We’ve all been there. All of us know what it feels like to be sad, down, low, anxious, annoyed, or apathetic. So sounds simple enough? How to not be sad? How to get these emotions to stop dead in their tracks. What’s the secret?

I’m going to share some ways I’ve tried them myself that have helped during those low periods for you to try and I hope they help!

Talk To A Professional

More than anything I would suggest that you speak with a professional. I’m taking this direct from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/getting-help-for-a-mental-illness

If you need immediate help, there are mental health helplines and websites that offer professional counseling crisis support and counseling – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Helplines are a great resource if you are struggling with mental health issues. Sometimes, just by calling and talking things through, your situation can become easier to manage.

Find someone to talk to through one of the following helplines:

Freewriting

Freewriting is writing down whatever comes to mind without stopping and thinking about grammar or spelling. When you’re feeling sad, consider sitting down with a pen and paper. Start writing about why you’re down and go from there. This activity doesn’t only drive inspiration. It can also excavate emotions. Write for 30 minutes without stopping, let your mind take that journey, and get that onto the page.

Writing can be therapeutic — it can heal traumas and stresses. If you don’t want to free-write, you can also consider journaling in a more structured way and routinely.

Take notes of when you’re sad and what triggers your sadness. Write down your wins of the day, no may how small they might be, reading over these will no doubt help ease your mind.

Listen to Music

Do you know that your brain releases dopamine when you listen to music? This neurotransmitter is responsible for making you feel happiness, pleasure, excitement, and joy. All you need to do is open Spotify or go to YouTube and listen to your favorite music.

What I can suggest is for you to create a personal playlist of those songs that get you out of your own head. “Summer Love” by Justin Timberlake takes me away, back to 2006 when times were much simpler!

Stay Active – Talk A Walk

Have you ever tried working out and felt so much better after? You might want to call it an endorphin rush too. But there’s more to exercise than this. While exercising, your brain releases certain chemicals associated with feeling content and happy. 

For me this doesn’t mean going to the gym, walking is more my speed. I like to achieve 10,000 steps a day where I can, so having a clear goal in mind like reaching that 10k steps as quickly as possible unlocks that present and motivated feelings.

Try Meditation

Like exercise, meditation also releases chemicals in the brain to make you feel happier and satisfied with your life. And we all know how beneficial meditation is. It can help you sleep better, have a healthier body, and achieve mental clarity. 

To meditate, find a quiet spot where you can focus on yourself. Setting a time limit for five minutes would do for a start. While sitting quietly, notice your body and feel your breath. Just let your mind wander, and don’t judge thoughts that come to you. Do this for at least five to 10 minutes each day. 

Meditation Not Your Thing, How About Taking A Cold Shower?

You’ll never feel more present in the month after something as intense as freezing cold water hitting your body and shaking up your nervous system. 

I remember hearing somewhere that the shower is the super hack to accessing a meditative state – as you’ve got the sound of water running over you, being in tune with your physical state. 

Research has been done that shows that cold showers can be a cure for depression – I take it down to pure common sense, being freezing cold scrounging to warm up with your towel will snap out of your funk and get you focusing on what’s important, getting warm!