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10 ideas to help you feel less rubbish !
Updated: Feb 18, 2022
I've had this calling to write, I mean I write social media posts and blog posts all the time, but today I just feel called to write from the heart !
I'm usually all about the good vibes and positivity, I love to spread the message that you can live a more happy, grounded, peaceful life and you totally CAN but some days we all feel, me included a bit....... meh !!!!
I am in a bit of a funk right now, not really feeling anything, a bit stuck, a bit sad, a bit fed up and a bit just...... not so great !
It may be a shock for you but I suffer with my own mental health too, that's actually what guided me to be the yoga teacher that helps support you with yours, because I've been there! and still do suffer with a lot of negativity.
Those feelings where you just can't be bothered. to get out of bed, can't be bothered to move, can't be bothered with life.
I don't want to go out, read, walk, talk, the only yoga I have any time for right now is restorative.
I've had enough of business, finding locations, marketing, SEO's, sales funnels, website updates, sometimes it's all just too much.
When people ask me "what's wrong" I'll mask it with "nothing" and carry on.
I'm left thinking if I even like what I do, if I'm ever going to be a happy person, over thinking everything, over analysing everything AND somehow, also not really thinking at all, just flat! I know all the tools I need to sort me out but I choose to stay here, stuck !
I'm not sleeping well so I'm tired, too tired to exercise, too tired to go for a walk and get some fresh air, too tired to want to cook nutritious meals, too tired to do all the things that make me feel better and I feel so guilty about not doing them, I feel even worse.
So there you have it, this is me sometimes!
I just feel meh! like the real me is in there somewhere just too tired to surface.
Life is hard sometimes, writing is hard sometimes, and if you've clicked on this article you likely have been there too.
Even though we have to experience the dark to appreciate the light, even though it's completely ok to not feel ok it just doesn't feel that easy.
We feel bad about feeling bad, guilty about feeling guilty, get angry about getting angry, anxious about feeling anxious, bad about having bad feelings, but if we accept that we all feel like this some time and that's ok we can begin to move on.
Recognising these dark moments, these feelings, these emotions and staying calm, reacting with acceptance is the way forward.
I'll try some herbal teas and yoga first I guess, I'll try to get out for a walk and get some fresh air, I'll make a plan to move forward and acknowledge life is hard BUT I want to get out of this darkness so that's a great start!
If you want to join me, try practicing 1 or 2 (or all 10) of these ideas that might just help you feel better when you just feel rubbish.
1. JOURNAL
Get it out there, journaling is about externalising worries and fears and can be a great outlet for anxiety where you can 'brain dump' all your thoughts and emotions and get them out of your head, the calm and comfort that come with putting your thoughts and feelings down on paper can bring insights into identifying and understanding your emotional triggers, it can really benefit your mental health.
2. GET INTO NATURE
We can develop a new relationship with the natural world by noticing nature and taking a big breath of fresh air, and that doing so has been found to bring benefits in mental health. Our relationship with nature – how much we notice, think about and appreciate our natural surroundings – is a critical factor in supporting good mental health and preventing distress.
Nature can generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, creativity and can facilitate concentration.
Research from mentalhealth.org.uk shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile.
3. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Gratitude is a game changer, it can be hard to think about positive things when you're feeling so low, but thinking about the people you have around you that love and support you, remembering all the things your body can do for you not just what it looks like in the mirror, shifting your mindset to seek out things to be grateful for can improve your mood. People who regularly express gratitude for the positive things in their life are shown to be happier overall, leading to lower rates of stress and depression.
4. GET MOVING
When our body moves, so does our brain, which promotes the production of BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which aids cognitive function. Whether you like to go for a walk or do some yoga moving your body can increase our mental alertness, energy and positive mood, and can increase our self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.
5. CREATE SOMETHING
Draw, paint, colour, cook, bake, play a musical instrument do something for fun, it may well just pull you out of that bad mood.
6. LISTEN TO MUSIC
Put on your favourite tracks, our brains trigger particular emotions, memories and thoughts, which often leads to more positive effects toward mental health. Sing, dance, laugh, cry music can be so powerful.
7. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
Talk to those who uplift you, being around positive energy can help it rub off on you, and if you're lucky enough to have those really good friends that you can tell anything too, offload, have a good cry, and a hug and you may feel much better.
8. HUG IT OUT
Human touch releases oxytocin and serotonin into our bodies, lowering heart rates and cortisol levels and this makes us happier, but it doesn't have to be human, fur cuddles are the best ! hug your pets, they offer unconditional love and won't ever judge you.
9. REST
Honour your body, stop trying to push through and have a rest, most of my issues come from lack of sleep and just feeling knackered ! take naps, get a baby sitter and catch up on some well needed rest.
10. LET YOUR EMOTIONS FLOW
Your feelings are valid! whatever they are ! let your emotions flow, talk about your feelings don't keep them bottled up.
If you need to talk to someone about your mental health these helplines can be a great place to start.
NHS Mind Matters - https://www.mindmattersnhs.co.uk/
Mind the mental health charity
