pass by but never bother to check out, reading a new book, playing a new video game, etc. It is all a change in scenery for me.

I also do bigger changes, like starting a new project, taking a minivacation locally, or revisiting something in the past that I forgot was around.

I like to keep busy, and keeping busy + coffee helps me get going. :D

---

+5,000 on the coffee! :)

I get the same feeling more times than I should. Like your life, I run the mental checklist of family & responsibilities, they are intact, but the feeling is still there. My thoughts are that , I get this way when my world begins to close in around me & I can't see over the fence in my yard, so to speak.

I break out of this condition usually with this method I developed. I have a section(part of my livingroom wall)
dedicated to young men & women cut down in the prime of their life. I glance at their faces & ask myself , "If they had a second chance to return, I bet they wouldn't waste it as I'm doing now." This puts things in perspective for me; I pick my sack up off the ground & make the most of my life.

or;

The flip side,,,,if the condition is getting stronger each time it occurs & the condition happens more often,,,then it may be something out of your control,,,a warning that something physical is present that needs looking into. Nothing wrong with listening to your body & getting a check up.

You're kind of young for this however often times when folks reach around 40 they reexamine their lives and where they are and where they would like to be and realize their life is half over and they are pretty much locked in to where they are at this point in their lives. This can cause folks to want to make drastic changes in a hurry be it a new place to live or divorce or new job maybe. Just about everyone experiences this. Some need to make big changes and some are satisfied with a new hobby or a fancy car. It's all tied to the "mid life crisis". I think if folks are happy and secure in their lives they weather it pretty good.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I get the same feeling more times than I should. Like your life, I run the mental checklist of family & responsibilities, they are intact, but the feeling is still there. My thoughts are that , I get this way when my world begins to close in around me & I can't see over the fence in my yard, so to speak.

I break out of this condition usually with this method I developed. I have a section(part of my livingroom wall)
dedicated to young men & women cut down in the prime of their life. I glance at their faces & ask myself , "If they had a second chance to return, I bet they wouldn't waste it as I'm doing now." This puts things in perspective for me; I pick my sack up off the ground & make the most of my life.

or;

The flip side,,,,if the condition is getting stronger each time it occurs & the condition happens more often,,,then it may be something out of your control,,,a warning that something physical is present that needs looking into. Nothing wrong with listening to your body & getting a check up.

---

I think that your first method, John, is pretty much how I get through this every time it hits... I have so much to be thankful for, and am in a MUCH better place in life than more people than I could ever count.

If I were depressed, that would be one thing... There would be a cause, mental or physical, that could be dealt with. The thing is, though, this isn't anywhere close to depression... It's just not that serious. It's like boredom meets frustration meets longing. Usually, it's over in a day or two and life continues happily on. It's just, for some reason, it's lasted about two weeks this time, though thankfully it's coming to an end now, and has been stronger than normal.

I promise I'm not losing it, everyone. :)

I was just curious how you guys deal with life when things get this way for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You're kind of young for this however often times when folks reach around 40 they reexamine their lives and where they are and where they would like to be and realize their life is half over and they are pretty much locked in to where they are at this point in their lives. This can cause folks to want to make drastic changes in a hurry be it a new place to live or divorce or new job maybe. Just about everyone experiences this. Some need to make big changes and some are satisfied with a new hobby or a fancy car. It's all tied to the "mid life crisis". I think if folks are happy and secure in their lives they weather it pretty good.

---

You know, I did wonder if I was experiencing an early mid-life crisis. Given that my life is about 1/3 of the way done, it's one of the things I truly questioned. Wondering if having a 5 year old remind me every day that I'm not as young as I used to be and whatnot. But, the more I thought about it, I celebrate every day I have with him and if I were to die tomorrow, I got to experience the joys of fatherhood and he got to know that his daddy loved him. I can find peace in that. :)

That's not to say that I wouldn't want our time to last as long as possible, though.

Don't diagnos yourself,,,,there are people in this world that are better trained at it than you are,,,,I waited 25 years to get a check up, around age 46, I'm still paying the price for being tough & foolish.

