This is a post dedicated to the lost and depressed souls…

We all have our down and depressed times from time to time, and that’s okay. When you are sad, uninspired, or feel drained out, always remember to not self criticize yourself even more. It is such a vulnerable time. It should be a time well-rested, cherished, and for you to reflect on yourself.

Below are some tips that worked for me during my down times that made me feel a lot better:

1.Let It All Out

Whatever it is you are feeling – anger, pain, sadness, loneliness, anxiety. Let them all out, but in healthy forms. My favourite way to let out my emotions is to write them down. It helps me to just let my thoughts flow and scribble down everything that I’m feeling at that moment. I even keep a notebook where I scribble down all of these thoughts.  But it doesn’t have to be in a written form. You can start a private blog, record your thoughts, or type them out on your phone if you want. As long as there is a way for you to let out your emotions.

Sometimes I even write my thoughts down on a piece of paper, and then rip them to pieces and throw them to the garbage afterward. It’s a good way for me to release and to clear my mind. Go ahead and be creative with whatever works the best with you!

Also, I cannot stress how important it is to just cry. Sometimes we get so numb that the best way to be better is to be honest with ourselves and actually feel what we’re feeling. Let yourself take a break from your friends’, family’s, and work’s expectations of you. Go home, pour yourself a glass of wine, be vulnerable and cry. It’s okay.

2.  Spend Time with Yourself

I know, it sounds odd. If you’re feeling sad and depressed, why spend time by yourself even more. But honestly,  I admit that I love to be at social events, but after spending time with so many different people I always feel drained out after a while. I realized what I really needed was to have time for myself.

Pick one day out of your busy schedule as your “me-day.” No one can disturb you and you do not need to accommodate anyone on that day. Turn off the internet. Set your phone to silent. It is your day and you are allowed to be selfish however you want.

Choose a passion hobby that you enjoy doing, or that you’ve always wanted to try. Pick something that can be done just by yourself. Is it photography? hiking? cooking a new dish? or learning yoga ? Dive into it and focus your mind fully on it for a good chunk of the day, with breaks in between if you want. You will feel tired afterwards, but also feel like you’ve accomplished something meaningful that belongs entirely to you.

Afterward, with a clear and refreshed mind, then you should really think about what is it that makes you unhappy. When do you feel like this? What habits are you doing every day that makes you feel this way? Who are you spending time with? What is constantly on your mind? What have you always “wish” you would have done? Really dive deep into these thoughts. Write them down if you have to, and develop action plans that can change these feelings.

3. Keep Learning

Read a good book. Watch a documentary. Listen to a podcast (Top 5 Podcasts for Self Development). Do things that keep you inspired and always want to become better versions of yourself. Learn from your emotions and transform them into opportunities for you to grow. When you are striving to become better versions of yourself, naturally you would feel better internally.

4. Exercise

Get your body on it. Your mind will follow whatever your body leads. Find an exercise that suits you. Whether it is going for a fitness class, hitting the gym to do a few weights, or go outside and jog. Get your body worked up, and your mind refreshed. A good rush in the blood will always brighten up your mood.

5.  Say Goodbye to Social Media

I used to be guilty for being on Instagram 24/7. I wanted to share about my day. Let other people see how I’ve been doing. I wanted to know how everyone else is doing with their lives. It was my form of connecting with the world. But… do we really need to connect with everyone? Are you sharing your day to satisfy yourself, or to gain approval from other people? There’s way too much noise on social media, sometimes you can get easily caught up with negative energy.

Think about how you feel after you have been on it for some time. Are you starting to compare yourself with others?  Do you feel sad about your life, or feel jealous because someone else’s life seem so much more glamorous than yours? Reserve yourself from being on there too much.  Block Facebook, uninstall Instagram if you have to. Do whatever it takes to gain back control of your life, instead of your constant need to share something and become a slave to other’s opinions. You are not defined by how many likes or views you get.

It takes time. As someone who loves digital marketing and operates three social media accounts for work on a daily basis, I am still learning too.

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There are many other things I do on a daily basis to keep myself motivated and positive. These are just some crucial ones that have worked for me. But ultimately, what’s really important is to take time to understand yourself. Try things out and see what methods work best for you. Take those methods and incorporate them into your daily routine. Develop good, daily habits and in the long run, you will feel better overall.

Cheers,

Shir 🙂

Shirley Huang is a Certified Life Coach, Podcast Host, and online educator. She provides weekly resources to help people become leaders in their life, while loving themselves and having fun a long the way. Check out her Life Coaching Programs here.