Goodbye To The Blues

It’s okay to feel sad sometimes, but you have to learn coping mechanisms to pull yourself out of the doldrums.

1. Listen to Music

It has soothing properties that are almost medicinal in how well they affect the brain. 

In fact, music therapy has been used to aid in depression treatment, stress reduction, and pain relief. Some scientists even speculate that music is more effective than medication in lifting depression.

So when you start to feel down, turn up the tunes!

But, be careful about the type of music you listen to. Sad songs can pull you into their depths without any effort. They may be your favorite tunes, but you need to avoid them when you’re fighting the blues. 

2. Get Active

An almost surefire way to boost your mood is to do some exercise. 

But getting active may be your best defence against chronic depression and physical illness. Find an activity you enjoy, whether it’s low, medium, or high intensity, and go do it!

Exercising is an all-in-one way to boost your mood. When you are regularly active, your body benefits in ways you might not even realise.

Your body becomes healthier, which makes you more confident. 

3. Reach Out to Someone

We all need help sometimes. Turning to your support system for a distraction or a way to vent can be all it takes to shake the blues.

We all need someone we can talk to and share our problems with. Otherwise, we can get trapped in our own thoughts.

Just by sharing the things on your mind, you might feel the weight lift a little.

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing certain thoughts with those around you, or don’t have anyone to talk to, reach out to a therapist. They’ll teach you strategies for rising above your low feelings, and they’ll keep your conversations private.

4. Change Your Diet

When everything else is fine but you can’t seem to kick the blues, look at your eating habits. Certain foods are scientifically proven to be bad for your mental health.

Check your diet and avoid these common depressants:

• Sugary foods

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Processed foods

• Artificial sweeteners

When you cross those off your meal plan, replace them with mood-boosting foods like: 

• Green tea

• Seafood

• Spinach

• Nuts

• Dark chocolate

Watching what you eat is essential for your physical health, but it could also be the fix to getting rid of those bouts of gloom.

5. Switch Up Your Routine

Have you ever felt like you’re doing the same thing over and over, yet getting nowhere? When you feel like you’re in a rut, you might have a good reason.

Routines are helpful, but they can also be depressing, especially if you’re always working or bored.

If you look further into their recommendations, though, the answer isn’t the routine itself. It’s what you do in your routine that makes the difference.

Analyse your daily schedule. Is it the same old, same old? Chores, responsibilities, to-do lists that never end?

That’s not a routine. That’s monotony.

A powerful daily routine includes all of those must-dos. But it also makes room for self-improvement, time with friends and family, and hobbies you enjoy.

If you’re feeling down because you’ve gotten stuck in the wrong kind of rut, find ways to shake up your day. Get out of those monotonous routines!