10 Ways to Write Yourself Out of a Funk

Beth Rush

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Feeling blue and unmotivated? You might be in a funk. It happens to the best of us. We may only see negative things happening to us or the world around us and feel unable to escape a tedious or frustrating lifestyle. 

Writing is a powerful tool that can be an excellent way to motivate yourself out of a funk.

It’s important to know that these feelings are generally temporary and remind yourself that you can still function. However, if you feel unable to do the things you need or feel overwhelming sadness for long periods, you may suffer from depression. Depression is a treatable mental illness, and it’s important to seek help from a mental health provider who can get you back on your feet. 

If you just have a case of the “blahs” and want to feel better about the world, journaling can help you understand yourself and identify the patterns that got you in the funk in the first place. 

Here are 10 ways to get yourself out of a funk by writing.

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal 

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘count your blessings’, yet it can be hard to notice any good in your life when you’re going through a rough patch. Writing out any positives can help you visualise them, adding more value to them. Gratitude journaling is a great way to do that.

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start by listing one to five things you are grateful for each day. They can be anything positive from witnessing a kind act, having nice weather, or even waking up. 

Go into depth about why you are grateful for each thing. Maybe witnessing someone being kind lets you know there are still selfless people in the world. Having pleasant weather means enjoying the sun or riding a bike instead of being cooped up inside. Waking up provides an opportunity to do more and make a difference. 

In addition to writing about why you are grateful, you should also appreciate the negative consequences if those things were not to happen. That adds value to each experience, making them even more meaningful. 

When you acknowledge the good things around you, you can start thinking more positively again. 

2. Write What You Feel 

It can be frustrating to tell friends, co-workers, or family when you’re in a funk. Admitting that you’re in that state can be embarrassing, and you don’t want them to think you’re complaining about life. 

Talking to someone you trust is important if you are struggling mentally. However, if you just have the blahs, a journal can be a great replacement. Write about the emotions you’ve been experiencing, whether sadness, frustration or disgust. Consider what feelings are the worst and how you want to feel instead. 

Even if you just need to vent, writing your feelings down can help you better process them and may lead to a better understanding. 

3. Write Out Your Thoughts

Like the last method, writing your thoughts in a journal can help you understand them and think in a more rational way. 

It can be hard to pinpoint why when you’re in a funk. Even if you have a reason, it can be hard to motivate yourself again. Writing things down as they come to you can be a great way to talk about your feelings when you can’t seem to find the words. Whether you pick a subject to write about or just have a stream of consciousness, transcribing your thoughts can help you get them off your chest and move on to other, more positive ones. 

4. Write About Your Day

A classic journaling method is writing about your day. Include the things that happened from morning to night, what you did, and how they made you feel. Writing about your day regularly can help you identify patterns of events that keep you in your funk. Discovering them lets you work toward addressing them. 

Another benefit of writing about your day is the ability to look back on what you’ve accomplished. If you are going through a hard time, you can reread a better day’s entry to know that good times do happen. 

Writing about your day can also encourage you to feel proud of getting out of a funk. You can look back at the things you did that helped you feel more energized and motivated again and what those feelings allowed you to achieve. 

5. Explore Poetry

Try writing poetry if you want to be more creative while getting out of your funk. 

Poetry is a writing art form that comes in various styles. It’s a great way to express yourself and has great restorative healing powers, unlike other forms of communication. 

If you can write, you can create poetry, so don’t stress about the technicalities of poetry writing. Try any style, such as rhymes, haiku, sonnets, narrative or free verse. You can make it as straightforward or abstract as you’d like – just get your ideas down on paper and see where they take you. This writing form is about expressing your emotions through creativity, which can help you release your thoughts and feelings and inspire you. 

6. Write What You’ve Noticed

Another way to reflect on the good and get yourself out of a funk is to write what you notice happening around you. 

The human mind is a robust observer. Taking the time to reflect on the status of yourself, your thoughts, your interactions with others and the things happening around you provides better understanding. 

Where has your mind been during different parts of the day? How have your social interactions been? When do you feel better or worse? 

You learn from reflection, and writing down what you notice can help you identify what’s getting you in and keeping you in your funk. 

7. Write When You Need To

Sometimes, things come to mind randomly but leave by the time you get home to write them down. So, try taking your journal with you wherever you go and write down your thoughts and feelings as you have them. Writing when you need to helps you let go of thoughts and feelings at the moment of their arrival without carrying them with you for too long. 

Keep your journal with you and write as soon as you have a spare moment. If needed, scribble down your main thought on a sticky note when at your desk or at a stoplight. You can then remember to finish the idea when you have more time. 

8. Write Something Every Day

Write something down daily, even if it’s just a sentence or two. You may feel like you have nothing to say but will be surprised by the impact even writing about nothing can have. 

Writing every day will help you identify patterns more easily and is important for tracking when you’re coming out of or going into a funk. If you have a good day, you’ll have a record of what made it so positive. When you feel down, you’ll know how to make things better for the next day. Writing daily lets you experience a mental release that can help you calm your mind and feel better.

9. Write Without Judgment 

You might be worried about writing about your day because you judge yourself for your actions or emotions. Writing can help you get out of a funk when you’re honest. 

Remember that you are the only one to read or write in the journal, and you’re doing so to feel better and be more productive. Accept that no one is perfect and you are taking this step to make a difference. Once you’re out of your funk, you can reflect on how far you’ve come. 

10. Read What You Write 

Reading what you write can be a powerful tool for better understanding your experiences. Writing gets things off your mind and chest, but reading what you write can help you better understand and reflect on those things. It can also be a motivational tool for understanding how far you’ve come. 

Reading your writing lets you identify what gets or keeps you in a funk over time. 

Ultimately…

Writing provides a mental release. Emptying your mind in a journal is a great way to get things off your chest and feel more motivated. 

It can be hard to see a way out when you’re down, but once you know how to get out of a funk by writing, you will see vast improvements in your outlook. Writing is a proactive way to feel better sooner and regain your happiness.

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