A check up can't hurt. :shrug:

We want you around next year,,,,:beer1:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Don't diagnos yourself,,,,there are people in this world that are better trained at it than you are,,,,I waited 25 years to get a check up, around age 46, I'm still paying the price for being tough & foolish.

A check up can't hurt. :shrug:

We want you around next year,,,,:beer1:

---

Awwww.... John, I didn't know you cared.... :D

or, wait, maybe this is reverse psychology and you don't want me to get checked out so you can get my razors for a song... :deal:

You don't have to worry about that,,,,,I too busy keeping an eye on Jimmy's & Tom's collection. :D

After 70+ years I have found that
Some activities are better than others
Some foods ar better than others
Some days are better than others
Some seasons are better than others
Some folks are better than others
Some changes are better than others
Anything is subject to change
And, as we age, everything changes, some positive and some negative. The idea is to get through it as best as possible. Sometimes we need professional help of many kinds ( yup, that too) and so acknowledge it AND GET IT, OR NOT AND REGRET IT.
~Richard

We (don't) want the funk!

Maybe some George Clinton turned up loud would actually help. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by onimaru55

We (don't) want the funk!

Maybe some George Clinton turned up loud would actually help. ;)

---

Ask and ye shall receive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZWkdg2aIQ

And just for laughs:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cNDS...s8&app=desktop

That song always reminds me of Eddie Griffin in Undercover Brother . :)

Seriously I hardly drink anymore but when I am in a funk, I take a weekend to myself and go out and get wasted.

It might seem crazy, but it does one of two things. It either clears my head and reminds me what a great life I have and makes me wonder why do I want to waist it getting polluted, or it brings what's really bugging me to the forefront of my conscience.

Of course if drinking isn't on the menu, going out on a weekend hike with just me, myself, and I works remarkably well too.

I hope this doesn't sound silly but I think that you are bored. What interests you?

This last weekend i found a mushroom type that I haven't eaten in a while. It made a good supper! Then some wild grapes that my grandson loved. I juiced the grapes but haven't figured out what to do with the juice yet.

Maybe my point is....:D Include yourself and your family, probably forget about your job. have variety. Go to a museum or listen to a new band? Change things up. Include your wife and family and/or do what interests them..


Variety is the spice of life.

Tim

It's the weather. Take the dog for a walk.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rickboone

It's the weather. Take the dog for a walk.

---

Which hemisphere? :rofl2:

40?!$$%,
Thanks now I'm depressed:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You're kind of young for this however often times when folks reach around 40 they reexamine their lives and where they are and where they would like to be and realize their life is half over and they are pretty much locked in to where they are at this point in their lives. This can cause folks to want to make drastic changes in a hurry be it a new place to live or divorce or new job maybe. Just about everyone experiences this. Some need to make big changes and some are satisfied with a new hobby or a fancy car. It's all tied to the "mid life crisis". I think if folks are happy and secure in their lives they weather it pretty good.

---

I'm going with the change in season's - Get outside in the woods and take a walk.

I'm no athlete so when I feel down I like to get busy and make things. I like to get busy and make things anytime of course, but it really helps raise my spirits seeing something take shape from scratch. :) Hope you pick up soon mate, and if you can find the source of the problem, make sure you do something to fix the issue.


Mick

One other thing that is guaranteed to get me out of the worst funk is a day spent on a beautiful backcountry mountain trout stream in my beloved western North Carolina. Taking deep lungs full of that crisp, fresh mountain air all day long leaves me high for days afterward. I tell my wife that that is my therapy couch. In fact, when I am becoming an ogre, she says, "You need to go fishing." I have a saying with my fishing buddies when we're all overwhelmed by yardwork, family obligations, endless to-do lists, etc., etc.: You just have to go into FILG mode, which translates into "F**k it, lets' go" (fishing, that is).

I guess escaping to whatever passion you have would have the same effect on most men. Reading all these posts collectively, it seems that the takeaway is you have to shake things up somehow when you're in a rut.