How I Pick Myself Up When I’m Feeling Down

We all feel crap sometimes. Life isn’t always sunshine and sparkles. It can leave us feeling down in the dumps and miserable.

Sometimes it can mental health related or life has dealt us a shitty hand. However, sometimes there is no ‘reason’ and we just don’t feel our best. We all go through it.

No matter the reason behind the feelings, it can be hard to pick ourselves back up. It can feel impossible to focus on the good and get yourself out of the funk. Picking yourself up isn’t always easy.

Going through a tough patch like this can be really frustrating. All you want is feel better and you’re trying your hardest to conjure up some happiness. Day trip to Hogwarts to learn how to brew a potion for happiness anyone? No matter how hard try, you just can’t seem shake off the negative feelings.

When you’re feeling this way, it can seem like nothing will work. And sometimes, it won’t. Sometimes, you’ve just gotta ride the wave until things pick up. But if you want to keep trying to kick-start some positive vibes, then where do you start?

Escaping Into A New World

I’m talking about books, not some LSD trip to discover an enlightened world. Well if that is your jam, then fair enough and go for it. But my brain is already messed up enough for any psychedelics…

Books are one of the biggest loves in my life. I don’t care if it sounds sad, I’m fully embracing my bookworm nature! Books have always been there for me. Ever since I learnt to read, I’ve always had my nose in a book.

If books (or psychedelic drugs) aren’t your thing, then find something similar. Discover something which can distract you and give you some escapism until you eventually start to feel a little better.

Get Your Body Moving

The last thing you want to do when you are feeling crap or going through a tough patch is exercise. I get it. It’s difficult enough to get out of bed sometimes, let alone start running marathons. So I won’t sit here and preach about how yoga will cure all of your mental health issues.

But we all know that exercise is good for you. Exercise is really incredible at helping manage your feelings, and mental health (to an extent). It can help you to feel better. I know that when I get some endorphins flowing, I feel less foggy and more revitalised.

I’m not suggesting you start doing a HIIT workout, but IF you can do something then why not give it a try? Simply getting up and moving can really improve your move. Whether it’s going for a walk, trying some relaxing yoga on YouTube or having a swim. Get your body moving, even just a little bit.

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This is really a situation where I need to practice what I preach because I’m currently the laziest human on the planet. But I know that when I do get back into an exercise routine, I’ll feel much better about everything.

Are You Looking After Yourself?

All of the self-care that I see is a kind of fluffy, Instagram version with bath bombs and pampering. Don’t get me wrong, I love that kind of self-care. But there is a time and a place for it.

Sometimes we need a more realistic and ‘boring’ type of self-care to get ourselves feeling better.

Related Post: Let’s Talk Self-Care

I know that when I’ve been in a bad mindset, I really let myself go. I’m not talking about the way I look, but the way I look after myself. You’ll find me curled up in bed, stinking from not having showered with matted hair, eating biscuits by the bucketload whilst not drinking any water.

That’s hardly going to make me feel any better. If you want to feel better then look after yourself. Look after your physical body, and you mind will follow (even if it isn’t straight away).

If that description of me sounds very familiar to yourself, then get yourself out of bed. Go and have a shower and brush your teeth. Drink plenty of water and treat your body to nourishing foods. Take your medication and get a decent night sleep.

It’s easy to forget to look after yourself. We’ve all been there. But you know you’ll feel better once you’ve started to look after your physical self again.

Let’s Be More Grateful

I have a pretty good life! There always some shitty things to deal with because life is full of the good and the bad, but mostly there isn’t much to complain about. Although I’ll still find something to have a whinge about because I’m the world’s biggest moaner (my friends are probably nodding in agreement whilst reading this).

If you find yourself losing sight, then give yourself a kick up the butt. Remind yourself how incredible your life really is. Remember all of the wonderful things big or small) that you are grateful for or just make you happy!

I’m absolutely obsessed with gratitude. I like to surround myself with positivity and gratitude to stop myself becoming a total Negative Nancy.

So why not start your own gratitude log? Even if you’re not feeling down, creating a gratitude log is the perfect way to spark some positivity by reflecting on at least one good from every day.

Currently, I’m feeling grateful for:

• My wonderful bunch of friends & family
• Having a creative outlet & passion like blogging
• Cups of tea

Now it is your turn. What are you feeling grateful for? Start writing down those things that have made your day, even a tiny bit, better and happier.

Just remember that whatever is causing this, even when it feels like there’s no reason, you have the strength to get through it. You aren’t alone in this, we all go through tough patches. And it helps to remind yourself that you aren’t alone.

If you even manage to do one of these things, I’m sure that the happiness and positivity will return! Take care of yourself. Do something every day that makes you feel happy and loved.

And if it doesn’t happen straight away? Well remember that ‘this too will pass’, sometimes it can take a while. Just keep holding on because it will happen. Maybe in a couple of days, or weeks, but things will eventually get better.

What always helps make you feel better during a tough patch?

Hannah xx

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