By Ruby Schwalm
Is your room messy? Are you sick of your haircut? Do you wish you were sunkissed again? You might be in your “flop era”.
A “flop era”, as described by Slang.net, is a period of disappointment. It’s a completely subjective experience and can be a lifestyle woe. Although it is widely known as a term to describe musicians making unsuccessful music, it can be accurately thought of as a carousel of negativity or unproductivity.
It is difficult to make a 180-degree turn in your life, so instead, try out these five steps to break out of your “flop era” in natural ways.
1. Listen to Yourself
Listening to yourself may seem pointless and leave you clueless about where to start. Yet, it is not as difficult as it may seem.
PsychAlive explains that “It is a process that involves breaking down – shedding layers that do not serve us in our lives and don’t reflect who we really are. Yet, it also involves a tremendous act of building up – recognizing who we want to be and passionately going about fulfilling our unique destiny…”
It looks like a deep concept when in reality, it’s simply pinpointing the issue that’s causing you to experience a “flop era”.
2. Learn Time Management
Using your time wisely can be a secret weapon to success. When going through periods where you’re feeling disappointed in yourself or an aspect of who you are, learning how to manage time can come in handy.
A “flop era” can create a lack of productivity in your life because you might feel dissatisfied with areas of yourself. Utilizing every moment is a good way to make steps toward productivity, and out of your “flop era”.
Bakker Elkhuizen wrote “The 10 most important benefits of time management”. This is a separate listicle that can help begin the process of learning and understanding time management. Not only does it discuss the meaning of time management, but it also discusses why it’s beneficial.
3. Practice Self-Care
Self-care is one of the most renowned ways to soothe and relax. Being in a “flop era” can increase your stress because it feels like something “just isn’t right”. It could be your bitten nails or a patch of acne on your face. It could even be a messy car situation that is weighing on the back of your mind.
The National Institute of Mental Health explains that “self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.”
This represents the fact that taking the time to do something for yourself (labeled as self-care) can improve your period of dissatisfaction or unsuccessfulness.
It also coincides with time management. Making time for self-care is a powerful way to turn yourself around. Whether it’s self-care once a month, once a week, or once a day, implementing this into a routine can help you fight through your “flop era”.
4. Treat Yourself
When it comes to a “flop era”, it’s usually a few minor things bothering us under the surface, which builds into the dissatisfaction we feel. Treating yourself can help you feel motivated to push through.
If you don’t like the color of your hair and want to try something new, do it. If you hate all of your shoes, treat yourself, and buy a new pair. If you are bored with the music on your playlist, look for some new sounds.
It’s the minuscule stuff that we can control that makes or breaks how we feel. Giving yourself a boost of serotonin by rewarding yourself can stop the cycling “flop era”.
5. Rethinking your Mindset
There can be many things that cause us to feel like we’re in a “flop era”.
Mentality is a huge factor in our emotions. If we feel as if something is wrong with us or out of place, our minds can blow it out of proportion.
A simple thing like having a messy room can make us feel unorganized, which then, can make our head spiral into negativity.
Yet, it’s important to note that you never have to change anything about yourself to be a better person. Deciding to change something about yourself or your life is personal and should only be done for a positive impact.
An open and accepting mindset can be the ultimate key to breaking out of your “flop era”.
“Flop eras” don’t last forever. Discomfort in your life is temporary and there are means to overcoming disappointment in yourself. A “flop era” looks different for everyone, but what matters is how you react to it!
