7 tiny things to do when you are just…MEH

Because we all need moments of relief

I was planning on taking today off from sharing a post because coming into this week I had three different ideas for what I might write about and just could not shake my brain into go-mode in any sort of long-form eloquent way. I know I’m not alone in feeling a little meh because I have had a number of conversations with friends over the past weeks where people are like, “OMG ZERO MOTIVATION TO DO ANYTHING,” or “WHY IS EVERYTHING LIKE THIS?” or “I SLEPT FOR 10 HOURS AND I’M STILL TIRED.”

Sound familiar?

Seriously, it’s brutal out there. At a systemic level, that is the point (see this recent post by

Emily Amick

: Why are we all feeling broken?). It’s understandable and also I feel like in times like this we need tiny moments of relief more than ever.

So, I’m doing something a little different today. I’m keeping my words short and breezed through my camera roll to remind me of where I have found joy and delightful anticipation. I hope these ideas help you find relief amidst the overwhelm and ire and fog.

1. Do something playful

My daughter Violet loves playing games and yet we also sometimes forget to play them. We recently busted out Ticket To Ride (a game that is actually fun for adults too) and Violet crushed it, using all of her train cars to win the longest route and train segment, and thereby the game. If you’re familiar with this game, I recommend the European version; there are different rules than the original board, including that everyone gets dealt at least one long route card, which is a good thing.

2. Do something unpredictable

Last weekend Jon and Violet blew up the inner tube to go sledding. I was in the middle of a cold and not feeling well, but also, I don’t tend to be Fun Mom in situations like this. And then finally, after hearing Jon and Violet laughing, and seeing James bound around in the snow, I was like, “Fuck it!” I took one sledding run and nearly ran into a stone wall, but the shock and delight on Violet’s face was priceless. Apparently I was laughing and screaming the whole way. Fun Mom!

3. Give something away

During a recent brutal cold stretch I remembered that I had laundered a winter coat to give away but hadn’t gotten around to listing it. I also found the coordinating snow bib and was thrilled to wing these items to someone who needed it via my city’s Everything is Free page.

4. See a friend (or six)

As I mentioned last week in my post on 8 ways to prioritize community, I am working on being less of a hermit. Last week was shocking in that I had a social engagement almost every day (my life is never like this LOL) and it was joyful and not exhausting at all because I was meeting with amazing friends where the rapport is easy and fun and reciprocal. One of these meetups was with my friend Paige, who I have known for 40 years (!) and who receives every side of me (smart, creative, petty, etc.) with love. What a gift. Added bonus: I got to wear this cozy faux fur jacket.

5. Identify a small creative project

Last fall I bought a pair of Old Navy jeans and something about the wash makes them look, well, a little dorky on me. (I have the same jeans in a dark wash and they look great.) I was thinking about buying the distressed version of these jeans, which are a similar wash but look cool by way of distressing but then I was like, wait, why don’t I just distress the pair I bought? There’s nothing to lose since I’m not wearing them right now anyway. I found a denim distressing DIY and have it on my to-do list to try to make my jeans look like the photo below this weekend. I’m weirdly excited about it.

6. Make comfort food

On Sunday, I went bonkers in the weekend food prep department. I made granola, banana bread, mashed potatoes, chicken enchiladas, white pine needle tea, and red lentil soup. Food prep is one of my best defenses against doom scrolling and to a basic red lentil soup recipe I added all manner of spices (cumin, turmeric, coriander, paprika, smoked jalapeno) to amp it up. I had a bowl for lunch today and it made me happy.

7. Lean into tactile activities (and also silliness if warranted)

I’m working on a very difficult Galison mushroom puzzle, made extra difficult because some time ago Violet threw down the gauntlet to no longer look at the box to guide puzzle assembly. This is a great challenge and also slows me down from otherwise burning through a puzzle too fast. Also, all I see is BOOBS all over the place with this puzzle and having a small laugh over something silly is good medicine.

Bonus idea: Crash a wedding (JK)

The last stop on my unusually full social dance card last week was meeting friends for drinks in Boston. Imagine my surprise when I took the elevator up to the access stairs for the bar and it opened up to this scene. Congratulations, strangers!

I hope this post sparked some ideas for you. I’m rooting for all of us.