75% of Americans believe that self-care can relieve stress. Learn how to feel better about yourself in general or after having a bad day by using this guide to learn how to relieve your stress and what to do daily, weekly, or even monthly to live a better life.
“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” -Lao Tzu
There is an inevitable correlation between stress and self-care. It makes a lot of sense! The more opportunities you include in your day to relax and do things that you love doing, the less stressed you’ll be.
Many people get so caught up in their daily responsibilities that they often leave very little time to take care of themselves (if they leave any time at all).
Don’t worry! You’re about to learn a few life-changing tips on how to feel better if you’re feeling down.
This post is all about how to feel better, how to feel better after a bad day, and things to do to feel alive.
How to Feel Better Tips:
Prioritizing activities that encourage relaxation can make you better equipped to face life’s daily stressors.
Here are a few things you can start doing today to start feeling better and more alive:
1. Go for a walk
Now, going for a walk isn’t meant to serve as exercise- although it is a GREAT form of exercising.
Physically speaking, walking can improve fitness, cardiac health, alleviate depression and fatigue, improves mood, prevent weight gain, and the list continues…
Mentally speaking, a Standford University study showed that walking increased creative output by an average of 60%!
Walking is first on the list because the act of walking is a proven mood booster!
Not only does walking improve your mood, but a study found that walking resulted in an increase of attentiveness and self-confidence.
That sounds like a win-win to me!
2. Journal it out
Whenever you’re feeling down, trying pulling out a journal and write about what’s going on. You can write about what happened, how you feel, and what’s burning on your mind.
Journaling daily has proven to be a great thing to include in your life for mental stability. We all hear about having gratitude journals and such…
I tried starting a gratitude journal, and while it does make you think of all the positives happening in your life, I found it more beneficial for me to just write about my day.
My mind is always racing at a thousand miles an hour and getting my thoughts out of my head and on paper has tremendously helped my mental health. It’s also fun to go back and read how things were going and see where you are now in comparison.
3. Meditate
Meditation has all kinds of mental health benefits and is a sure way you can feel better after a bad or stressful day.
Slow down your heart rate by simply taking time to just breathe.
Meditating for only a few minutes per day can directly affect your mood and stress levels.
If you are unsure of how to meditate, Youtube has great guided meditations. I also use the Headspace App. It’s AMAZING!
Try out the Headspace App for free to see if you like it! It’s so user friendly and perfectly made. The graphics are incredible!
4. Listen to music
Listen to your favorite songs that get you feeling good about yourself. Skip the depressing songs! I know sometimes we want to go straight for the songs that are bound to make us cry if we are having a bad day, but try doing the opposite!
Doing this simple thing can change everything and directly help you feel better.
5. Read a book or poem
Reading has all kinds of mental benefits. It can increase your vocabulary and comprehension, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and fights depression.
Including reading into your daily routine can also help to prevent cognitive decline as you age.
I highly recommend reading anything that interests you! It doesn’t have to be the assigned reading that you were forced to read in grade school. Reading this post also counts!
Here are some of my top recommended books to read! These books will really change your life!
6. Do a jigsaw puzzle
When the pandemic first hit, I thought I’d be trapped inside for days (I could have gone for walks but I didn’t think this through)… ANYWAY, I thought, hmmm I can buy a jigsaw puzzle and do that if I get too bored.
It changed EVERYTHING! First of all, when I went to Target to even get a jigsaw puzzle, the shelves were basically EMPTY.
This proved to me that either jigsaw puzzles are crazy popular, OR everyone was thinking as I was- “Get a jigsaw puzzle so you have something to do when bored”.
It’s fun to do! You get to see a creation come to life, and it benefits your brain in many ways.
Related Posts:
- 10 Good Personal Habits You Need to Start Today
- The Top 7 Personal Growth Goals You Need to Start Doing Today
7. Play an instrument
Physically playing an instrument forces you to be in the moment.
If you’re not a musician, you can always learn how to play any instrument. You can learn to play the piano, guitar, ukulele, or even a clarinet or saxophone (which is way more involved).
Playing an instrument makes you smarter. Did you know that? I may be a little biased because I actually am a musician. I teach band everyday.
ANYWAY, even after teaching music all day, I still find it beneficial to come home and play the piano. This is something that I do for ME and it feels GREAT!
71% of people feel happier after taking time out for themselves. Try doing something for yourself. It’ll help you feel better for sure!
8. Cook a meal
Cooking something new is both refreshing and fun! It gets you thinking and moving. You can look up all kinds of meals to try on Pinterest!
It’s a great way to get your mind off of negative things. Cook a meal!
9. Have a spa day
47% of people are strong advocates of treating themselves to a spa day!
Pamper yourself to make sure you are feeling good. Spending time on your physical features can improve your mental features. Seriously! And as you are pampering yourself, come from a place of no judgement. It’s a judgment-free zone.
You can do spa treatments at home, or go to a place to get a massage or a facial. I’ve gotten a facial only once and it’s SUPER RELAXING!!
10. Play with your cat or dog
Do you have a pet? Have you attended a university that-during exam weeks- bring in a lot of puppies and dogs to provide students with a smile and mental health break?
Having a pet scientifically boosts your mood and fills you with happiness! Dogs always love you no matter what! They are the greatest examples of living in the moment.
My family had a dog and she really did make me happy. She keeps you busy and an added bonus is having to go outside to walk the dog.
Go for a walk with your dog. It reinforces tip number one AND you get to spend quality time with your fur baby.
11. Talk to a friend
Even during your most difficult times, always try to talk to someone. You don’t have to always share exactly how you are feeling with others, but talking to other people can help get your mind off of you and any negative thoughts that may be in your head.
I am a pretty private person, but I always make sure to communicate with at least one friend via Snapchat everyday.
Maybe they need you more than you need them that day. Be a sense of calm to someone else and it can help calm you too.
12. Do yoga
Get your body and mind in sync by doing yoga.
There are a ton of health benefits tied to practicing yoga. Some of the main benefits are: reduces stress, improves strength and balance, improves flexibility, improves posture, and increases self-esteem.
You can find excellent yoga practice videos on Youtube. It’s my go-to place to find yoga exercises to do.
13. Tidy up your space
Having a clean space can directly affect your mental stability. It increases your focus, improves productivity, and literally reduces stress.
You think more clearly when things in your physical environment aren’t cluttered with too much mess.
14. Take a social media break
Facebook or other social media apps can make you feel bad about yourself, even if you are not aware of it.
People tend to naturally compare themselves and their circumstances to others. This is magnified by social media. It becomes easier to look into people’s lives and place judgment on them or yourself.
Save yourself by not getting so caught up in other people’s lives or simply spend less time on social media.
I have friends who have completely gone off grid and deleted all of their social media accounts. They seem to be much happier honestly.
15. Stop looking at screens an hour before bed
Instead of scrolling social media apps or watching YouTube videos late at night, turn off or put your electronics away.
You can take a bath, read a (real) book, write in a journal, meditate, or do some light stretches before going to bed.
You’ll find yourself actually sleeping at a decent hour and waking up feeling well-rested.
In closing, I hope you’ve found these tips on how to feel better helpful to you. We are all we’ve got so do your part in making sure you are okay both physically AND mentally.
Both things are really important to ensure a healthy well-balanced life.
