Defining Languishing & Moving Past It

Adam Grant, a prominent author and professor at the University of Pennslyvania, recently published an article about "languishing" which is living in a middle ground between depression and well-being. A sense of just "meh". People can become stagnate in life, especially during a pandemic where so many of our typical engagements are limited. When we can name our experiences and feelings, we equip ourselves with the language to understand what's really happening. This is a terrific video summary. Researchers have noticed that people who are in a prolonged state of languishing tend to move into a mental health crisis. If you - or someone you know - seem to be in this place, reach out for help. Your school counselors are here to support you but it could also be another trusted adult or a friend to just have space to talk.  So how do you move out of this state of languish? Grant proposes that we find our flow, give ourselves an uninterrupted block of time to be in a space where we can do something we enjoy like listening to music, going for a drive, being outside, exercising, reading a book, etc.