The Fastest Way Out of a Funk: Do Something Small That You Love

When you feel sad, down, or depressed, it’s easy to believe you need a big breakthrough to feel better. We tend to think we must fix everything at once — our mood, our situation, our motivation, and our future. But that mindset often does the opposite. It freezes us. It makes us overthink. It keeps us stuck.

The truth is this: the fastest way out of a funk is not a massive life overhaul. It’s movement. Small, simple, imperfect movement.

Why Big Solutions Don’t Work When You Feel Low

When your energy is low, your brain is overwhelmed, and your emotions feel heavy, your job isn’t to solve your whole life. Your job is to do one tiny thing that brings you even a hint of joy. Something that reminds your nervous system that you are still alive, still capable, still in control of at least one small action.

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

Type three simple sentences to a friend.
Play one song and move your body.
Smile at yourself in the mirror.
Step outside for fresh air.
Share your thoughts for five minutes by going live or recording a video.

These actions might seem small, but they are powerful. They break the pattern of paralysis. They shift your focus from “everything is wrong” to “I can do something.” That shift is where healing begins.

Stop Waiting for the Perfect Priority

One of the biggest traps we fall into when we’re struggling is trying to figure out what matters most. We start ranking tasks, worrying about what’s productive, important, or high-priority. In that moment, those labels don’t matter. Waiting for the “right” thing to do keeps you frozen longer.

Low priority doesn’t mean low value.
Small doesn’t mean meaningless.
Simple doesn’t mean weak.

In fact, those tiny actions are often the gateway back to momentum. Once you move a little, it becomes easier to move more. Not because everything suddenly feels better, but because you’ve proven to yourself that you’re not powerless.

Motion Creates Motivation

You don’t need motivation to start.
You need motion to create motivation.

You don’t need to feel ready.
You just need to feel willing enough to try.

One Small Step is Enough

The next time you feel yourself sinking into a funk, don’t pressure yourself to “fix” it. Don’t guilt yourself for not doing more. Don’t compare your pace to anyone else’s.

Just ask yourself one simple question:
“What is one small thing I can do right now that I love?”

Then do it.
No overthinking.
No perfection.
No waiting.

Just start.