Autumn has come, and with it, many people seem to face the so-called “autumn blues.” When sadness arises, not only during the cooler seasons but even when the sun is warm and shining, you have to find a way to beat it. Sometimes warm Christmas socks, an aromatic pumpkin-spice latte, or sitting in front of the fireplace just isn’t enough. Gloomy moods can often feel like a sickness that we need to cure. We’ll often wonder what can help to overcome the feeling of total frustration and sadness? Here is the answer:
Find Your Routine
Saying goodbye to the joyful times of summer while coming back to daily tasks, grey reality, and days that are getting shorter and shorter can seem overwhelming. Creating a daily routine can help maintain mental health and find calm.
Make a list of your daily tasks and stick to it. Even if the idea of “routine” seems to be dispiriting for some people, it helps find some quietude and creates an impression that you have your life in order. Checking the box near your daily to-do list can be restful for your mind. When you see how much you have done, you can take pride at the end of the day and get the feeling that you have not wasted your time, even if the tasks were as minor as doing the laundry.
Go Offline
When you are bored and sad, the most tempting distractor is your phone. However, endless scrolling through your Instagram and Facebook feed is like a trap to our minds that activates the reward center and artificially makes you feel better. Going offline, especially if you try to wind down after a tiring day, is a way to find calm.
You can use your spare time playing with your pet, meeting with your friends or family, or just cooking a mouth-watering dinner to reward yourself in a better way than by getting likes on your Instagram profile. And when you finally log in, search the websites that are valuable for you and your mental health, or try to develop your personality and mindfulness on pages like selfdevelopmentsecrets.com.
Try Mindfulness Methods
The concept of meditation and mindfulness has gained ground in the last few years, not without reason. Sadness is strictly related to stress that leads to overwork and haunting dark thoughts. One of the self-care methods that seems to truly work is to calm your anxious mind before it’s too late.
To bring your attention to the present moment, you should find some time for meditation. Sit calmly, and observe your body and the surroundings. Let yourself follow the unrestrained stream of thoughts. Listen to the sounds on the street, or in your house, and relax your muscles. In the beginning, especially if you have a lot on your plate, meditation might seem forced, and instead of pausing, you may still think about the unpleasant parts of reality. This is only because you need to practice more often. If you can’t relax on your own, consider installing a mindfulness app! Some apps have videos with calming exercises and breathing techniques that truly do help.
Make It Green
Your surroundings affect the spirit to a great extent. For instance, the color of the walls in your bedroom or the office can alter your perception of reality and boost or sour your mood.
The color green is considered the most soothing one. Simply buying a leafy green plant to put it on the windowsill in your bedroom can make a world of difference. Nature makes you feel more relaxed, and plants reduce stress levels and help maintain overall happiness.
If you don’t have much free time, consider getting low maintenance plants such as anthuriums, bamboo, kalanchoes, or succulents.
Decorate your space, and see how quickly it will improve your productivity and health.
Try to Write It Down
“Everything is in your mind”.You have probably heard this cliché statement a million times, but there is nothing that could be more true. Accepting the change and adjusting to new circumstances can help you overcome your bad mood.
Sounds too easy, right? One way to put your thoughts in order is to write down all the problems you want to try to resolve. Try journaling in the evening. You can sum up your day, reconsider the events that put you in a bad mood or write down the pleasant moments of the day. Gratefulness lists make you notice the highlights of the day and help appreciate the moments that could have stayed unnoticeable if not written.
Fake It Till You Make It!
You need to trick your mind and cure the blues. If you have a short fuse these days, consider creating a better daily routine. To feel like yourself again, you should try to stay mindful, spend more time with your partner, friends or family, or redecorate your space. You should understand that happiness is within you, no matter what your circumstances. And there are always people to help – myself included!
