Try This One-Week Life Detox When You’re Feeling Unmotivated And Stuck

Wouldn’t it be nice if life came with a little handbook for how to deal with every situation thrown at us or how to achieve 100% happiness ALL the time?

Unfortunately, there is no fool-proof plan to attaining these things. Sometimes, we need to take control of our feelings and moods on our own.

I recently started to feel unmotivated and uninterested in things that used to excite me. I could have sat around and blamed it on the cold, gloomy weather or my monotonous office job.. but I knew there was more to it than that. I needed to cleanse my body, my mind, and my soul of negativity and get a fresh start.

These five steps can help you to reconnect with the beauty of the world in front of you and start to wash out the negativity that is consuming your mind day to day.

Step 1: Delete social media (Yes, this includes Snap Chat).

It sounds impossible, I know. What are you going to do if you can’t aimlessly scroll through Instagram on the train or Snap Chat story the perfect sunset on your walk home?

You’re going to enjoy the reality of the situations solely for yourself. You might strike up an intriguing conversation with the stranger sitting next to you, and you will most certainly appreciate the beauty of the sunset for what it really is.

It’s small moments like this that we often pass up because our heads are buried in our phones or tablets, waiting to see if our friends have something better to offer in that moment. Try to be more actively present in your own world this week, rather than comparing it to someone else’s. (Don’t worry, you can easily re-activate all your apps at a later date)

Step 2: Say goodbye to negative people.

The truth is, not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever. I am a firm believer that you are who you surround yourself with.

Invest your energy into people with kind souls, people who inspire and motivate you, and most importantly.. people who genuinely care about you. Our world is filled with superficiality these days, so your relationships with humans shouldn’t reflect that.

So this week, I challenge you to go through your phone and delete numbers. The friend who only calls you when she needs last minute plans, the old fling who hits you up at 2 AM every Saturday because he “misses you”, and the pessimistic “acquaintance” who can find anything and everything to complain about…. These people are hindering your internal ambitions and self-esteem.

I’m not saying you should cut ties with everyone in your life, but sort out your more meaningful relationships and invest more time into these. It is a part of growing up, and you will find yourself at a happier, more positive state.

Step 3: Meditate (every day).

I always thought meditation was some weird ritual that only hardcore yogis took part in. When my anxiety got the best of me, I was willing to try anything to help it and meditating was consistently suggested. So I decided to YouTube some guided meditations and give it a try.

It has now become part of my every day routine and allows me to release all the tension and stresses that we encounter day to day. It is an easy way to clear your mind of clutter and reconnect with your true intentions.

Each day in your detox week, find a quiet place and try a different meditation practice. It might feel awkward at first, but focus on being present in your mind and see where it takes you.

Step 4: De-clutter your physical space.

That sweater you got last year that still has the tags on it? You’re never going to wear it, I promise. If you haven’t worn something in the past year, chances are you wont in the one either. Goodwill is your new BFF, (as well as your next tax deduction).

Did you know that your skin care and makeup products expire? Clean out your cosmetic bag, you deserve a trip to Sephora anyways.

Look at your picture frames and update them with some new memories! If you are no longer friends with someone, their picture probably doesn’t deserve to be hanging up. Sometimes our wall art needs a refresh as well.

When your living space is clean, refreshed, and organized, you will feel that mentally as well. Clutter causes unwanted stress and it is easy to say goodbye to.

Step 5: Eat clean and ditch the vodka sodas for the week.

It’s crazy what an alcohol-free, healthy eating week (or two) will do to your body, mind, and overall mood. Give your body a break and clean out all the toxins that are slowing you down mentally, physically, and emotionally. You will feel lighter and more energized each day. You will be more productive when you wake up and won’t have the added stress of having to read your drunk texts from the night before! (added bonus)

At the end of this week, make a list of the every day things that you feel grateful for, and that offer you pure happiness. You will be less distracted from the little stresses that life hands to us, and able to recognize the true meaning of your happiness and inner feelings.