Something feels off….is it Languishing?

Have you been feeling different lately? You can’t pinpoint it…. You are not exactly sad, but it would be hard to describe yourself as thriving. Maybe you’re just feeling “BLAH”? You might be languishing.

Languishing is the opposite of flourishing. When you are flourishing, you feel connected and purposeful. When you’re languishing, you feel lackluster or disconnected.  It’s a middle point in the mental health continuum, you’re not too high or too low, just flat. The word “languishing” can be traced to the early Latin root word “languere,” which means to feel faint or unwell.

Signs of Languishing

Languishing does not affect everyone in the same way or with the same intensity. It may affect your behavior and emotions towards yourself and others, but will vary from person to person. With languishing, you may have moments of anxiety or worry, as these are natural responses to everyday stress, but these feelings don’t linger, and they are not a permanent state of mind.

Examples of Languishing:

• Declining invites to activities you would normally enjoy and difficulty getting excited about anything. You may not feel strongly about going, but you might not see why going would be any better than sitting at home.

• Feeling unmotivated more often than usual

• Feeling unsettled but not highly anxious

• Feeling detached and having difficulty focusing on life, tasks, and people, but not experiencing negative emotions toward them

• Apathy towards life, or loss of interest in hobbies, and passions

• Feeling disconnected from your life’s purpose

• Fatigue and burnout

• Feelings of stagnation

When you’re languishing, it can seem like you are having an existential crisis.  You may be in a space where you begin to question your life purpose and whether you should be doing something different with your life.

How to cope

Mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a state of moment-to-moment awareness where you can experience thoughts and situations without judgment. Meditation, breathwork, and yoga are examples of practicing mindfulness. Research suggests that mindfulness-based approaches may be the most effective way to combat the emotions associated with languishing.

Journaling:

Journaling is a practice that allows you to focus on what you are grateful for and what positive moments happened during your day. It helps to do a brain dump and clear out what may be swirling in your mind.

Explore Creativity:

Being creative can help you remember how much you enjoy certain hobbies. It helps to move us into a state of “endless timelessness”. Expressing ourselves through the arts is a great way to explore our emotions without having to verbalize them.

Maintain Relationships:

Languishing may make you want to shy away from social settings. Keeping in touch with family and friends can be an important part of lifting energy and staying connected so you feel supported.

Making Environmental Changes: Your environment influences how you feel. Decluttering your space can open you up to having more energy. Consider changing the color of the walls in a room, adding fresh flowers, or rearranging furniture.

Volunteering or community Service: Socialization can be an important part of mental wellness. Providing your community with a service, such as working at a food pantry, may not only help you feel connected to a higher purpose but can take you out of your routine, and boost your energy.

Go out in Nature: Nature is a powerful physician. Time spent in nature can increase feelings of gratitude, selflessness, and wonder. A hike in the woods can boost your immune system, increase your sense of relaxation, and create greater mental clarity.

Get Moving: Exercise releases endorphins into the body that can instantly boost mood.  Moving our bodies increases stamina, reduces tiredness, and increases mental alertness. 

Learning a New Skill: Learning something new affects your brain and helps you improve focus.  It may even help you feel motivated and establish small goals that can build up a sense of accomplishment.

Get out in the Sunshine: Sunlight and darkness trigger and release hormones in your brain. Spending time in the sun increases your serotonin and helps stave off (SAD) Seasonal Affect Disorder. The availability of sunshine has more impact on mood than rainfall, temperature, or any other environmental factor.

If you feel you are doing things, but your mood doesn’t improve, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.

Blessings,

Jenny