Have you ever been stuck in a “meh” energy space?
You’re not quite depressed. You don’t have feelings of deep despair or hopelessness.
You’re also not “melancholic.” You don’t have a general feeling of sadness that’s persistent enough to be a drag but not deep enough to be "depression.”
The feeling I’m talking about is a general feeling of …. “meh.” The days feel like they’re rolling into one long and undifferentiated expanse. You’re kind of getting stuff done but you don’t have that accompanying sense of “crushed it”. Life just feels a little empty and … stagnant. Interestingly, this “meh” feeling is markedly un-intense. Unlike grief or depression which consume you, “meh” is barely noticeable. You kind of slip into it and all of a sudden it’s been weeks and you’re still…. meh. It’s very limp dick energy.
The author Adam Grant was a little more poetic than me. Instead of “limp dick energy”, he went with “Languishing.” Read more about his thinking here (If you’d prefer a podcast I’ve provided links for Apple Podcast, Spotify).
Are you reading this like yaaas bitch? I’m serving languish pudding with a dash of meh and a little limp dick garnish to finish the whole thing off. If this is you, here’s something you should try.
Like Adam, I’ve found that the best way to move out of this feeling is to do activities in which I can get into a state of flow. These are activities that
- present me with a meaningful challenge (not too easy but not too hard)
- can draw me in until I’m totally absorbed
- give me a little burst of “fuck yah I did that” when I’m done
A few activities that induce a state of flow for me
- reading
- puzzling
- writing
- meditating esp when I use meditation techniques that take me on a visual journey (Eg visualization, chakra meditation, crystal meditation, connecting w spirit guides etc)
- swimming
- walking
- working out (with a trainer or in a class vs by myself. Not needing to think about what I have to do next is key)
I’m a frustrated Ciara so I’m desperately searching for a dance teacher in Lagos so I can add dancing to this list.
These activities work for me but yours could be
- painting
- playing chess
- cooking
- fishing
- running (eew)
The way to discover activities that put you in a state of flow is to do them and see how you feel. Test things out… see how you feel … be a scientist when it comes to your life
A note about flow actives:
To get into flow, you need a certain amount of focus and concentration. My life coach put me on the pomodoro technique as a way of forcing focus. You set a timer for 25 mins and focus on one and only one task. Then you take a 5 min break - stretch, dance, do some yoga, recline. Then you do another 25 min block and so on.
Lamide’s hot take: “I think about this from a design principles perspective. I start by thinking - what would a 20/10 week look like for me? I try to recreate that as best I can (knowing that I’ll probably never get there). However, the exercise gives me a sense of urgency, structure and a clear goal.”
I hope this helps anyone out there move who’s trying to move through that feeling of meh. PS if you have a friend that’s giving limp dick energy, don’t forget to share this with them.
Love this!! Alsooooo therapist recommended Vitamin D with K2 and thaaaat has really helped me knock off my general feeling of meh
Seeing this post notification today made me excited. “I was like Yas is back”.
This resonates with my current state and I’m glad to know that I’m not alone.
I will definitely pay more attention to the activities that make me more fulfilled.
Great read!