So you feel like shit. I’ve been there too. Most of the time, I don’t want to do anything except lie in bed. But when I’m in the mood to lift my spirits a little, I try to do some self-care activities to feel a bit better.
Below are some of my favourite things to do to perk up my mood:
Journal your feelings
Whenever I feel down or like my mind is all over the place, I journal. It’s an incredible way to work through what I’m feeling and to get to the root of my problems. Typically when I feel like shit, there are multiple things going wrong in my life that are stacking up on top of each other. Then when I feel overwhelmed and don’t want to deal with it all, I start to feel like shit because I know my life is all over the place. This is how journalling comes in. It’s a place where I can just pour out all my feelings and work through them with myself.
Sometimes it takes one session and I reach a clear solution or understanding of my feelings. Other times, it takes multiple journalling sessions to get a good grasp of what I’m going through. Regardless, it has always made myself feel better! To start off journalling, I would take a notebook and then write out exactly how you’re feeling. Whether you think it’s silly or insignificant, write it down. Write like you’re going to burn the page tomorrow, without any judgement for yourself. I always like to end my journalling sessions with a gratitude list to remind myself of some good things in my life.
Meditate
I once heard that meditation is like a workout for your mental health. I wouldn’t necessarily make that direct simile but I would say it’s close! I’ve started meditating on and off for about a year and I always notice a difference when I do. It helps me focus on the present moment and simply on my breathe. Rather than be overwhelmed with all of my thoughts, I blow all those thoughts away and focus on my breathing. I use guided meditations from the Insight app and they really help me get away from my thoughts even for a second. After meditating, I always end up feeling a bit more calm and relaxed.
I would start with a guided meditation to learn how it works. I’ve used Headspace, Calm and Insight, which were all great. Get into a comfortable position (I like to sit) and play the meditation and just let your mind follow the app’s voice. It may be an adjustment at first, but I promise it will make you feel at least a little bit better.
Take a bath
On everyone’s classic self-care routine is a bath. I think what we enjoy so much about baths is the fact that we can just lay or sit somewhere in the dark with some candles and no one will judge us for it. The hot water also helps relax your muscles, I guess! But honestly, I don’t know if it’s the water, the scents, the candles or what, but baths always do make me feel more relaxed and better overall. If a bath isn’t possible where you live, try taking a hot shower that’s a bit longer than your regular one to get a similar effect.
Light some candles, throw in a bath bomb, grab a book or put on a TV show and just relax by yourself in some warm water.
Move your body
On the other end of the self-care spectrum is working out. Whenever I feel like shit, I always feel sluggish and want to stay under my covers. However, if I do have the energy to get up, and at least go on a short walk or even move around my house, I always manage to feel better. Whether it’s the endorphins or just the small act of taking care of your body, I would definitely add this to your list if you’re not feeling like complete shit.
Try taking a short walk, or doing some yoga if you’re looking for something low impact. If you’re in a slightly more angry mood, try doing a HIIT workout or going for a run!
Cook or bake
When I feel like shit, I want to indulge in food (most of the time). While it’s easy to go and order takeout, I’d encourage you try to cook or bake something for yourself if you’re able to. Going through the process of making your own food generally is more rewarding than just ordering takeout. Working towards a reward with your food could give you a sense of accomplishment and make yourself feel better. I also feel like food always tastes better when you make it yourself, but I may be a minority in that opinion.
Find an easy recipe or a tried and true one of yours and get to it!
Remind yourself of what you like about yourself
Similar to journalling, when I have the energy, I like to try to remind myself of the positives. This really depends on how your mood is at the time, but if you’re able to, I’d encourage you to write down a list of things you like about yourself. Whether they’re physical, mental or emotional, write it down! Bringing your mind to think positive things about yourself can help change your mindset. It may not make you feel 100% better, but it will definitely put you on the right path.
Talk to someone
Lastly, if you’re up for it, I would encourage you to talk to someone. Talking to someone is similar to journalling, but this time you may get some advice that could help you even more. Find someone who you’re close to and comfortable with sharing what you’re struggling with. Share as much as you want or as little as you want and maybe they will be able to reframe your mindset or suggest some solutions for you.
Conclusion
I hope you try out some of these tips when you’re not feeling your best. While it’s always good to try to lift your spirits, sometimes you just need to mope around and feel like shit until you’re ready to do more. Let me know if you tried out any of these tips! Comment below, email me or slide into my Instagram DMs!
