Navigating The Bad Days
How many of us go to bed feeling ready to kick ass the next day, but when we wake up, what we felt 8 hours ago is replaced with a sinking weight that leaves us wondering what step to take next. I realise that isn't the most cheery way to start a blog post on a Sunday, but I wanted to get real with you all.
I'm sure most of us have heard the saying "Life is a journey, not a destination", a powerful reminder that although we may will it to be, life isn't linear. We experience peaks and troughs throughout our entire lives, and yet, even though this is a fact of life, we continue to under prepare ourselves. I'm not suggesting for a second that we should be catastrophising every situation and always expecting the worse for ourselves. But, what I am saying is that we understand bad days happen and instead of creating a plan to help ourselves, we stick our heads in the sand and expect it to go away on its own.
But not anymore! In today's post, you'll find several basic methods to add to your well-being toolkit, each of which will provide you with an element of power to seize back the positive vibes for your day.
Reading
Reading a good book has always been a love of mine. Every time I read I feel transported to a different world. I become a character in the background or a shadow on the wall watching the story go by page by page. Reading is a form of escape, it can inspire us to find more meaning in our lives and want more for ourselves. My favourite genre is fantasy, it sets my imagination on fire. I realise that saying reading is an escape might come across as sticking le head in le sand, but I fully believe that reading can help us not just can how we feel, but it can help us to problem solve by seeing a different angle.
Meditation
Meditation is one of the best ways of recognising what you're feeling and is the first step to knowing why you might be feeling it. There is a misconception that to be able to meditate your mind needs to be silent and any distraction means you failed, which is painfully incorrect. Meditation, like anything, takes practice. When you feel your mind drifting off, you notice it and draw it back, the more you do it the better you become until the distractions get less and less I find guided meditations are the most accessible for a beginner, I use the calm app on a daily basis and it's well worth it!
A Warm Bath
I will be the first to raise my hand at the first mention of a trip to Lush and what better excuse than for your well-being and mental health. Running and actually spending time in the bath forces us to stop. We are secluded, the warmth relaxes tension in our muscles and depending on the aroma it can help relieve stress. It's also a brilliant place to catch up on this you wouldn't otherwise make time for, such as reading a magazine or a book, watching your favourite tv show or even just listening to music. All these things come together to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for you to experience.
Breathing Techniques
There are many breathing techniques which aid with well-being. My particular favourite is the 5-2-7. You breathe in for 5 counts, hold for 2 and breathe out for 7. You will find your heart rate begins to drop, helping to relieve any physical feelings of anxiety or otherwise. Counting gives your mind focus, pulling you away from negative thinking and thoughts and, it can be done quietly and at any moment you choose.
Have a Movie Day
Quite often the reason we feel low is because we've pushed ourselves to our limit. We haven't taken the time to come up for air. Sometimes we need to shut the rest of the world out, slouch around in our comfies and stick on our favourite movies. It provides a resting place, we aren't expending energy pleasing anyone else or living up to other expectations, all we have to do is sit or lay there, popcorn in hand and enjoy.
Getting Outside
This may only be useful if it's a nice day outside but getting out in fresh air has so many benefits. Walking for a start is a form of low-impact exercise which produces endorphins - the happy hormone. Nature is a powerful medicine, whilst you're out try being mindful of your surroundings, watch the birds play, see the breeze move through the leaves of the trees and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. You may just start to feel better.
Remember, bad days are only temporary. You can't have a rainbow without rain.
Love Em x