Dealing with a Blue Day
Some days when all the planets seem misaligned, and everything goes wrong, it can all just seem like too much. But instead of spending the day shaking in the corner nursing a cup of tea and watching Oprah under a blanket, it helps to have a go – to action plan for these moments. Given that I am currently in the midst of such a day, I decided to share with you my plan of action for dealing with those hiccups in your sunny disposition.
The Plan
Wallowing.
Cry if you need to, hug a soft toy or the nearest available person. Mind you, you had better check their willing involvement in this hugging stage as you don’t want to end up in and even bigger problem!
Call a friend who cares and always makes you feel better. They don’t have to say anything, fix anything or do anything; just be there and listen.
Thank said friend for being so wonderful and make a large cup of tea. Wallowing over.
Get Busy.
They say that “idle hands are the Devil’s play things”, so find something useful to do that doesn’t take any serious mental capacity and get to work! For such times I like to tackle vacuuming with vigor, perhaps washing a window or two or even pruning a few plants. Making a real, visible and immediate change in your environment works wonders when you are in a tizzy.
Take a hot shower.
Pick the most decadent shower gel you have hidden away in the back of the cupboard and make yourself smell like a Hawaiian sunset. Once you have thoroughly soaked and can feel the heat all the way to your heart, now is the time to test out if you are ready for a song. I like to go with that old classic, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair”, whether I have man troubles or not. (*disclaimer* I NEVER have man troubles. The Mr. is too much of a darling for that. *wink*)
Light them on fire.
These days we pretty much all have some sort of scented candle, oil burner or what not hanging around the house. Add to your uplifting atmosphere by enveloping yourself in a scent you love and let it take you away. My favorite scent of the moment is the Tibet Tangerine melts from DUSK candles. They have an uplifting, clean quality about them that helps to clear the head.
Give in to a weakness.
You may have been denying yourself chocolate, day time T.V or possibly those trashy magazines you secretly covet. Give in to one of these little inexpensive desires and let yourself feel only the pleasure and none of the guilt. Me, I’m soothing myself with a few inexpensive lovelies from my Etsy Wish list.
Make a plan and get on with it.
One of the most valuable lessons I have ever learnt in life is when to worry and when not to. If I am concerned and worried about something I take a good hard look at the problem and figure out what all my options are for dealing with it. No matter how practical those options are or not, give them each time for thought and write it all down. Soon you will be able to sort out those things that you can do something about and those that you cannot. For those that you can do something about, make it happen. For those you cannot, give it up and choose not to worry. There is no point wasting your valuable energy on things you cannot change. For those that you have no resolution for, do nothing about them, but realise that doing nothing is a decision in itself and come what may.
Start again.
After all of these solutions, you may not necessarily feel on top of the world, but you are certain to feel less blue. If you can, now is the time to go to bed, take a nap or turn off all your equipment and start again. The idea that “tomorrow is another day”, is really something that we construct for ourselves. So if you don’t have the luxury of sleeping on it, find a way to divide a time and space for yourself to start the day over. It may be as simple as shutting down your computer or doing some stretches. But trust me, follow these tips and if you don’t feel like a million bucks, a spanking new $100 isn’t too bad either!
Feeling better?
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Tags: mama knows best, thinking
Great tips SKM!
Did you know that foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids such as Walnuts and Salmon, sardines etc help stimulate a natural mood lift!
So maybe you can add something to your afternoon snack or dinner to cheer up a little.
Hope your day get’s better!
I know that feeling so well, it seems to happen more since I work for myself.
The other day I was in such a grump I realised I was say scowling at the computer, it made me burst out laughing, that lifted my mood! Not taking things so seriously helps!
Hope tomorrow is better for you!
One thing I like to do when it’s all getting too much is come online and visit all my favourite bloggers to see what they’ve bought, how their day is going etc.
Which is what I’m doing at the moment actually. I’m supposed to be packing things into boxes as I’m moving house tomorrow, but it was getting on top of me a bit, so here I am, online and procrastinating in the best possible way!
Thanks SKM for giving me a much needed commercial break!
Rebecca: I eat that stuff like it is going out of fashion. How do you think I stay sane?
Fiona: Perhaps because when we work for ourselves it is usually because we have no one to blame but ourselves. Thinking I will take a cue from my favorite radio station and start blaming all random acts of crapness on Henry Winkler. Don’t ask me why… they just do!
Allison: Now I’m going to have to post some pics of the things I’ve bought on Etsy to cure my blues.
You know, it’s really too bad that this wasn’t posted yesterday. It ended up being one of THOSE days, and I probably should have just stayed in bed. Thank goodness I have a wonderful boyfriend that looks after me!
Fyre: Sorry to hear that. Hope things picked up for you too.
Grant: I’m a list maker too, it helps me feel in control of at one small part of the day.
Miz: Great plan.
Rosie: Hard to find the motivation for a work out on those days, but you are very right.
Wendy B: It is a rather decadent pass time these days.
Meream: Good work!
Jennine: Ahh the old kittens on Flickr trick hey. I must remember that for next time.
Hmmmm – I’m in a bit of a funk at the moment so I’ll probably take your advice on some of these. I particularly like the crying with Oprah and a cup of tea option. I think for me though the best cure for a soured mood is a list. I write lists like a crazy and half the time they don’t make a lot of sense but they always make me feel better.
Xx
Nothing worse than giving in to it! Add a short walk to that, and it’s what I try to do! It’s been a stressfuil last few weeks, so today I’m going to visit a friend and discuss dress patterns over coffee – a tried and tested method of cheering us both up!
Hope everyone has a fabulous day!
xx
I find working out helps. Even if it’s just some sit ups and lunges before you get in the shower, if you can get some endorphins flowing, it will help you feel better. Better yet, if you have a little more time, crank your favorite tunes and dance around.
Have a super awesome day everyone!
I excel at wallowing.
Wonderful tips! I believe in keeping busy.
great tips!personally, i hide under the covers and eat chocolate. either that or browse through the kittens on flickr
i love this. yes! and seriously, there must have been something in the air. . . myself and 3 other people had some sort of documentable meltdown…
Wonderful tips! Thank you so much. I always have a couple magazines I save for these moments.
Emma Wallace: Blogs are my magazines these days, and yes they help immensely.
An0c: Oh thank you! I hope it helps you as much as writing it did me.
Marianne: Wow, those hoops are everywhere these days. I feel like the only kid in the playground who doesn’t have one.
reading your blog helps me
seriously: nice reading the tips and hopefully next time a grey day is up on the horizon, I will manage to solve my griefs with the tips.
What great tips! I really enjoyed this post
I got a hula hoop on the weekend, and the full on cardio it involved does lift a dull mood! 
I do feel better. “Light it on fire” makes me want to light whatever is causing the blue day on fire…
the clothes Horse: When I wrote it, there was a moment of wishing that too!