Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
In today’s modern world, it’s easy to drown in busyness, stress, and “to do list” overload. It is imperative to step back, occasionally, from it all to get your priorities in check again. Take some time out to ensure your mental and physical well-being is not taking a turn for the worst. Finding yourself in a chronic state of anger, sadness, or despair is nothing to play with. And if things don’t seem to improve over a long period of time, get professional help from your primary care physician or therapist.
We all feel down sometimes. That’s not a problem. But, if you are spending more time in a foul mood or brooding over your life, it’s time to pay attention. Getting your emotional strength back on track is a process and likely won’t happen overnight, but don’t let that stop you from trying. Not sure where to begin with it all? Here are my five essential tips for greater happiness and improving your mood.
Improve Your Work Life
If you’re feeling stress at work, have a talk with your boss about your feelings and the issues at hand. Have solutions ready to discuss as well. Hopefully, you have superiors who are willing to listen and help with problem solving. Try and negotiate a reduced working week or project load, if that is possible. Sure, you may have to take a pay cut, but it will relieve some of the pressure. Perhaps even taking a day off would help. Listen to your body. If you can’t afford fewer working hours, think about changing jobs. If you are self-employed, work on your business schedule, making sure you are giving yourself ample rest periods. As a biz owner, this is challenging for me… LOL. But, if I push too hard, there are consequences to pay.
Talk It Out
During difficult times, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your support system. This can be family, friends, clergy, coach, therapist, etc. Let them know what’s going on and how they may be able to support you. Sometimes just talking about your feelings with someone you trust is enough to start the healing and growth process. There is a reason we feel pain and mental stress: our bodies are trying to tell us something! You need only listen and act on what it is saying to you. Bringing others in can be enlightening, as they may see something that we miss.
Get a Pet!
Whenever you feel yourself stressing out and becoming more sensitive, there is a super-cute remedy to feeling blue! Did you know pets are great at reducing depression and stress levels? If you’ve been thinking of getting a fur baby, now might be the right time to do it! Stroking and petting animals is a fantastic stress reliever, and you’ll also love having a new friend to spend time with. When I’m down or not feeling well, I love to hear my cat’s purr.
Get Baking
Another light-hearted way to deal with any emotional problems is to bake. The act of creating in the kitchen is a wonderful stress reliever and has even been used as a successful therapy technique called Culinary Therapy. It might also improve your mental health. What’s better than beating the blues with some nice homemade cookies or bread?! If you’re not a fan of baking, think about other relaxing hobbies that could take your mind off things. Sewing and painting are also fantastic ways to wind down and bring a little joy into your life.
Conquer Your Bigger Demons
Life struggles and hardship can really take its toll on your mental state and even your physical health. It can become difficult to make decisions and cope with your life. Some people even turn to alcohol or other addictive substances to get through the hard times. If this is the case for you, analyze your coping mechanisms and whether you have them under control or not. And, please get professional help if you think you have a problem. Rehab for women can be a big helping-hand.
These are a few of the ways you can be proactive and put your life back on its best possible trajectory. But the best help is trying to prevent life getting too big for you in the first place. Try and de-stress whenever possible, and always fit some me-time into your weekly schedule!
