To bring yourself up when feeling down is much easier said than done.
However, it is vital to your health and happiness that you do. Feeling sad, bored, and blah about life accomplishes nothing and makes you miserable in the process. It is a waste of your precious life!
I too have been stuck in a slump, particularly after my first break up. Even though I knew it was for the best I was bummed, and totally heart broken. For a couple of days I remember pretending I was sick so that I could stay in a bed for a few days secretly sulking. I couldn’t fake being sick forever though so I had to get back to my normal routine, and that was what helped yank me out of my slump.
Here are a list of things that I find really help lift me up when I am down:
As Ben Franklin once said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Waking up early is great for pulling yourself out of a slump because it allows you more time in the day to get things done. With extra time in the morning you can also treat yourself to a lovely homemade breakfast, watch some morning shows, cruise Facebook, do some exercise, or whatever else you may enjoy. It gives you a chance to unwind while also giving you more time to be productive.
If you accomplish something each day you will feel as though you have more control. Most of the time, people who are in slumps, ruts or just down in the dumps suffer from a lack of control. Make a list of five things that need to get done and by the end of the day cross off at least one thing. After all errands are crossed off start another list and maybe try to cross off at least two tasks per day.
No matter how bummed out you are try and force yourself to go out and be around friends. Friends can redirect your mind and energy towards fun things and get you excited about life. They can also help make you realize you are not alone and bring you a sense of comfort.
Your surroundings can have a large effect on your mood. If your room is messy, dirty and unorganized it can make life seem a bit unorganized and out of wack as well. Cleaning up your environment can make you feel more relaxed and in control of your life.
When you look nice, you automatically feel better about yourself. So put on you best pair of jeans, or throw on a dress and do your makeup. whatever makes you feel good, not anyone else. Go out feeling confident.
Exercise can have many positive effects on mood. The release of endorphins is extremely beneficial and can mimic the benefits of anti-depressant medication. According to a recent study conducted on individuals diagnosed with depression and the effect of daily walks 30-45 minutes, the results showed drastic improvements in mood compared to the control group who did not perform any exercise. This study was also consistent with past studies on exercise and mood. So get moving! Choose a form of exercise that you enjoy and find fun so that it becomes something you look forward to. I ahevsome suggestions for this at my own blog http://www.workoutwithjanine.com/
You are what you eat. If you eat crap, you’ll feel like crap. Food is fuel and it is important to fuel your body with foods that are going to nourish you as well as satisfy your hunger and taste buds. If you are eating junk, this can lead to highs and lows in blood sugar levels, which can lead to feelings of fatigue and grumpiness.
There is something about music that resonates with us deep inside. Certain songs can bring back memories from the past and make us feel strong emotions. Studies show that listening to music in general has a strong positive effect on moods. Listening to music, preferably happy, up-beat music can bring about feelings of happiness and joy. Play happy music especially when you are alone to keep you feeling optimistic.
If you are already somewhat down or upset, don’t enhance these sad feelings by watching sad movies or shows. Watch something that will make you laugh. This will put you on a positive frequency and help you to stay there for time afterwards.
‘Misery loves company,’ an old saying that did not come out of thin air. If there is someone in your life who makes you unhappy, distance yourself from that person. Their negative energy can drag you down and ruin your mood, halting your progress for getting out of a slump.
Do some soul searching and figure out why you are in a slump. Is it because you feel out of control or are without direction? Is it loneliness? It is the loss of someone close? Is it relationship related? Once you detect the root of the problem it is easier to reverse your situation. Sometimes, talking to friends, family or even a professional can help.
Instead of focusing on the negatives in your life start giving more thought, to the things in your life you have to be thankful for. Giving more attention to the things in your life that make you happy will make you feel happier overall. This can also make you realize how fortunate you are and put the other negative aspects of your life in perspective.
My parents always told me to smile when I was feeling sad because, “you cannot feel sad when you smile, no matter how hard you try.” This is so true, try it right now and you’ll see!
Hopefully these small daily alterations can help bring you out of your slump and improve your mood. Realize though that it will take time and not happen overnight. Just keep implementing these small changes into your life each day.
Good luck and feel free to post a comment. If you have any other tips on how to pull yourself out of a slump please share!
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