We all have those days when we feel sadder than usual. Feeling blue is something that almost everyone experiences at least once. Whenever you find yourself in situations where you feel blue, you should know that it takes less effort than you realize to beat your blues. Everybody has different ways of dealing with low moods and everybody has their preferences but some healthy activities can prove positive in lifting your mood.
Why do I feel blue?
Gloominess, being down in the dumps or feeling blue might happen suddenly, without us even knowing what’s the cause. It could be that we’re going through some hardships in life, got some bad news or sometimes we just feel down without even knowing the reason why. For many people, when they have had a long break from work, getting back into the swing of work can be challenging. That could result in feeling down. While on other occasions we might feel down because we might think that we haven’t accomplished the things we set out to achieve in our lives. No matter what’s the reason, we should remember that self-improvement can lift our mood and confidence levels. It is never too late to start taking stock of your life and giving thanks for everything right now that is great with your life.
Increase Your Happiness
In order not to get lost in overthinking, you should try instead to focus on the changes you want to make and be realistic with this exercise. We all make mistakes and slip-ups, that is all part of being human. So don’t focus on what went wrong. Focus on what went right! Evaluate your desire for transformation and change with an attitude of gratitude for all you have right now that makes you happy, and it won’t be long before your blues will begin to lift.
What can you do?
There are things you can do to beat the blues:
Eat healthier: Body and Mind are interconnected, what you eat influences your mind as well. So help increase your energy levels by looking at what you eat – not a diet as such, just cutting back on unhealthy eating and adding more fruit, veg, and healthy options to your shopping list.
Book a trip: This doesn’t need to be anything expensive, it could be a trip to visit family. The idea is to give you something to look forward to and plan. Make sure to plan well your transportation expenses. Or if you have a car, you could just start driving and take a trip yourself. Just make sure that you obtain an international driving permit to be allowed to get around the new city. While on the road, you could meditate and enjoy the time with nature and new places.
Exercise: Inactivity can make you feel unmotivated and sluggish, but taking up some form of exercise can counteract this, even if it is just getting out for a daily walk. Exercise can make you feel good by boosting your feel-good endorphins.
Get outdoors: Staying indoors is tempting sometimes, but a lack of natural sunlight, which produces serotonin (the feel-good factor), can have an adverse reaction on your mental well-being.
Ride a bike: Even if you live in a built-up city, getting out is very important. But if you own a bicycle, getting out can be fun. Cycling is a healthy, fun, low-impact form of exercise enjoyed by people of all ages and is a great way to get about. Whether you are using pedal power or own a motorized bicycle, the feeling of fun is still the same.
Remodel your home: Many people are very sensitive to the environment around them. You might feel down when you are surrounded by dark colors or if you spend time in cramped spaces. While positive feelings are usually brought by bright and cheerful colors. That’s why you should engage in remodeling your house or rooms where you spend most of your time. Think about updating the paint colors and decluttering. A clean and soothing home will not only brighten your mood but also engaging in an activity like this one can make you feel productive and content.
Go back to your hobbies: Something that might make you feel much better is to get back to your hobbies and do things that always made you happy. It could be drawing, reading, playing sports, making videos, walking, playing instruments, etc. No matter what you end up doing, when you indulge yourself in an activity you will start feeling fulfilled and pleased with yourself, while at the same time have fun.
Conclusion
Beating the blues is easier than you think. By getting out in the fresh air and increasing the amount of natural daylight you are getting, you can improve your feel-good hormones. Cycling is a great way to beat the blues; motorized bicycles are an excellent way to have fun and get all the fresh air and exercise you need to pick you back up!
