Head up high, we got this!
I woke up from an afternoon nap on a couch and realized it was happening again. That slow, predictable wave of dissatisfaction and endless emptiness was breezing its stinky smell (probably of the dishes I still haven’t washed) over me and exiting the half-open window—that beautiful mix of lost motivation and self-deprecating thoughts. I mean, we all have them. Mine are usually “You’re not doing enough,” or “Why do you think you are anything special,” “You’re falling behind,” and some others that are probably too personal for me to share up here – keeping a perfect facade, you know! And to be honest, I am not the person to tell you to get all of them out in public, despite this attitude being quite popular lately. In reality, vulnerability has the right place and time – and the people you show them to. In short, it is never a smart idea to swim in a shark tank bleeding, and I learned this way too late.
But actually, my topic for today is more about this annoying state we all find ourselves in every once in a while. It’s those days when rolling out of bed is really rolling; your mind marks every positive thought as stupid, and you don’t look at yourself in a mirror or wipe that stain in the kitchen that happened while preparing a low-effort breakfast immediately because you just don’t care. I think the low is natural to us all not always in need of a diagnosis. In my eyes, life is like a rollercoaster – and when the train goes down, you need that force to push it right back up. There are some tricks I do myself to start the wheels spinning around again, and I would like to share them with you.
First, I want to talk about why I think it might even happen. Have you just recently finished a draining project or task and are now “not enjoying” a free day? Have you been eating crap for the last few days? Overworked? Not moving your body at all? Dehydrated? Distracting yourself with social media, video games, or addictive relationships? Some things are easier to fix than others, but only you know what has been going on lately…explore it.
I can offer you only my advice on things that work for me, but self-reflection and willingness to change what doesn’t work is something one has to really feel on an individual level.
Obviously – identify the problem and spend some alone time working on the solution.
I am a strong believer in the fact that most things we are unhappy with can be changed or adapted for the better.
Avoid afternoon naps.
This one might seem strange, but if you really think about it, did you ever wake up happier and more well-rested after an afternoon nap? And I am talking about naps that go on for more than 30 min. 20-minute timed power naps can actually be beneficial, but also the recommended maximum.
Get some fresh air.
This one doesn’t always help, to be honest, but very often it does. What one actually needs to achieve on the bad days is clarity. And doing a sport outside or even walking can help with that. Ditch the headphones and podcasts – who needs all those people in your ears? Listen to your own feelings and thoughts, and maybe you figure out the problem. Or maybe you even realize things are not as bad as they seem.
Consistent sleep schedule and an appropriate diet.
No heavy food before sleep, lots of water, etc. We heard it all before, but because it makes a difference. You know what is best for you in this area.
Feel the emotions
What are you feeling? If you have time, I recommend a window of time to just lay on the couch and feel miserable. Eventually, you will feel like it’s a bit pathetic and get up anyway :) It sounds kind of rough, but hell, whatever works. And when you feel those feelings; please express them. Sing, dance, run, move in any way, or, you know…play your instrument.
At least get a shower.
In the same way as that walk, it brings clarity and literal freshness to your day.
I don’t want to sound like Peterson, but clean your room (or apartment), ya filthy animal.
Don’t distract yourself – analyze what needs to be done in order for you to feel a bit better. Hey, write a list. Short-, middle-, and long-term goals. How do you want to invest in yourself further? Your good qualities, your talents, your wishes, and your dreams…when was the last time you reevaluated your life from scratch? I went into detail in my previous article about goal setting; make sure you click on the link below and download the helpful PDF I prepared for you.
Self-discipline is a struggle to learn; I needed years. But it has made life much easier for me, and it can for you as well. It’s not about getting up at 5 a.m. every day, going to the gym, or saving every penny…for me, it is about making specific promises to myself and sticking to them. What do you want to avoid in your life? What is good, what is bad for you? What are your values? Write everything down and stick to it. It builds trust and confidence in yourself; it is that one thing that can defeat self-sabotaging patterns. You are not weak; you can do this.
So far from me. In my next column, I will write about what you can do to fully invest in your potential. Until then – you got this! It is not always a diagnosis (of course, if it is, you would know and hopefully check it out with a professional). Sometimes, we let ourselves down for a little too long, and sometimes we just have a BAD DAY. And that is okay. I believe in us. Let’s get it going!!!
