We all have those days where we are floating on cloud nine and then something happens that stop us in our tracks. Before you know it, you find yourself down in the dumps. The trigger can be something inconspicuous like someone cutting you off on the road to the more obvious – your ego takes a hit and you were overlooked for a job.
The goods news is if something can take you off your happiness ram, it also means there are things you can do to get yourself back on it and off the self-pity ramp.
The bad news is it takes practice to build new habits because we default to what we are used to. So what I often do when I’m exploring new ideas is to make it into a game.
The game is what can I do to help myself feel better? See what works and what doesn’t. We are all different so you’ve got to play and decide for yourself what habits can you start creating to make yourself feel good from the inside. Jane McGonigal supports this idea of game playing in her Ted Talk – The Game that Can Give You 10 Extra Years of Life.
To help you get started here are 20 ways to get you back to feeling good:
1. Change One Thing
When you catch yourself putting yourself down. Stop. Remind yourself of the things you have accomplished and the amazing qualities that makes you who you are. Ask yourself, how would I talk to myself as if I was comforting a friend? What would I suggest my friend do to make him/herself feel better?
2. Throw A Solo Music Dance Party
Turn up your favorite music, dance your heart out and get lost in the beat of the music.
3. Color
Huffington Post shared coloring is a great relaxation activity. As we focus on coloring and stimulating the creative part of our brain, it helps us take our mind off our worries.
4. Sing In The Shower
Nothing beats a hot shower. It not only relaxes your muscles as you get to enjoy the soothing sound of water. But when you sing in the shower there’s a multitude of mental and physical benefits as science has shown. It helps lower stress and increases the release of your oxytocin (love hormone) and endorphins.
5. Take A Bath
If you prefer to take a bath over taking a shower. Do it. Add some Epsom salt infused with calming essential oils to help relax and rejuvenate you.
6. Read Or Watch Something Uplifting
Find a great book or watch a TED talk that will divert your mind from negative thinking and get you inspired.
7. Laugh
Find something to read or watch that is funny and lighthearted. If it is super funny and gets you laughing every time no matter how many times you’ve watched it, create a favorite ‘funny’ list of videos on you tube and save it.
8. Make A Positive Connection
Find ways to connect with someone. You could send a random loving or funny text to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Or better yet, pick up the phone and say hi! Or, find ways to compliment, be kind and lift someone else up. It could be something as simple as offering up your seat.
9. Move Your Body
If you are sitting, change your posture. Stand up, stretch, shake off the thoughts and feelings. If you are already moving or standing exaggerate your moves, stand taller, lift your chest up higher, strut with confidence, find ways to vary up what you are doing.
10. Breathe
Go within. Take a few deep breaths. Breathe in what you seek and breathe out the worry, tension, the negative thoughts that is taking up space in your body and mind.
11. Apologize
If you’ve done something wrong make amends right away. Say I’m sorry. Guilt and shame are unhealthy emotions.
12. Start A Gratitude List
Go on a rampage of gratitude. Make a list of what you have got going in your life and appreciate.
13. Get The Facts
Often when we are unhappy with something, it is because things didn’t turn out the way we want or someone didn’t do something the way we wanted them to. When this happens we start to make assumptions and create our own stories. Next time when you are disappointed get the facts first before jumping to conclusion.
14. Clean Up Your Space
Take care of yourself and your environment. Respect yourself. Keep it clean and tidy for you. When you clean, you are subconsciously dusting off and clearing the stale stuffed energy that is clinging in the room and in your life.
15. Smile
Grin it and bear it. This old adage has scientific merit. Try it. If you need help, hold a pencil or pen in between your teeth. It makes you smile.
16. Simplify
When we get caught up with all the things we have to do to get something done, it can seem overwhelming. Instead, break it down. Start small. Take the next step. That’s all.
17. Put Yourself First
Say no to things that drain you. Say yes to things that excite you. Take time for yourself to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries when you need to, so that you can give from your overflow to others.
18. Bake Cookies
Freshly baked cookies are divine. The smell, the warm feeling you get when they just come out of the oven. Best part, you get to enjoy them. While you are at it, why not have a cup of tea with it.
19. Get A Coach
A coach will help you get to where you want to go faster. They help you see new perspectives and in discovering your own greatness.
20. Have Faith And Surrender
Sometimes we have to fall back and trust that the universe has a grander and better plan for us.
In time things will work out. Here are two quotes that I often refer to, to remind me that everything will be okay.
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” ~Lao Tzu
“Most of my major disappointments have turned out to be blessings in disguise. So whenever anything bad does happen to me, I kind of sit back and feel, well, if I give this enough time, it’ll turn out that this was good, so I shant worry about it too much.” ~William Gaines
We all have our ups and downs. The best way to get ourselves back up is to play a game of finding what will help us heal our mind and makes us feel good.
Are you ready to play?
