Sometimes I feel sad. I feel down. Sometimes you get down too. We all get down moments. Whether it’s because you lost someone, you have money problems, you broke up with your partner, hate your job or feel overwhelmed with life. It happens. Sometimes we just lose our way and need a little help finding the path again.
I sat down recently with a friend who reached out to me for help. The day she called me, I could tell she needed help. She was less chatty, not as enthusiastic as she normally is and just seemed down. We arranged a catch up over coffee for the following week.
That next week, as we sat down in the sun with our warm cup of coffee, she said to me, “It’s funny, as soon as I told you I needed help, I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.” She said she then went on and spent the whole weekend doing things for herself. She drove to the beach, sat in the sun, read a book and just spent time enjoying her own company. I could tell her entire manner had changed. She was happier. Since she shared her deepest thoughts with me, she focused on herself, and she now had hope for change. Sometimes even just sharing your feelings with someone makes all the difference.
It got me thinking about what I do when I get down, and how I pull myself out of the slump. It seems, to me, that sometimes that life can feel all too much when we aren’t focusing on the small things in life that matter. Self Care. Self Love.
Here a a few things I have found over the years that help me feel alive, and feel happier within.
- S U N S H I N E….. Sit in the sun for one meal a day. Wait for your morning coffee in the sun. Go for a walk. Expose your skin. But make sure you build up your tolerance to the sun slowly. Start with just 3-5 minutes then increase by a few minutes every week. Decreased sun exposure has been associated with a drop in serotonin which is a chemical made in our body, which stabilises our mood and regulates anxiety and happiness (among others). The light-induced effects of serotonin are triggered by sunlight that goes through the eye, so try to get a little exposure without sunglasses on.
- P R O B I O T I C S & F E R M E N T E D F O O D S….. Studies are showing, that your brain and gut are closely connected. You can improve your gut health by consuming more fermented foods. But if fermented foods are too ‘hippy’ for you, opt for a probiotic every day. But if you are keen on giving it a go, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi make a great addition to your health.
- C L E A N Y O U R S E L F U P….. Sounds silly right? But think about it, when you are feeling lazy, lethargic and unmotivated, the last thing you want to do is get off the couch and shower, brush your teeth or put on moisturiser right? So get off your butt, allow 15 minutes, take a shower (for extra invigoration = 10 minutes of cold water), do a body scrub, clip your toenails, paint your fingernails, pluck your eyebrows, put on moisturiser. Go on, treat yo-self. If you don’t feel better after that, then keep reading….
- P O W E R P O S E….. Open your chest, stand proud. Fake smile. They all trick your body into thinking it’s happier and it will release all those feel-good endorphins.
- P L A Y M U S I C….. Pump it. Feel the Beat. Do a little wiggle in the kitchen while you are cooking.
- G O O U T D O O R S….. Ever heard the saying “You need some fresh air.”? Be with nature. Wriggle your bare toes in the grass, sand or dirt. Research negative ions. They are abundant in nature, not so much in the cities. They can contribute to a healthier body and mind.
- T H E B I G G E R P I C T U R E….. If all else fails. Look at the bigger picture. You could have a worse job, live in a 3rd world country, not have one of your limbs etc etc etc. Come to think of it, you are pretty lucky. Right?
Simply, it’s just about being a little selfish, looking after yourself first, and do things that light a spark within.
Coach Soni
Instagram – @Sonijay