5 Simple Tasks To Do When You Are Feeling Low

It’s the maniac monsoon season in Mumbai and there’s been a heavy downpour for the past two days. I have been waking up to grey dreary days and the dull weather makes me feel like I am living in some gloomy cave. It is amusing how the weather can strongly influence my mood as I’m also learning to ignore and not be dampened by it. I’m only thankful that I don’t have to step out for anything which makes it easier else the puddles that form on the roads and water logging that occurs usually makes this season such a nightmare. A moment of gratitude for all those fighting through such times and situations to ensure most of us are safe.  

We all tend to face days where we are low and life isn’t exactly shaping the way we would like it to and there’s a need to uplift our moods. Things aren’t going that great and we seem to get sucked deeper and deeper into the vortex of the daily grind. It’s easy to let the negative thoughts creep in and have them find their permanent residence inside our heads ruining the rest of the days for us.

On those zombie days when you want to shut off completely here are simple ways you can break the flow of unwanted thoughts and silence that irritating and stubborn voice inside.

Design a meal plan for Yourself

What’s your favourite dish that you haven’t had in a long long time? What’s that food item that you have been meaning to try your hands on forever but haven’t been able to? What’s that delicacy that you can never get bored of? Now think, is there a new twist you can give your age old recipe or mix two different cuisines and bring out a fusion dish?

At the current times, it can get really stressful to be cooking 2-3 times a day, managing household chores, office responsibilities, and kids routines etc. so having a meal plan will only help you and also bring in a change of mood. Open your fridge and your kitchen closets and have a look at all items you have. Sit with a note pad and either using your own creativity or taking help of those umpteen food recipes out there, pen down a meal plan to fit your tastes. 

Planning your suppers shifts your mind set from feeling low to self-care. You are giving yourself, your needs importance chalking out how best you can pamper yourself with the limited options you have.

By planning meals ahead the overall chaos in your head can reduce a little. It’ll help in jump starting directly to the process of cooking which surely is a thoughtful gift you can give your future self.

Go Around Tidying

If you want to de-stress, then pick up a cleaning rag and a duster. Tidy your room or remove the clutter or do the dishes or make your cupboard or perhaps simply change the furnishings and some setting of your living room and change the vibe. Organizing gives a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel in charge of your environment.

Let cleaning become the outlet for negative energy and emotions. As you scrub those vessels or wipe the dust away or look around to dispose the clutter, your mind is engaged in an activity leaving no room for unnecessary thoughts. Eventually, upon seeing things clean and orderly you can sense a shift in your mood and unwind peacefully.

Play the Peppy Tunes

Plug your earphones, put on some playful music, even kids rhymes, happy tunes whatever you like and start pacing along end to end of your room. It’s no surprise that when you listened to a pumped or inspirational song you felt motivated, attending a concert enthused you, watching a slow paced live performance could get tears flowing. This is because the impact of music is so powerful and wide ranging. Music relaxes the mind, energizes the body and helps us manage pain better. Just ensure you choose some lively, fast paced beats or simply nature’s melodies. Make a mini-playlist of such songs be sure to sing along!

Do something spontaneous

Spontaneity interrupts monotony and lets you experience euphoric moments. Shake up your routine and bring in some novelty. There’s always an eager child hiding in each one of us so feed yourself some fun and live the excitement. Do something that’s not a part of your routine. You’ll end up feeling productive, freeing up your mind and making a memorable memory. Is there an idea in your head that’s sounding crazy and making you chuckle, go about doing it without restraint.

Let the stress dissolve

Bathing insists that we get moving, get around and take action thereby giving us a chance to take a break from a nagging mind and provide much needed quiet and comfort. Aside from boosting your mood, a shower is an idle muscle relaxer and also the way to get some valuable time to calm yourself and check on your anxiety. 

Remember, the miserable emotion that you go through sometimes is one tiny moment out of the thousands you will experience in your life. It is temporary and will soon fade away. The days you don’t love yourself or you agonize over everything that you haven’t ticked off yet are sure to creep in often but the secret is in managing the pain not letting it stick by you.