February 23, 2010 in Articles by Joshua Matthews

10 Step Guide to Slump Pumping

Let’s face it, slumps suck.  Everyone knows what a slump is.  What’s challenging for most is recognizing the slump and knowing how to get out of it.  Trying to get “rid” of a slump is akin to trying to leave your house by having a crane lift the walls and roof away.  Doesn’t work.  Instead, try doing something I call “Slump Pumping”.

Slump pumping is based on the idea that the slump was always there, like a ditch in the road.  The slump didn’t get bigger, you just got smaller.  Try climbing over a three foot wall.  Now imagine you’re the size of a mouse and try again.  It’s like that but without the rodent.  There will always be ditches and walls to climb over on our way to achievement.  How big you are is the key to overcoming these obstacles.  Pumping yourself up with easy to do fun things is the best way to break free.  Here’s my 10 step  guide to one day slump pumping.

1. Recognize there’s a slump. Ask yourself: ” Do I remember anything of significant and positive importance from the past week, month, year or decade?  Is my energy low?  Am I uncommonly indecisive?  Are there things I am looking forward to or feel good about?” and my favorite “Have things kind of sucked lately and did I quit doing anything about it?”

2. Tell yourself “I’m gonna pump this slump.  I’m gonna pump this slump hard.”  Being a slump pumper means being a bad ass.  Bad asses pump slumps EXTRA hard and they tell themselves what they’re going to do over and over again.

3. Watch a movie – If possible, during the day.  Even better, watch it in the morning.  Early.  Wake up at 6 AM and hit play (leave the six pack in the fridge though and grab a mug of coffee and a nice big breakfast).  Choices are Rocky( I, II or IV) which will help pump your slump in an uplifting way.  Working Girl will pump you up if you miss the 80′s and like synthesizer music and Schindler’s List, well, I think you’ll figure it out.  No TV for the rest of the day.  This doesn’t blow, it’s a treat to yourself.  For more info check out my blog post No Gnu’s is Good Gnu’s.

4. Chug water - Pump up your energy and clean out your system by getting hydrated.  For some reason, people in slumps don’t drink much water, but you do cause you’re a SLUMP PUMPER.

5. Get a haircut. Tell the barber (stylist) that you’re slump pumping and to make you look good.  Don’t ask for anything specific, just let them have their way.  Let go young Padawan.

6.  Shave your legs or your beard (not both). Nothing says I’m a Slump Pumper more than killing a goatee or clogging the drain.  Go crazy!

7.  Move your body. You don’t have to break a sweat, but you do have to get out and move around outside.  This is critical: Go somewhere you haven’t been before or haven’t gone to in a long time.  You can walk, bike, hike, surf, swim, skate, paddle, jump or ski.  So long as you’re moving around for a couple of hours exploring.  Leave the cell phone in the car and get out there.  Have a mini adventure.  This is a MUST DO.  Go alone or with friends, and family.  The only rule is you can’t invite anyone from work (bummer dude).  The point is to be outside, moving your body and exploring just as nature intended.

8.  Get real. At the end of the day you’re going to find a quiet little nook, grab a paper and a pen (laptops offer too many distractions) and start writing down all the things that are physically preventing you from making a decision or taking action.  (i.e.  this town isn’t big enough for the two of us,  I’m not tall enough for the big roller coaster ride).  This should be a pretty short list.

9. Say thank you. You’re a Slump Pumper and you’re going to Pump this Slump HARD!  You may think you didn’t try hard enough or long enough at whatever it was that caused you to get into the slump.  The fact is, harder and longer sometimes just wears us out.  Sometimes what you need is different.  The world won’t bend for us; we must bend to it.  The quickest way to getting big enough to climb that wall is to forgive others and to forgive yourself.  Men and women can do this.  Mice cannot.  Step nine is to forgive yourself and forgive others.  As you close your eyes at the end of your day pump your slump hard by sending out a little gratitude vibe to all the people in the world who have made a difference in your life.

10.  Don’t stop pumping. If you wake up ready to take action, congratulations.  You have Pumped the Slump.  Go get ‘em tiger!   If, however,  you had a great day but still don’t know what to do, no worries.  There are people in this world skilled to help you out.  Don’t go it alone.  Talk to your spiritual adviser, your boss, spouse, friend or contact a therapist or a good coach that you gel with so you can get on with being a serious bad ass once more.  You deserve it!