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5 Ways to Break Out of a Slump

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Call it a slump, being overworked, overtired, always exhausted, or perhaps feeling brain-dead or “in a funk,” getting out of a slump can be a very, very hard thing to do. I know from personal experience. Breaking out of a slump is tricky business.

I'm sure your story is quite different, perhaps you planted a church several years ago, or maybe you've been in the same ministry or staff position for the last 20 years. Whatever your situation is, it is totally human to be in a personal slump from time-to-time. Heck, the people of Israel were in a slump for 40 years wandering in the desert! I've been studying Exodus over this past year in my women's Bible study and learned that this “journey” would have only taken them 11 days if they had obeyed God in the first place.

It begs the question that if God is sovereign, He has very explicit and detailed reasons for each journey that we are on, and this journey that he has planned for us always includes slumps. (You probably don't want to hear that, but it's true.)

Theology aside, here are five ways to break out of a slump that might help you through yours:

 

#1 – Pray Continually

Paul recommends in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that you “pray continually,” but you really need to remind yourself to do this as frequently as possible when your energy and mood are in the toilet. Write yourself notes and tape them to your bathroom mirror, your coffee pot, your computer, your car, etc. Set reminders on your smartphone or in your calendar to remind yourself to pray – even amidst the “regular” things you are doing during the day. I find that I'll break partway through a slump, only to find there are deeper issues lurking behind it. Seek God again and again for wisdom (I'm chanting this to myself as I write).

#2 – Get Out There

It's easy to stick to our comfort zones and not do anything different, but doing things differently is often how we un-slump ourselves. Whether it's setting new routines like hitting the gym three times a week or meeting with a prayer partner weekly or monthly, doing something different is key. Since I work from home part-time and am a stay-at-home mom, for me, getting out of the house is key. So far this year I've attended That Church Conference, plan to attend the Leadercast Live at a local church, and I'm also lined up to attend the Thrive Conference at Bayside Church. For me, getting out there and shaking it up helps ignite my brain with my heart and break through the slumpiness (yes, I know this isn't really a word).

#3 – Take a Vacation

Okay, so those of you out there who either have your own business, are pastors, and/or have small kids, you know there is no such thing as a “vacation” with your kids. I call it “a temporary hiatus from laundry,” but it certainly isn't a real vacation (especially for us moms) to pack up everything but the kitchen sink, travel somewhere, get everyone used to sleeping in different places, then pack it all up and come home to the grind. So while taking a family vacation can be fun, I highly recommend taking a personal retreat-type vacation. It could be for one day — off by yourself to hike in the woods or see a great movie, and eat at a few great restaurants — but do exactly what YOU want to do for at least a day or two. Offer to give your spouse the same type of personal retreat (men, you'll be golden for at least three months, trust me).

4) Meet With a Mentor

If you don't already have people that fall into the “mentor” category, find several people that you know and trust and who are several steps ahead of wherever you want to go. These folks could be older in age, or just be further down the path where you'd like to go. Ask for prayer, guidance, direction, and love. Meet with them as often as possible and ask specific questions about their lives that relate to where you are at. Ask for honest feedback about your current life situation. Pray for God to help these mentors reveal something in yourself that you need to be working on. Mentors are gifts from God – I'd hate to do life without them.

5) Take a Sabbatical

Most of us feel like the world cannot survive without us. I know I feel this way both professionally and personally. However, having taken six weeks off every two years for the birth of my four children, I can tell you that the world keeps on moving without you and six weeks will not choke your career. Sometimes it has the reverse effect and people are chomping at the bit to get a piece of you when you return from your time away. I know that not everyone has the option financially to take a sabbatical, but I'm sure many people in ministry might be able to negotiate this with their churches. When you return, refreshed and ready to lead, everyone will thank you that you recognized your need to step back, reflect, pray, meditate, go to Hawaii, or do whatever you needed to do to break the slump.

If you've experienced at least one slump (if not five or six) in your life, please take a moment to share by leaving a comment. I need to hear from you personally not only to be encouraged during my own slump but so that other readers can also hear how you broke through. Now I'm off to take some of my own advice . . .

Lauren Hunter
Lauren Hunterhttps://laurenhunter.net
Lauren Hunter is a writer who loves the big picture of God’s journey we are all on together. In 2007, she founded ChurchTechToday, a website for pastors and church leaders to harness technology to improve ministry. Married to her high school sweetheart, Lauren lives in Northern California with her husband and their four children. Her latest book is Leaving Christian Science: 10 Stories of New Faith in Jesus Christ. She can be found online at https://laurenhunter.net.

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