It’s summer: the sun is shining, and it seems like there’s a smile on everybody’s face…except yours. Even though the sky is blue, you may be feeling a bit blue yourself: and that’s perfectly normal. However, nobody wants to be depressed: not only does it feel awful, it can cause you to miss out on enjoyable activities and relationships that can enrich your life. If you’re feeling the summertime blues, here’s some ways to pull out of them and start feeling happier!
Stay Connected to Others
Although it’s tempting to climb into bed and shut off the world when you’re feeling depressed, it’s probably the worst thing you could do. For some reason, our society treats asking for help like it’s a sign of weakness when in reality, reaching out to a friend and asking them for some emotional support is a totally healthy and positive thing to do. A respite from the blues could come in the form of a new friendship too, but you’ll never discover that amazing new friend if you don’t get out and make an effort to connect. Don’t know where to start? Try volunteering!
Do What’s Right for Your Body and Mind
It goes without saying that you should be eating right and taking care of yourself, but it’s doubly important when you’re feeling down and depressed. If you’ve been eating junk, cut it out: you will feel healthier and more confident very quickly. Diet isn’t everything, though: you’ve got to clean up your mind as well. If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of negative, self-abusive thoughts, you’ve got to work to actively break it. Whenever you start getting down on yourself, immediately think of something positive you’ve done. Another easy change you can make is exercise. Research shows a few minutes of exercise every day can lift your spirits. Do it for 21 days, and it’ll be a habit.
Don’t Forget to Pray
Prayer doesn’t just serve as your one-way connection to God; it actually can improve your health and sense of well-being too. There’s no better time to take the time to pray than when you’re at your lowest, and that happens to be the time you need God’s blessings the most! Prayer is a win-win situation, so don’t forget to do it!
My name is Jessica Cox, and I gain fulfillment from helping others find the path to becoming a motivated and accomplished person. If you’re interested in having me share my life story at your convention, meeting, or faith-based gathering, call me at 520-505-1359 or contact me on my website.