How do you cheer yourself up after a rough day? Or a rough year?
Starting to feel crushed by the weight of the world, riddled with guilt and disappointment in myself over my choices. Nothing I can do about the past though.
What are some of the ways you guys get yourselves out of a bad headspace?
That’s cool, like I’m for sure not very good at this but it’s been a fun thing to learn, watching videos and buying like “good” paints and brushes. It’s been a neat hobby to mix up just playing video games and tv
Prior to my health and endurance being absolutely wrecked in the past year, I used to run. Ran as hard as I could through the fields near where I lived until my legs would die, all in the chase for that runner’s high; but when it did hit, it was good. Nowadays I can’t run as much, so I’m still trying to find new outlets, one of which has been messing with my selfhosted setup, another being writing paragraphs on lemmy lol.
Also, certain video game soundtracks evoke feelings of catharsis and calm for me, so there’s also that.
I go take a walk. Beach would be ideal, but nowadays even at the park or lastly at the mall. Anywhere relatively safe to just walk and listen to music. I find it improves my mood.
Eating good food and taking a shower after a rough day helps a lot too.
Stereotypical answer but I like to lift weights. Really any outlet that requires 100% mental focus is what helps me most.When I lift weights there is just me and the weight.No bad thoughts. You can’t lift bad thoughts.
Usually I can logic my way out of feeling bad, but I just feel so crushed rn over something objectively stupid. Like i feel a literal weight on my chest.
I can relate to this. I’m a big problem solver-y kind of person and that means I’m very good at logicking my way out of feeling bad, like you are. It gets tricky when it’s something you can’t fix that way though. Personally, I found that I had become so reliant on my problem solving skills that I had a poor ability to cope emotionally when it was just a shit situation I couldn’t do anything to fix.
For me, one of the steps towards coping better with that kind of stuff is stopping trying to logic through something if that approach wasn’t working. Don’t beat yourself up about “irrational” upsets. Feelings don’t care about the facts and even if your feelings are irrational, it doesn’t help to be exasperated at this. That can often strengthen them.
Once you’ve accepted that you feel shitty and it’s valid and okay to feel like that and not have a way to fix things, the next step might be taking time away from the stressful thing, or giving yourself some random treat completely separate from the sad thing, or venting, perhaps to a friend, or even a journal. What helps you will depend on you and your particular situation, but step 1 is to let yourself feel that weight on your chest. How much something hurts isn’t based on any objective standard, your struggles’ validity don’t depend on rationalising the thing that upsets you.
Things suck right now for you, but it’s okay to not be okay.
Honestly when I feel my worst I enjoy comforting media, but what's a very bizzare and unethical bad habit of mine is reading stuff people with worse lives than me post online (I never interact with them- prime directive!). I know it's wrong and voyeuristic but it always makes me grateful for how comparatively together I am.
I go skateboarding. It clears my mind completely. It doesn’t matter that I can’t keep up with modern tricks or anything. It still puts me in a zen state of mind and being physically tiring it leaves me relaxed and not worried about anything.
Exercise is definitely part of it, but also the feeling of accomplishment and occupying the mind.
I’m sure other physical activities can do something similar, but it’s important to find something that fits you.
Try to always have something coming up to look forward to. Whether it’s a hang out with friends, a concert, a trip to a park, whatever. Keep a calendar and stick with it even on the days when you’re not really feeling up to it. Bonus points if you’re trying something you’ve never done before. New experiences are really good at getting you out of your head and being more mindful.
I sit and feel horrible about myself, mentally punishing myself for all of the mistakes. About an hour or two later, my mind gives up, and I become pragmatic.
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