I think everyone has had a day where they wake up and they can’t even fathom the idea of getting out of bed. If you’re like me, it’s usually because of your crippling depression or anxiety. Maybe it’s both! Woohoo! And that is totally OK. Maybe you’re just having an off day. Sometimes, one of those days rolls around and you just have to let it happen. But when it keeps happening and you find yourself dreading getting out of bed, that's when it can get scary, because—again, if you’re like me—you get even more anxious knowing you should be up and at least dressed. Here are nine things you can do for yourself when you find yourself not wanting to be a person.
1. Take a shower.
If you have the time, take a long one. A nice hot shower can do wonders for a crummy mental state. Focus on the water running down your arms and back, it’ll help you zone out and get relaxed. Once you’re in the shower, you’re basically multitasking: getting clean and relaxing. Way to go.
2. Pick out a good outfit.
Everyone has their favorite piece of clothing. Make yourself look like the ethereal creature that you are, even if you’re not feeling that way. Fake it ’til you make it, kids.
3. Change your bed sheets.
I don’t know why, but this always works. Getting out of bed, showering, and dressing yourself is important, but it’s hard to feel productive with those activities because we do them everyday. Changing your bed sheets feels new, and makes it feel like you have your life together for a brief moment. Don’t feel bad if this is as far as you can make it for the day. If you end up back in bed, you have fresh new sheets to cuddle up in!
4. Get. Out.
Go outside. Go for a walk and take a book with you and find a nice spot in the park. Go to the gym for half an hour and just walk around the track or on the treadmill; everyone feels productive when they go to the gym. Exercising will bring up your endorphins, which means it’s scientifically proven that you’ll begin to feel a little bit better. If you’re not feeling the exercise route, bring your laptop with you and watch Netflix outside. It will make a world of difference. Fresh air looks good on everyone.
5. Eat cold food and drink water.
It’s hard to not feel like you’re in a haze when one of these days happens. Cold food, like fresh fruit and veggies are really refreshing and can help push those dazed, melancholy feelings away. Water is always good. If you drink enough water, your pee will be clear, meaning you’re healthy and hydrated. Have you ever peed clear pee? It’s oddly satisfying.
6. Rearrange your room.
Changing up your space can be so revitalizing. My freshman year roommate and I rearranged our entire dorm room when we got back from winter break and it felt like an entirely new room. If you live in an apartment, change up your whole apartment! Little things like this can lift your spirit instantaneously. Even just buying flowers and putting them somewhere in your house can help.
7. Pick a theme and make a playlist.
This is a small and easy task that can take up a lot of time and get your brain juices flowing. Making a playlist with a specific theme forces you to focus on specific characteristics of each song and forces your brain to categorize. You can literally feel your brain at work. Plus, you get to listen to rad music in a whole new way.
8. Collage until your fingers fall off.
Maybe don’t go that far, but collaging can be extremely therapeutic and is a beautiful way to work with your hands and exercise your motor skills. It also doesn’t require a lot of thinking. Cut out pictures, words, patterns, literally anything you want from magazines, books, fabrics, etc. and paste them onto a page. When you’re done, hang it on your fridge, give it to your mom, throw it away--whatever floats your boat. Then pat yourself on the back because you did something.
9. Get some sleep.
“Isn’t this what we were trying to avoid?” Yes, but regardless, days like these can be exhausting even if you are in bed the whole time. Make yourself go to bed an hour earlier. Whatever homework or TV show you were going to catch up on can wait.
Ultimately, taking care of yourself is the most important thing. If you really can’t get out of bed that day, that’s perfectly OK. Try again tomorrow. But if it keeps up, and you’re feeling down and exhausted all the time, please talk to your parents or a school counselor. It might be time to seek a long term solution. No one deserves to feel like that.
