Life can sometimes take its toll and mean that we have days when we’re feeling down. Other days we might just be tired, needing a rest and wanting to recharge. The reasons behind our feelings aren’t really that important when you think about it; the most important factor is to be able to make life easier for yourself during these difficult periods so that you can get on with the task of healing your mind, body, and soul. Here are some ways to do that and give yourself a break.
Enjoy A Coloring Book
Coloring books for adults are an innovative way to de-stress. Far from being what some might consider childish, these books give people the chance to completely focus and forget about everything else – good and bad – that is happening in their lives and the world in general. By taking some time out with and using coloring pencils or pens to create some interesting patterns to complete, you can be kept busy for hours. Your brain will be active, and you will feel peaceful and serene.
If you don’t want to buy a whole coloring book, then take a look online for coloring sheets; you will find lots of them. These are pictures that other people have designed to be colored in. You just need to print off the ones you like and find a quiet place to enjoy your moment of relaxation.
Make A Done List
To-do lists can be very useful, but it can also trigger major anxiety in those who are feeling overwhelmed by everything that life is throwing at them. It happens to us all from time to time. If you are feeling this way then instead of writing to-do list, make a list of tasks you’ve completed. Whenever you finish a task make sure you note it down on your list. Then when you look at it you’ll see everything you have achieved that day or week, and you can feel proud of yourself – and not at all overwhelmed.
The tasks can be as big or small as you want; if you feel you have accomplished an important task, then write it on the list. It can be anything from making breakfast to taking a shower. Perhaps you bought groceries, or you cleaned the kitchen. It doesn’t matter what it is; the fact is you did it, and that should be celebrated.
Stay At Home
Sometimes when a low mood hits you won’t want to go anywhere or see anyone. Forcing yourself to leave the house can sometimes be detrimental to your health, making you more worried and anxious than you were before. Well-meaning friends and family might urge you to step outside, but if you don’t feel up to it, don’t do it. Stay at home.
Staying at home doesn’t mean you won’t get anything done. You can do so much online these days that you can rest up and re-energize whilst still achieving things. If you need groceries, you can order them online. If you need to stock up on meds, you can learn how to order meds online. If you want to renew your library books or chat with friends or watch a movie, it can all be done online. If you need to stay at home that’s not a problem, and don’t worry about what other people think you should be doing. You’re the only one who knows how you really feel.
Make A Happy Box
When you’re feeling well, put some time aside to create a ‘happy box.’This box can be made of card or plastic, or anything else that you have to hand. It doesn’t even have to be a box – it can be a bag or a drawer, or whatever makes sense to you. Fill it with things that will cheer you such as sweet treats, a good book, comfortable pajamas, a movie,a journal full of happy memories, bath salts, a cuddly toy and so on. Make it all about you and fill it with things that you want in there.
Hide the box away, and you can forget about it until you’re feeling like you need it, at which point you can bring it out and enjoy the contents whilst thanking your past self for being so good to you.
Save Compliments
When someone says something kind about you that makes you feel good, note it down and put it in a shoe box or a mason jar or similar container. Keep adding to your container, andyou’ll find that it fills more quickly than you might imagine when you begin to look out for these compliments that people do actually like to give.
When you’re not feeling happy, youcan reach into the container and pull out a compliment at random. You might even be able to remember who said it and why and bringing those good feelings back will remind you how loved you are and what a valuable member of society you are.
Remember to give compliments as well as receive them. Who knows who else is collecting them for the bad days, and yours could be the one that they pull out next to make them feel better. It costs nothing to be kind, so do try to be as much as possible.
Let It Out
Being strong isn’t about not letting any emotions show – bottling everything up will just make you more unwell, more down, and it could even affect your health by raising your blood pressure and causing heart issues. You might gain or lose excess weight because you’re anxious.
Crying is a great way of letting bad feelings out and allowing yourself to feel the emotions that you might have been hiding for too long. Crying is a release, and you will feel better afterward. Your mind will be clear and your thoughts more focused. The important factor is to let as much go as possible so that you feel fresh and ready for a new start, even if it is an old problem that you’re trying to deal with. Facing the issue will make it easier to overcome it, so you can focus on the more positive aspects of your life. It is not uncommon for people to need some time out to work through internal worries, distress or upset, but part of the solution is to tackle the problem head-on.
Make A Gratitude List
It’s easy to think that there is nothing good happening in the world and that you have nothing to look forward to, but you do. Everyone does. It can be a something small, or big, or could even be a surprise. Making a list of everything you are grateful for will show you exactly how good your life is right now, even if bad things seem to be happening.
You might note down how grateful you are that the sun is shining so you can dry your clothes, or that you have a Netflix account to enjoy, or that someone lent you a book to read. You might be grateful that you slept well or that you have a weekend coming up to spend with family. Once you start to make this list, you will find there is a lot to write on it. Reading it back through will give you a good sense of perspective about how good your life really is.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep can make a huge difference and make life much easier in general. Those who get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night are more easily able to function and be productive. They will also be healthier because of chronic lack of sleep can lead to diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as causing high blood pressure, strokes, and obesity.
When you sleep for enough time, your body is able to regenerate itself, repairing any damage that was done during the day. When you wake up ,you will feel much healthier and much more ready to face the day. If you don’t get enough sleep your body will never be able to truly repair itself, so will never be at 100 percent capacity. This can make developing illnesses much more likely.
On a side note, it’s helpful to make your bed every day. It takes less than a minute to quickly pull the covers up and straighten the sheets and pillows, but it gives you a good feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning (and you can write it on your done list), setting the tone for the day.
Make A Happy Playlist
Even if you feel that listening to sad songs suits your mood much better, this can actually make you feel even sadder than you did before. Creating a happy playlist so that you can instantly hear joyful, upbeat tunes wherever you are and whatever you’re doing is a much better idea and one that is easy to achieve. You can have a positive focus and outlook to take on whatever task is headed your way.
Leave a Reply