Quest to get my 2019 spark back

[Funnyname00]

i know it seems to be a common theme that everyone’s feeling a bit knackered/down/overwhelmed since the covid lockdowns. I feel like this. Just really low, like everything’s too much effort. I used to be full of energy and always planning fun things with my kids. Now I would stay in bed on my phone all day given half the chance. I didn’t even feel Christmassy at all this year.

has anyone managed to overcome this yet? What helped?

I’m going to start with … dog walking, yoga, drinking less and trying to lose the 2 stone I’ve gained. eating more healthily rather than taking the easy/unhealthy option. All of these things require a bit of get up and go or willpower though. Which seem to be missing

if anyone has any other ideas or experiences that have worked I’d love to know or if you would like to join me in my quest I’d love the company

I would love to in theory but I don't really know where to start TBH

I feel the same but don't think I can help with ideas. I'll never have the old me back, too much has happened, but I do need to find a new me as I often feel like I'm just existing and faking life. I've promised myself no wine for Jan, so let's see how that goes.

Oh I could have written this! I'm afraid I'm not much help with ideas though - I'm seriously lacking in motivation to fix it.

Think I'm going to force myself to do Park run. My eldest is keen so that might give me the nudge I need...

I feel exactly the same. I was thinking back earlier to how the last new year I felt genuinely positive and excited was 2019. Since then it’s just 1 thing after another. Things I used to love I just feel meh about now, and I never really feel truly happy and relaxed.

No advice whatsoever as I’m heading into 2023 like this but good luck!!!

Well at least I’m not the only one. Hopefully we can figure this out together

.

I joined a community choir last September, it is properly joyful singing with others. It feels like protected time just for me.

I often think that trying to 'get back' to someone you were or looked like some years ago is a bit of a hiding to nowhere, mentally and physically. We aren't going to look like we did in 2019 or be who we were in 2019 whatever we do and I think that's fine and it's better to look towards the future trying to work out who you are now and what makes you happy and what small changes would lift your mood or health.

I'd like to read more broadly in 2023, walk daily and learn to actively practice gratitude. Sounds daft I expect but I'm sure focusing on those positives rather than past comparisons will be a more helpful thing for me overall as I'm a natural cynic and I don't think that's always a helpful thing. I'm mid thirties now and pre-pandemic I was early thirties and ageing hadn't meaningfully kicked in.

It's clear it's now going to (and has!) and I just want to positively manage expectations and make a priority of having fun and learning ways to work positively with my changing body and face- in so doing I hope a spark will happen naturally as I get more enthusiasm for things, find new things that make me happy and so on.

Personally, I'm going easy into 2023 with those small goals, no hard targets other than to pave a path forward after a difficult few years and feel good about it.

We'll all get there I'm sure.

Perhaps it’s accepting that things are different and we can’t go back to the days when life seemed more straightforward in many ways. Generally there’s much we can’t influence and change, so small personal things are the only things we can change or influence.

Sometimes, just acknowledging very small things helps, a plant or flower, an interesting book, a lovely walk, the sea or whatever gives pleasure. There will be boring days, annoying days, as well as difficult days. Hopefully, they will pass and there will be better ones.