It’s hard to pick yourself up when you’re stuck in a rut. Whether it’s from a breakup, family life, or work, stress can impact our lives. Here are a few tips to help you move through a funk.
Indulge in the bad feelings
Give yourself permission to be sad for a limited time. Even if you don’t know why you’re blue, it’s a legitimate feeling and you don’t need to explain your emotions to anyone, even yourself. Set a timer for 1 hour, and allow yourself to fully experience how you feel. Lock yourself in your room, listen to sad music, or watch a sappy movie. Do whatever you need to do to accept your sadness. After the hour is over, decide to take action to start feeling better.
Mix it up
Change is good, even though it might not feel good. If you don’t exercise, take a walk, go for a swim, roller skate. If you already exercise, increase the speed or change your workout routine. Eat something different for lunch or dinner, take a new route home from work, or rearrange your living room furniture. Small changes in our daily habits or surroundings can make a huge difference.
Change the Channel
Imagine your thoughts are upsetting news stories on a major network. Now, change the channel to Comedy Central. Sometimes we get comfortable in our sadness and we get stuck in a downward spiral. Be aware of your negative thoughts, and counter it with something positive. Recall a time in the past when you felt this way. What did you do to get through it? You did it then, and you can do it now.
