SELF CARE MASTERPOST!
we all have those days where we feel like nothing in our lives is going right and everything, even things that would typically bring us joy, feel like a hassle, leaving us overwhelmed and confused as to where to begin.
i used to feel like this all the time, but recently i’ve been a lot better at channeling these feelings into positive things and pulling myself out of a bad mood quickly. here are some dos and don'ts that might help you feel better as well!
DO:
- clean your room. i know, i know. it’s tedious and exhausting and takes up a whole chunk of time that you should be using to study. i get it. but studies have shown that when you’re stressed out, organizing SOME part, any part, of your life will provide (at least partial) relief. so do it, do 2 loads of laundry and make your bed with clean sheets and pillowcases, and maybe even light a candle and open a few windows. organized room = organized life
- go outside. take a walk. i know that none of us feel like we have time to get some fresh air in our busy schedules but i’m TELLING YOU that five minutes sitting in your backyard or sticking your head out of your bedroom window and just reflecting will put you in a better mood. smell the way the air smells at 3pm or look at the way pink sunsets make the world seem like it’s going to end
- sleep it off. usually, i’m against the idea of sleeping away your problems. but that’s not what i’m telling you to do here. maybe the reason behind your feelings of negativity is the 4 hours of sleep you got last night? a quick 30 minute power nap or maybe even a full-on 2 hour heavenly excursion to dreamville will do the trick and cure your feelings of overwhelmingness and dread
- little things. tackling nagging tasks or just STARTING your assignment right away without thinking about it will, inevitably, make you feel better about yourself for not procrastinating. spend five minutes sending out those birthday party invitations or responding to your grandma’s email. plan out your day or just get cracking on your math homework. whatever it is, you’ll be glad you did it
DON’T:
- be glued to your phone. while i, too, am a victim of this digital age, and i’m 100% for all of the amazing things that our smartphones let us do, spending time on social media when i’m stressed always makes me feel worse. when i’m overwhelmed by the amount of biology i have to learn, why do i find myself 72 weeks deep on khloe kardashian’s instagram? or planning my dream house on pinterest? or stalking the #harvard2020 tag on twitter to watch people’s acceptance reactions? because it’s EASIER. but we aren’t here for easier. “easier” isn’t going to help me in 10 years. learning about what kind of tropical fruit i would be on buzzfeed isn’t taking me closer to my goal, and chances are, it’s making me feel more guilty. so put that iphone on airplane mode and embrace the grind, because your best friend’s snapchat story can wait
- wallow in your feelings. i indulge in the occasional 15-minute sob session just as often as the next girl, but there’s a limit. pity parties are usually unhelpful and unnecessary. only YOU can change who/what you are, and your future is in YOUR hands. the future you’ve always dreamed of isn’t going to be achieved by feeling sorry for yourself or putting down other people. this future is real, it’s possible, and it’s yours, if you want it
i know this post got long and rambly, but i hope these help pull you out of a bad mood! more masterposts to come, keep an eye out ✨
- J
