Have you been feeling depressed, frustrated, anxious, and/or negative lately? Of course you have, we all have. We have lives - work, school, families, friends, fights with subway doors - all things that involve stress to some degree. Here are a few ideas of things to do that might lift your spirits:
1. Exercise.
Do different kinds of exercise. Yoga helps the mind. Cardio releases endorphins. Exercising is great means of naturally neutralizing negative emotions and it also benefits your overall health and well being.
2. Meditate.
Meditating doesn't have to be sitting cross-legged with closed eyes and chants, you can do it however you see fit. As long as you follow these ten steps, you will be on the way to clearing your mind and/or filling your mind with positivity.
3. Journal.
Why did I ever stop keeping a diary? Journaling is incredibly healthy and hoards more benefits than one might think. There are no rules when it comes to journaling, so there's no harm in trying!
4. Unplug.
We check our phones, laptops, tablets, TVs all too often. They consume our lives and diminish our sight of the world and people around us. Why not unplug for a while? There was a time when you lived without all of that (I hope). You could easily do it again.
5. Spend time with people.
This is one of my go-to natural stress relievers. Go spend time with friends. Go over to their place, make food, go for an adventure, and don't talk about work unless you need to let off some steam. You could even go out and meet new people or just have a small interaction with the clerk at the grocery store. With human interaction comes the feeling of a stronger bond to people and a community which is actually more emotionally stabilizing than one might think.
6. Go for a walk.
There are a lot of things we miss when we're rushing to get everywhere. Take a leisurely stroll around the block. Try breathing, observing the beauty of the people and world around you-just take the world in. You might find you have a new appreciation for it, and with that maybe a new calm disposition.
7. Cook something.
Find a delicious looking recipe on Pinterest and make it! Food is always something that gets me excited, not only because it's so tasty, but also because I love venturing to the grocery store and going through the process of making it.
8. Create.
Anything. You can create anything. You can write, paint, dance, sculpt, craft -anything. Find whatever you enjoy. Losing yourself in a fit of passionate creation can be one of the most liberating and beautiful ways to let go.
