How to Stop Feeling Blue & Get Out of the Comfort of Misery

It’s okay to feel blue, but you don’t want it to become a routine and daily emotion. So, it’s time to stop feeling blue and turn that frown upside down.

Everyone goes through ups and downs. During university, I ended up losing two friends over an argument, and it just happened during exam season. I was really stressed and feeling blue, and not having my two friends around made it even worse.

It started off with me feeling sad and lonely, but instead of going out or doing things to make myself feel better, I stayed at home alone. That was probably the worst thing I could have done. I didn’t leave my house for three months unless it was for school or work. I would sit in front of the fireplace and watch horrible reality television shows, and sometimes cry. Feeling blue spiraled into depression.

Luckily, I managed to pull myself out of it and go to a therapist. But it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

My life became comfortable being alone and miserable; I adjusted to it. I don’t want that to happen to you. Feeling blue isn’t bad, and it’s going to happen from time to time, but you don’t want it to turn into your primary emotion.

It’s okay to wallow in self-pity, eat a bucket of ice cream and cry, but then at some point, you need to take a shower and go outside. So, if you feel like you can’t get out of the blues, try out some of these activities to help you feel better.

[Read: 20 mood boosting things to do when you feel down and alone]

Feeling blue? 15 ways to get out of your funk

Let’s start to feel like gold instead.

#1 Go for a walk. Yes. Alone. Go for a walk alone. You can put music on or walk in silence. It doesn’t matter. What’s important is you reconnect with yourself while breathing in some fresh air. It’ll get your brain going, and give you space to chill out and reflect. Plus, if it’s sunny outside, you’ll get some much-needed vitamin D. 

#2 Get creative. You probably don’t want to start sketching or writing right now, but if you want to get through the blues, you need to push yourself creatively.

Some of my best short stories were when I was in the worst moods. I was upset about this and that, and I pushed myself to write creatively. Turn your emotions into art. [Read: How to motivate yourself to do pretty much anything when you’re depressed]

#3 Clean your room. When I was feeling blue, I was probably the dirtiest person alive. I was living in my own filth. I didn’t clean my room; I didn’t want to *but I did* shower, everything was just a chore for me. But, cleaning your room gives you mental clarity and fresh air. Go through your things, sort them, and just create a fresh space for yourself.

#4 Start eating healthier. You’ve been probably slacking off from eating your greens, and that’s okay. But understand what you put in your mouth also affects how you feel. If you’re gorging on fast food every day, this is also contributing to your feeling sad and blue. Grab a smoothie, or eat a delicious vegetable plate, and nourish your body with healthy food. You’ll feel better. [Read: Why am I so emotional? Science has the answers you may not expect]

#5 Talk to someone you trust. My mistake was keeping it bottled inside of me. What you need to do is talk to someone you trust. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or therapist, talk to someone who will let you be honest with yourself in front of them. When you’re feeling blue, you need support, and that’s okay.

#6 Meditate. It’s really not for everyone. Well, I, for example, don’t have the attention span, even though it’s my dream to be able to meditate. Feeling the blues can spiral quite quickly, and meditation can help you improve your mood by being aware of yourself and thoughts. Now you know why yogis are so zen. [Read: How to be present and find your zone of perfect calmness]

#7 Hang around positive people. They don’t need to be crazy happy, constantly smiling, and telling you that you’re amazing. But you should try to spend time with people you are content and are positive.

Hanging out with a Debbie Downer isn’t going to make you feel better. If anything, it’ll give you an excuse to continue feeling blue. [Read: How to end a friendship when they do nothing but hold you back]

#8 Just dance. If you’re wondering how to stop feeling blue, you need to know that you don’t need to go to the club to shake it off. Turn on the music in your bedroom and pick a song you can get loose to. Crank it up, and go wild. No one’s watching you, just let go. It’ll get your body moving, your blood pumping, and have the endorphins pumping from head to toe.

#9 Appreciate the small things. When we’re feeling blue, it’s easy to feel like everything is coming down on you. But you need to take a step back and admire the small things in your life. When you’re out for a walk, pay attention to the dew on your neighbor’s grass or the old lady who’s crossing the street. There are beautiful things happening around you, pay attention to them.

#10 Get some rest. You may be getting a lot of sleep, or you may not be sleeping enough; it really depends. But when it comes to feeling blue, you need to make sure you’re sleeping a healthy amount. You need to be able to function properly, and if you’re not sleeping enough, it’s only making things worse. [Read: 15 tweaks to alter your sad state of mind from within]

#11 Hug someone. But not a one-armed hug. Go up to your mom, your dad, your best friend, and give them a long, two-armed bear hug. Sometimes, at the end of the day, that’s what you really need, a hug. If you can hold the hug for 30 seconds, you’ll be amazed at how good and warm it makes you feel. [Read: The huge health benefits of hugging that’ll make you want to cuddle more]

#12 Pick yourself some flowers. Who doesn’t like flowers, honestly? Whether you go to the forest and pick yourself some wildflowers or head to a flower shop, pick bright and vibrant flowers for your home. It’s a small gesture for yourself, but you’ll be surprised how flowers can brighten your day.

#13 Cry it out. If you’re trying to keep your emotions sucked in, don’t do it. Just let them out. If you keep them locked inside of you, it’ll only make you feel worse. So when you’re home alone, have a good cry. You’ll feel lighter, and it works to balance hormones, which will help you gain mental clarity. Have a good cry, and then go to bed. [Read: Ready for some tears? 20 movies that’ll make you cry a lot]

#14 Bake some treats. When you’re feeling blue, never underestimate the power of freshly baked treats. Baking is similar to doing something creative, like painting or writing. You need to focus on your attention on creating edible art. It’ll get your mind off of things and keep you occupied until you’re ready to eat them up.

#15 You’re going to be okay. Don’t let the blue fool you; you’re going to be okay. It’s a rough patch, we all have them and struggle to move past them. But with time, you will overcome this, and it’ll just be a distant memory. Don’t think you’re stuck feeling like this forever.

[Read: How to stop feeling sorry for yourself, end the pity party and break out]

It’s perfectly normal to feel blue every now and then. But you don’t want those feelings to take over your life. To get out of your slump, try out these things and see how you feel.

The post How to Stop Feeling Blue & Get Out of the Comfort of Misery is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.