What I do when I *start* to feel blue.
Proactively combatting the blues with a curated go-to list of mood-boosting activities.
We are officially in the doldrums of winter in Indiana. More long, gray days... less sunshine and less opportunities to get outside.
During this time of year, it can be easy for me to feel unmotivated, stuck, and sometimes a little blue. Instead of allowing myself to fall into a rut, I've decided to take a proactive approach to combatting the winter blues by putting together a list of activities that instantly light me up, uplift me, and take me out of my head and into the present moment.
Here’s a glimpse into my ever-evolving list:
Step away, take a break
Get fresh air, walk outside
Organize something, tidy up my space
Do something for someone else
Meditate, deep breathing
Look out the window
Do something creative
Connect with a loved one or close friend
Listen to ‘happy’ music
Take a warm bath
Workout, move my body
Have a nutritious meal
Change environments, scenery
To make this successful, I know I need to:
Have the list readily available and accessible on my Notes app on my phone. I know the last thing I want to do when I am starting to feel down, is to expend energy trying to come up with an activity that brings me joy. So now I have my list ready to go and in plain sight.
Pay attention to my emotions. If I am sensing a wave of heaviness or sadness creep up (or any negative feeling that is not serving me), I know that it's time to stop what I am currently doing and engage in one of my tried-and-true mood-boosting activities.
Give the chosen activity my full focus, time, and intention.
It's a practice I am going to use throughout the year, and I encourage you to do the same if you find yourself feeling more downs than ups.
Friends, I'd love to hear what you do to combat the blues. Please feel free to share in the comments… and always remember to reach out for help or support if the pain becomes too much to bear. You are never alone.
Words to ruminate on during tough times:
"Slow breathing is like an anchor in the midst of an emotional storm: the anchor won't make the storm go away, but it will hold you steady until it passes." — Russ Harris