One Step Forward: Navigating the Numb Days

Sometimes, I go numb.

I don’t mean zoning out or getting distracted. I mean that kind of heavy, thick, gray numbness that makes everything feel like static. When it hits, I have a hard time pushing past it. I forget what life even feels like outside of the void I’ve slipped into.

I’ve been in that space for a while now, if I’m being honest. But the last three days have been different. Not because the numbness has magically lifted — it hasn’t — but because I’ve moved through it. Slowly. Deliberately. With intention.

And that feels worth sharing.

Each morning for the last three days, I’ve gotten out of bed. That alone is a feat anyone who understands the numbness will recognize. I’ve made coffee and something with protein — a tiny ritual to tell my body, “We’re doing this.” I sit down and give myself permission to enjoy that coffee. I read something lighthearted and fun — not helpful or intellectual. Not something to make me “better,” just something to lift me a little.

Sometimes I peek at my online projects — to see if anyone’s read my blog or clicked through my Etsy page. But I don’t scroll endlessly. I don’t let myself fall into that hole. When the coffee is gone, I get up. No lingering. No waiting for the motivation to kick in. Just... movement.

That’s the key I’ve found lately: time limits. They keep me from drifting. They push me forward.

Next, I head to the carriage house. It’s a space I’m lucky to have — a separate little building where I can move my body, be alone, and give myself an hour of “me time.” No screens, no scrolling, no interruptions. If I didn’t have that space, I’d find another — outside, in a locked room, even in a parked car. The place isn’t what matters. The boundary is.

Usually by the time I’ve finished all that, my day has to begin. Whatever that looks like.

I’m not sharing this because I’ve figured it out. I haven’t. But I want anyone who feels stuck or numb to know you are not alone. I see you. And I want to gently encourage you to take one step — whatever that looks like to you.

Make the coffee. Sit in the sun. Wash your face. Move your body.

You don’t need to leap. You don’t need to fix everything.

Just take one step forward.

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P.S. In case you're looking for a light read to lift you up, I’ve been enjoying the Twisted Love series. It’s fun, dramatic, and just the right amount of escape for me right now. If you want to check it out, here’s my Amazon affiliate link. https://amzn.to/3FXw59S

To be clear, I didn’t write this post to share a link — I only make a small percentage from affiliate sales — but I figured I’d include it in case you’re also looking for something easy and engaging to get lost in for a bit.