What do you do when you hit a slump? Slump can mean many things. It can mean a dead-zone in your creative life. It can mean delays in your career. It can mean boredom or stagnation in your personal life. We all hit a slump periodically, but what can you do about it?

We have the always-present options of doom-scrolling. Or eating too much. Or binge watching Netflix until it insults us by asking if we are still watching as we scramble to find the remote to assure it that “YES I AM STILL HERE AND COMMITTED TO FINISHING THIS TRUE CRIME SERIES TODAY” as we also find a spare Cheeto on the couch and pop it into our mouth. Wait, there’s no we in that sentence? That’s just me? Well never mind forget that example.

And while meditation, therapy, or taking a walk are timeless choices, I’d like to suggest my favorite slump-defeater: thrifting. Flea markets, antique stores and Goodwill are my go-to choices, my way of shouting “PARKOUR!” and vaulting over a slump and back into a place where I can find inspiration and humor and weird stuff.

When you find a porcelain doll head in a Ziploc bag labeled “make offer” you’ll have so many questions you’ll forget about your creative slump.

You will always crack a smile when you find an apron that says “Kiss the Cook, She has Legal Custody Now” and your career worries won’t feel so heavy.

Whether it’s a taxidermy cat, a set of dentures mounted on a plaque, a motivational poster with a dolphin that reads “Don’t Cry. The FBI is Watching” or a painting that could easily be Elvis or Jesus depending on the angle, you will always feel better. You will always feel like laughing. And you will feel curious, if not a little befuddled. And laughter + curiosity = slump-buster.

I found this book at one of my local thrift stores. I have not started reading it yet, but I will soon. Because when I saw this title all I could think was, “Bold of you to think you’ve locked this topic down, Mr. Charlie Shedo, let’s hear what you have to say about how to treat the ladies.” Once again, thrifting shifted me out of “I have nothing to write slump mode” and into curiosity. When you call yourself a “storehouse of marriage wisdom” you’re just begging to get a critique. And that critique will happen later on my back patio, with a Coke Zero, and zero creative slumps in sight.

So if you’re in a slump, or you’re just having a very Monday-ish Tuesday, I recommend venturing to your local goodwill on your lunch break. You might find a dog sweater that reads “Ask me about my trauma.” Or a VHS tape labeled “Linda’s fourth wedding.” Or a ceramic goose dressed as a nun. You will probably buy that vintage spoon rest shaped like a foot. A realistic foot. With veins.

Whatever you find, it will distract. It will inspire. It will help you laugh.
Slump? What slump?