You’re probably here because you’re feeling down and looking for ways to feel better. Congratulations, you’ve already made your first step towards feeling better: take action to change your situation. So, you’re off to a good start, and let’s use the momentum and take the next step: Get inspired by our top list of how to feel better! Don’t worry – if none of them feel right for you, you will find further ideas at the end of the article. By the way – reading is often a way to feel better, so you’re already trying that out!
Eat your favorite food
Give yourself a treat and cook, order or go to your favorite restaurant and have your favorite meal! – Make it healthy if you can to make your brain and body work even better. You can perfectly combine this idea with the next one on the list: Step out of your comfort zone and try a new (healthy) meal!
Step out of your comfort zone
Staying in the comfort zone is easy: Just do what you’re used to and don’t change a thing. Don’t try something new, don’t try to follow your dreams, don’t take a risk. But this is not how progress is made! You need to take some risks in order to grow personally, learn about yourself and feel self-confident. Are you facing a challenge? – Don’t be lazy and take the easy way out, stand your ground, so you can later be proud of yourself. Not facing a challenge? – Create one! There are for sure a lot of things you have been thinking about but never tried because one can always find a reason to not do something. Do it, and thank yourself later!
Make plans
That’s right – make plans! Do you know what could make you feel better, but you can’t do it right now? – If this is the case: Make plans now! Take out your calendar, check your dates and find out what is the best time and place to take action. The process of planning can give you immediately a positive perspective for the future, which in turn can make you feel better. It’s like an upwards spiral and making plans is the starting point.
Talk to someone
If you’re having negative thoughts, it’s often relieving to talk about them with someone else. And with “talk” we mean any form of communication. – Text a good friend, write to a family member, or speak to a work colleague. Essentially, communicate with someone you can trust. There’s the saying “A sorrow shared, is a sorrow halved” – and this perfectly describes what happens if you share your negative thoughts with someone you love or trust. It’s a feeling that people often describe as relieving.
Do a workout
Did you know about the positive impact of a workout on your mood? – A workout can not just reduce your stress level and improve your self-confidence. It can even fight depression, reduce anxiety and prevent cognitive decline! – During a workout, your body produces endorphins, which trigger immediately a positive feeling. So after all, physical activity is not just good for your body, but also a great way to feel better!
Cry
Considering “crying” as a way of how to feel better may sound a bit odd. We usually have a negative association with “crying” and therefore it doesn’t sound like a great idea. A lot of us have grown up learning that there are emotions that we shouldn’t and don’t want to have – like sadness, feeling hurt, or feeling angry. But it’s important to accept and cope with these feelings. One way of coping is crying. It’s like the food you eat if you feel hungry. Simple as that. Don’t hold back your tears, let them flow. Crying is a great form of relief, a natural way of coping with negative feelings, a way of feeling better.
Take a walk in the woods
Go outside, leave your home and head for the nearby park or woods and focus on the trees, the grass, the birds, the sounds you hear, and the fresh air you breathe. Being in nature has proven to have numerous positive effects on your wellbeing. It can not just reduce stress, but work as a kind of mood booster. – It’s a very easy way you can try to feel better.
Get enough sleep
Getting NOT enough sleep can have a tremendous negative impact on your mood. It’s even worse if you don’t get enough sleep regularly: It increases the risk of serious medical conditions such as obesity, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. It can even shorten your expectancy!
But how much sleep is “enough sleep”? – As an adult (age 18+), you should get at least 7 hours per night. Teens should get 8 to 10 hours. If you’re having troubles reaching those numbers, make sure you sleep at regular times, take time to relax before sleeping, and have a sleep-friendly bedroom. You can think of getting enough sleep as the building ground for feeling well. And therefore it’s worth the effort to care for a good sleep on your journey to feeling better.
Keep a mood diary
Keeping a mood diary is a powerful way to manage your mood with every little aspect. It supports the process of reflecting on your emotions and therefore can provide you with insights that can change your mood dramatically. Find out what triggers a positive or negative mood, find out which things make you feel better. A mood diary is the perfect starting point to make changes in your life. And the nice thing is: All you need is a pen, a paper, and the willingness to let yourself reflect on your life, emotions, and actions. If you’re more of a digital person, you can find apps like Moodistory that will make keeping a mood diary easier for you.
Looking for more ideas of how to feel better?
Here are some more ideas of how to feel better:
- Do something that makes you laugh (e.g. watch a funny movie, read a funny book, listen to a funny podcast).
- Do breathing exercises.
- Start a list of things you are grateful for.
- Try something that relaxes you (e.g. take a bath, do yoga, read a book).
- Make time for the hobby you genuinely enjoy.
- Make music or sing a song.
- Dance to your favorite music.
- Do not drink alcohol, or at least limit your alcohol intake.
- Plan and choose a well-balanced, healthy diet.
- Turn off social media for a day, a week, a month or even longer.
- Focus on the things you can change! – You can change your perspective, but hardly someone else.
- Take a nap.
- Go to a zoo.
- Interact with a/your dog or cat or any other animal.
- Bake something.
- Do something creative.
- Meditate.
- No matter what you do: Do one thing at a time.
- Stay hydrated to stay physically and mentally powered.
- Paint or draw something – no matter if you’re good at it.
- Do something nice for someone else.
- If you’re a lot at home (hello Covid, my old friend), plan and stick to a daily routine.
- Have sex with yourself or someone else.
- Do not hesitate and talk to a therapist if you need more help!
Stay positive, stay safe, you’re awesome! ❤️
