How To Conquer A “Funk”

I have to warn you:

A bad “funk” can be catastrophic to your productivity.

And if left unchecked, it can last for days… weeks… heck, even MONTHS.

Motivation disappears. Good habits get ignored. And poor decisions become easier to make, like binging Netflix, eating junk food, skipping workouts, etc.

You might not even want to get out of bed in the morning.

…Which is why on the surface, “funks” like these often look like depression, just minus the melancholy.

But there’s hope.

Because over my career I’ve gone through funks countless times. And while I’ve yet to master the art of avoiding them altogether, I’ve come up with a pretty effective protocol for reversing these unproductive trends and restoring my drive.

So if you’re currently stuck in a funk (just like I was recently), here’s what I recommend:

PHASE #1: Remove the bad shit

It’s important to note that conquering a funk requires two critical phases.

In the first phase, my goal is to simply eliminate the bad shit that’s perpetuating the funk.

For me, that means no drugs or alcohol. No junk food. No TV. No video games. No NSFW videos—at least, not during Zoom calls *wink*. And it even means cleaning my office and removing physical clutter that catches my wandering eye.

Because by ridding myself of these distractions, I strip my life of the “fat”—literally and figuratively—that weighs down my attention and takes time away from all the GOOD things I want to get done.

Now, it’s important to note that I don’t abstain from these habits forever or that EVERY bad habit has to go. But it’s important to identify the primary culprits impeding my progress right now. And then ruthlessly eliminate them.

Because just like good habits can create positive momentum, bad habits can have the opposite effect. They create inertia. And until they’re removed, it’s hard to get out of a funk.

PHASE #2: Restore the good shit

Personally, I find it easier to STOP doing something bad than to START doing something good.

Because when I try to do them both at the same time, my willpower falters and it takes me even longer to break out of the funk.

So only after I’ve removed the unessentials, is it time to add the good shit back in (i.e. the important habits I’ve ignored while stuck in my funk).

That means I (in order of personal importance):

  1. Eat Keto and intermittent fast
  2. Exercise at least 3 days a week
  3. Plan my day in advance
  4. Read books (especially personal development)
  5. Wake up and go to bed on a consistent schedule
  6. Meditate

Then, by the time I’ve eliminated the junk from my life and reintroduced these 6 habits, I feel 1,000% more motivated, happier, healthier, and energized.

So if you’re ever stuck in a super-sticky funk, do what I do.

Cut out all the bad shit. Restore the good. Then experience the difference.

Your pen pal,

Matt Rizvi