No matter your age, whereabouts, and professional situation, the past few years have not been the walk in the park many would have liked.
As a result, more and more people across the United States and internationally are reporting discontent and even experiencing signs and symptoms of mental disorders such as MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).
If you are currently feeling as if you are struggling to be positive and stay motivated on an average day, then continue reading to discover six small ways to make a massive difference in how you feel.
1. Eliminate Negativity
Even though, as a properly functioning adult, being comfortable and even content in your own company every now and then is essential, as all humans are, essentially, animals, socialization is a vital part of a healthy life.
However, due to various reasons, including both professional and private commitments and responsibilities, it may well be the case that you have to spend an inordinate amount of time with someone you feel is somewhat of a negativity sponge.
It is for this reason that it is time, right now, to draw that line under such interactions and, whenever and wherever possible, to limit the amount of time you spend with such people and the following tips should help you to do this successfully:
- Learn how to say ‘no’ (and stick to it)
- Keep reminding yourself that the problem is theirs and not yours
- Be empathic and compassionate but do not try and fix their problem
- Highlight how they make you feel in a subtle way
- Avoid being drawn in and invested in their negative anecdotes
- Try and put yourself first in each and every conversation with them
2. Go Outside
Nature plays a huge part in how you feel. Whether this means getting outside in your backyard with a cup of coffee or hiking across a mountainous vista with camping supplies, it is an integral part of the recovery process, in terms of both body and mind, for anyone who is feeling down.
Even if you feel that you don’t have enough energy to take a long walk, just ten minutes around your block, or strolling in your garden, each day will go towards cleansing your oppressive emotions.
3. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Often, for people who live a hectic and seemingly constantly busy life, both at work and home, time can fly past so quickly, and it can be tricky to identify those stand-out moments you truly enjoyed and thus appreciated.
To take stock of what you have experienced during the day or week, you could start to keep a gratitude journal. This is a book you can fill in at the end of the day by writing down one thing you absolutely loved about your day. This could be anything at all and doesn’t have to be a big thing. It could be simple, like having a relaxing soak in the bath or a telephone conversation with an old friend.
When you are experiencing a particularly low mood episode, reading through your gratitude journal can make, even on a subconscious level, a significant difference to not so much how you feel in that moment but your general life outlook.
4. Change Your Hairstyle
Another small change that can make a huge difference to your overall levels of self-esteem is more of an aesthetic difference in the form of a more modern and updated hairstyle and cut.
Prominent local salons, such as Urban Roots Port Monmouth, NJ will provide you with the latest haircut of your choice, whether you indeed leave it to the experts or bring a magazine cutting to show them what you want. Additionally, regular haircuts will eradicate the vast majority of split ends and your hair will feel lighter and cleaner.
5. Laugh More!
On the surface, when you read this next suggestion to boost your levels of emotional health and well-being positively, you may well feel as if you could not possibly spontaneously laugh given how you are currently feeling.
However, this next suggestion to ‘laugh more’ actually centers around deliberately and consciously putting yourself in situations whereby you may be triggered to laugh. Simple and easy-to-enact examples include watching stand-up comedians on the television or streaming services that you have liked in the past and spending time with friends and family members who tend to make you feel lighthearted and comfortable.
6. Beginner’s Meditation
The sixth and final small change you can quite easily start to make as soon as you have finished reading this article is learning some simple meditative techniques.
Meditation and mindfulness are powerful tools and, even better, can be enjoyed and experienced in the comfort of your own home in your dressing robe and pajamas.
There are numerous benefits to meditation and even more links between regular meditative practice and mindfulness training and positive mental health, including improved levels of concentration, a way to evaluate how you feel, and reduced feelings of stress and anxiety.
If you are feeling down, try these simple tips to boost your mood.
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