I put together a list of 7 things I do when I’m feeling down or anxious. As something who struggles with mental health, I find it the most rewarding to share things I’ve learned that personally help me. If you are struggling, please seek professional help. It is truly what saved me and taught me how to manage my struggles from day-to-day. For the full video of these things, click here.
- One: Read A Book: Taking time away from my phone and other screens helps me stop focusing on reality and immerse myself into something new
- Two: Work Out: It might sound like the last thing you want to do when you’re down, but taking the small time to get out of the house and be in a social but no-pressure environment helps me so much. I love going to classes because I get to see other people but not totally socialize. It’s also, of course, an energy booster.
- Three: Phone A Friend: I say phone a friend (or family member) because it’s important to communicate and get out of your head. If your someone like me who gets easily anxious, I find it extremely rewarding to call someone and as about THEM, not myself. Make yourself of service to someone else. Helping others when you down is beyond rewarding and gets you out of your own pity party.
- Four: Take a Walk: I love walking my dogs when I’m feeling down. It’s such a small commitment but gets me fresh air and allows me to focus on two other living things that need me. I don’t take my phone, and we don’t walk long, but it’s a small refreshing win for the day.
- Five: Clean Your Environment and Yourself: When your life is a mess, you don’t want to look at a mess. Cleaning is a big stress reliever for me and allows me to relax as a reward when I’m done. There’s no better feeling than getting into a clean bed when you’re clean as well. I clean my immediate environment and jump in the shower. Then I can be in a fresh and clean space and decide what to do next.
- Six: Make Productive Lists: It’s easy to get caught up in your own thoughts. It helps me to write out how I’m feeling and separate it from what is actually happening. Once I do that, I can decide what actions to take next. It’s very grounding to admit your thoughts and force yourself to then think logically about what is currently actually happening. By making these lists, you can get everything out and be done with it, while knowing what possible solutions you have.
- Seven: Put It To Bed: When things are super tough, I get worked up. I can’t do much unless I physically put it all to bed. It’s so important to take care of your physical body as well so it can help you take care of your mental health. When things go wrong, sometimes you just need to put it to bed and wake up with a fresh start. Allowing yourself to decompress and recharge will provide better solutions rather than overworking yourself.
Here are the two templates I made to guide you through some productive listing:
Feel free to drag and drop to your desktop, screenshot, or make your own!