Even the most cheerful and positive people have bad days; days when you feel stressed, physically tired or emotionally low. After all, you’re human and it’s not possible to be upbeat every day. However, there are little things you can do that will help you get through a difficult day or week. We’ve put together eight simple ways you can pick yourself up when you’re feeling out of sorts. 

1. Slow, Deep Breathing

Find a quiet space with no distractions to do this. Sit or lie down, close your eyes and begin taking long and slow breaths. With each breath, imagine your anxiety melting away. Push negativity out with each slow breath. This simple action will tell your mind to calm down, lowering your body’s stress response. 

2. Make Your Bed

It’s not so much about ‘making the bed’ as it is about accomplishing a task first thing in the morning. It provides a sense of accomplishment, not to forget the soothing effect it has on your eyes. A well-made bed makes a room look neat; so, even if your mind feels cluttered, just looking at your clean bed will inspire you to let go of the clutter in your mind. 

3. Eat Something Really Healthy

It’s natural to want to reach out for quick-fix snacks when you feel stressed. But processed snacks, fizzy drinks and sugar-laden desserts cause serious health problems. Next time you feel blue, instead of taking a tub of ice cream out of the freezer, snack on nuts and seeds, bananas, berries, dark chocolate, yoghurt, granola, lean meats, beans or lentils. Always remember to limit sugars, as they can have a long-term adverse impact on your mood. 

4. Plan Your Day Out

We all love a day where we do absolutely nothing – a day off, punctuated with naps, watching your favourite shows and following them up with more lazing. But on other days, it’s important to have an agenda that gives you a sense of purpose. You don’t have to have a dozen things lined up to do; just a handful of tasks that keep you sufficiently busy. Make a to-do list that can include activities like a 15-minute meditation session, stocking groceries for the upcoming week, rearranging a bookshelf, a quick coffee with a friend, analysing the scope of work of a project, etc. Daily planning boosts focus and productivity, enables you to be organised, and is fantastic for your well-being. 

5. Shower and Dress up

If you’re not aware of the magic of self-grooming, this is your wake-up call. Spending an entire day in your PJs, without showering or fixing your hair may seem like a smart way of dealing with anxiety – after all, you think you’re being easy on yourself – but this can make your mood nosedive into desperation quicker than you can say ‘Holy Bananas!’  Try this instead – take a shower, brush your teeth, shave, wear fresh clothes, fix your hair, wear a little make-up – whatever it takes for you to look clean and rejuvenated. Voila! You’ll instantly feel better. 

6. Turn to Music or Books

When we say this, we don’t mean songs that will make you wallow in your sadness or intense books that can make you uneasy. Choose upbeat songs and comics or inspirational books. Dance or sing along, laugh out loud and allow yourself to feel lighter.

7. Find an Animal to Cuddle

This one is for the animal lover. Spending time with a pet Swill change your mood in a second. If you’re pet parent, you’ve easy access to the best antidepressant in the world! Don’t have one? Drop in at a friend’s who does. Stroke, hug, tickle or play with a dog or take it out for a walk, and you’ll find your stress melting away.  

8. Talk about it with a Loved One/Journal

Sometimes you just need to get it out of your system. If you’ve a strong bond with someone in your family or with a friend, seek them out and tell them how you’re feeling. Just talking about it will help release the frustration and make you realise that things are not as bad as they seem. 

Don’t want to talk to anyone? Write it down. A journal can be your friend during moments of anxiety. Pour out your feelings on paper. You could even express your emotions in sketches, if writing feels too hard. The idea is to get your worries off your chest and find relief. 

Day-to-day life can be overwhelming and you don’t have to pressure yourself to be a superhero every day. Don’t be hard on yourself. Sometimes, taking it slow is all you need. Of course, throw in some naps, a few cups of coffee and perhaps a little wine, and you’ll be good to go before you know it!