I get blue sometimes. And sometimes those feelings persist and worsen to the point that they verge on depression.
When that happens, I run through my list of four things and make sure that I’m doing each one–because I’ve found that these help so much with helping me to rebound from those blue periods.
1) Getting some time in the sun and fresh air. If it’s rainy or wintry, I make sure that I’m using full-spectrum bulbs in my home so I can mimic the sunshine for a bit (and get that depression-fighting vitamin D flowing).
2) Eating well, especially limiting sugar and simple carbs.
3) Exercising. This one is key for me. For example, in the first few weeks after I split with my ex, I made sure that I exercised every single day–knowing that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have the emotional strength to deal with all I was facing. For me, weightlifting, paddling, swimming and racquetball (with my silly Remy rules) are particularly effective.
4) Spending time with friends. When I’m in a blue period I’ll often make sure that everyday I have some time with a friend scheduled–a drink, a lunch, or a trip to the climbing wall together.
I’ve also got a few songs that help to lift my spirits, that are on an iTunes playlist called “Here Comes the Sun.” Here’s one of them:
I also have a favorite soft blanket that I’ll wrap around me if I’m having a particularly tough time. With some books of poetry nearby.
What do you do to fight the blues?
