Life is not always as bright as we want it to be. We all have down times, and our ability to cope depends on what we do to feel better. Calypso Cavallo gives you her best tips to practice self-care when feeling down.
Self-care when feeling down
The more you feel bad, the less you want to do stuff, so it is a vicious circle… Here are Calypso Cavallo’s best tips to break the vicious circle of feeling bad and move into the virtuous circle of feeling good!
Self-care is about taking care of yourself. You need to take care of both your mind and your body.
Eat healthy!
We all know that ice cream orgy after a breakup, but junk food is bad for your mood. Sugar and fat consumption are often linked with depression. Your body needs nutrients and fresh and whole foods to feel good and energetic. Moreover, binge-eating candies on your couch only make you feel worse about yourself!
The solution? Browse Pinterest for healthy and delicious recipes, go grocery shopping for fresh foods, and cook yourself and fabulous meal that will look, taste, and make you feel great. You can start with a simple and quick recipe and gradually move to more complex dishes. Try new flavors you never had the opportunity to taste.
Taking a cooking class if you are terrible in the kitchen is also an excellent way to take care of yourself. Knowing how to feed yourself properly is a lifelong needed skill.
Be active!
You probably heard this advice thousands of times, but it is still true: sport makes you feel good! Well, it depends on the sport… If running is boring, go for a Zumba, dance, or martial art. You can do many sports or activities to be active and feel good. Go try some, and it is also a great occasion to meet new people and make new friends.
Short on money? There are plenty of free workout sessions on Youtube. Push the furniture, turn on the speaker, and dance as if no one were watching (and yes, no one is watching!)
Get creative!
Having an outlet to let go of stress and negative emotion is essential to feel better when facing down times. There are unhealthy outlets, like junk food, cigarettes, alcohol, or drug. They are to avoid because they destroy you.
There are also many positive outlets: art is one of them. It can be drawing, painting, writing, singing, playing music, crafting, making your own clothes… The only limit is your imagination. It does not matter if you are objectively good at it; the most important thing is finding an activity that is good for your soul and makes you feel good and relaxed.
Skincare is your friend!
Taking care of your skin is also a great way to practice self-care when feeling down. Taking a long bath with or without a bath bomb lowers stress level and help to relax and feel good. Washing your face every morning is the best way to be motivated for the rest of the day. You feel fresh and new, ready to face this brand new day!
Using an appropriate skincare routine also helps your skin look radiant. It improves your self-confidence and makes you feel better about yourself.
Don't be afraid of asking for help!
Feeling a bit down is fine and a normal part of life everyone experience from time to time. In this case, self-care when feeling down helps. However, if your daily life becomes unbearable because of your mental health, you should seek professional help. There is nothing shameful about seeing a therapist; mental health is as important as physical health.