5 Tips for Getting Your Life Back On Track After Taking a Wrong Turn.
There's frequently that one moment in life where everything that's been going right, or at least the way it was going right up until then, has to come crashing down. Sometimes, this happens because of a sudden and unexplainable event like a death or an illness. Other times it might be just a gradual and unintentional fall into boredom and hopelessness. Regardless of what causes you to hit rock bottom, there are ways to try and get back on track again after hitting that wall.
Here are five things you can do when getting your life back on track after falling off the wagon:
1) Figure out what matters to you.
You can't get your life back on track if you don't know where you're going. This typically starts with figuring out a few things. Things like what is important to you, what activities make you happy, and why. When I hit rock bottom, I spent a lot of time just thinking. What did I ultimately want out of life? What made me happy? Most importantly, what was stopping me from getting those things? Once I figured this out, it evolved much easier for me to move forward again.
2) Don't overthink the process.
It's easy to read about other people's stories and get discouraged. By reaching rock bottom, you've probably lost hope that you'll get your life back on track. It is where it becomes essential to think less and act more. When I was down on my luck, I would think: "I'm never making it, so why to try?" This eventually became a self-fulfilling prophecy. When I didn't make things happen, they didn't happen.
3) Be kind to yourself.
When in a funk, we tend to beat ourselves up a lot more than when we are at our best, leading to guilt and great pain. When you reach rock bottom, it's important to give yourself a break. Take time to learn from your mistakes and acknowledge that you are at least trying. When we are low, the best thing we can do is think about things that make us happy and start doing more. Get back in touch with people who bring joy into your life.
4) Recognize that it's not all bad.
I'm going to let you in on a trim secret right now: everyone falls off the wagon sometimes. It's just that we usually don't admit it, and they typically aren't so public. If you've been in a funk, I'm sure you know people who are down on themselves. That doesn't mean they're broken or worse off than you, though. It just means that they are in the here and now, and so are you, but on different roads at this point. Having friends and family close who love you is always a good thing!
5) Reach out for help/support/advice from others.
A lot of times, when we hit rock bottom, we won't admit to it. We feel embarrassed or like no one will understand. This is where it's essential to reach out to others. Whether it's friends, family, support groups or even professionals, talking about things with someone else makes you think about them more and can help you figure out ways to get yourself back on track again.
I hope some of those pieces of advice were useful for you.