How to get your spark back
Do you ever feel like you’ve lost your spark? Like you’re a robot going through the motions? Well, I can reassure you that you are not alone on this one. With the transition from secondary school to third level, or even with any changes in life, it can be very easy to lose yourself and your spark. You may find that the things that once brought you joy in life now feel like chores. Feeling like you’ve lost yourself can be an overwhelming feeling but don’t worry because I’m here to help! With a little TLC and putting the points below into action you will find your way back to yourself in no time.
My first piece of advice is to journal. Go out and buy yourself a new notebook and make it your new best friend. Journaling is an amazing way to create order and make sense of the chaotic world we live in. In this journal you can get it all out and discover more about yourself. You can pay attention to the things that make you feel a specific way. If you can pinpoint the things that make you feel happy and most like yourself, you can try to dedicate more time to them. The things that make us happy are constantly changing so keeping track of this is important. Journaling is an essential part of self-discovery and using fun journaling prompts can help you understand yourself better. Gratitude journaling, art journaling, diary journaling and bullet journaling are just a few of the many types of journaling out there. There are hundreds of journal prompts available online. Psych Central is one website in particular which has plenty of prompts to reveal your deepest, darkest and brightest parts of yourself.
Guided meditation is something that may not be for everyone but can be very calming and grounding. Personally, I can only do short stints of guided meditation because I get distracted easily but it’s worth giving a try! Some people find it useful in taking your mind away from everyday life and increasing your sense of self awareness. It can give you a new perspective on situations and decrease stress and annoyance. On YouTube there are videos as short as a minute to as long as a few hours of guided meditation with a variety of different features like background noises and male/female voices. In addition to YouTube, Spotify also has a range of guided meditations available on their app. There are also apps such as Headspace and Calm which are available on Android and iOS to guide you on your mental health journey. These videos cater to all preferences. Even if you don’t do a guided meditation, finding a quiet space, closing your eyes and focusing on your body can be a great way to relax and get your mind back on track.
It may seem like a simple one but spending time outside in nature and getting fresh air can do the world of good. Fresh air and seeing the world around us has a grounding effect. It can remind us of the beauty in our world, making us appreciate it more. I always find that sunshine in the mornings, even just for 10 minutes, puts me in a good mood for the day. It’s a game changer having the morning sun shining down on you and watching our world come to life. It can be hard to find the motivation to go outside in this weather, but if you wrap yourself up in warm clothes and brave the elements you can experience some beautiful parts of nature. If you have an hour between classes someday, I recommend going out and seeing the squirrels on campus and the vibrant autumnal colours of the trees. It can often be the case that you have a ‘Carpe Diem’ moment, and you find you’re one of the better versions of yourself that day!
The last suggestion I have is to spend quality time alone. It may sound weird but take yourself on a solo trip and do more of the things that make you feel happy. This can be a trip to a cinema, museum, the beach or even somewhere as simple as a café or book shop. Take yourself to a place that you can enjoy, with or without friends. In life we have to be content in our own company. Being able to spend quality time alone with yourself is essential for personal growth and well-being. You need to be able to treat yourself with the love, kindness and understanding that you would a close friend. If you start to spend more time alone doing the things you enjoy, you can build up your self-worth and learn not to be as hard on yourself. A few weeks ago, I brought myself on a solo trip to the National Gallery of Ireland. It was so nice to view the paintings at my own pace and sit and think about them. I didn’t have someone to wait for or someone rushing ahead of me, instead, I explored and wandered around at my own leisure.
Getting your spark back isn’t something you should be putting on your to-do list. It won’t happen overnight and will need effort, time and consistency to get back. Breaking routine and getting out of your comfort zone will help you massively with your self-discovery journey. It’s time to rekindle your love for life and find yourself. As the wonderful Maya Angelou said, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.”
