It’s important to remember that when you’re feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed, you have to be extra gentle towards yourself. Just like an athlete that breaks a bone, they need to rest to give their body energy and permission to heal. Just like a broken bone, depression can change the way your daily life plays out, and pushing yourself too hard and getting frustrated when you don’t feel better is just like trying to exercise on that broken bone and getting frustrated when it doesn’t heal.
I know that when you are having a bad day it can feel overwhelming and exhausting to think about how to improve your mood. But it’s so important taking care of yourself, especially these days. So keep in mind these things:
❤ Get fresh air & natural light
Open the windows, go outside, go for a walk. Fresh air and sunlight are so helpful for brightening up a bummed-out mood.
❤ Have a Sleep Schedule
Sleep is so important for every aspect of your health. It is actually recommended to get between 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
Oversleeping can harm your mental health just as much as not sleeping enough can.
❤ Exercise
Getting physical movement releases endorphins that seriously improve your mood.
So take a walk, do a home workout, go to the gym, play pickleball with your friends, or go for a swim.
❤ Reflect On Your Achievements
Write down 5 positive things that have happened in the past month. Anything positive you whether it’s big or small. This will remind you of the positive aspects of your life and help pull your brain out of its rut.
❤ Create a Relaxing Environment
Tidy your space, light some candles, and put on your favorite playlist. Creating an environment that brings you joy will help boost your mood.
❤ Limit Social Media Time
Spending too much time on social media can make your mental health worse. Spend your time reading, catching up with a friend, or doing some art.
❤ Surround Yourself With People You Love
There’s nothing quite like the comfort of close friends and family. Share your thoughts, discuss your worries, and laugh away your fear. They’ll be there to pick you up when you most need it.
Just please remember this:
* Feeling sad after making a decision doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision.
* Self-awareness is realizing that there is no opponent – you’re fighting against yourself.
* Sometimes saying ‘goodbye’ doesn’t mean you don’t love something, it just means you love yourself too.
* If you keep one hand on your past and one hand on your future you’ll never have either. To embrace tomorrow, you must let go of yesterday.
* The world starts and ends entirely inside your mind. No matter where you end up, no matter how rich, or successful you become, you won’t enjoy any of it if you get there at the expense of your mental health.
* The world would be dimmer without you in it.
* You are not alone
* The sadness you’re experiencing doesn’t make you any less worthy of love from yourself or others
With everything going on in the world and your own personal struggles, bad days can be difficult to recover from. If you’re struggling, having a bad day, or finding it tough to feel positive please seek professional help.
Take care of yourself, I’m here for you ❤