How to Alleviate That Depressed Feeling
- 1). Open the curtains or windows. Humans are a part of nature and thrive on sunshine and fresh air. When you are inside at work or home, let in natural light. This not only helps you feel better, but can also reduce your electricity bill when you turn off your artificial lighting -- making you smile even more.
- 2). Stop what you are doing and go outside. Sit on your porch, take a walk around the block, eat a picnic in the park or go for a drive. Getting out of your everyday routine for a while can give you a new perspective on things and help you relax.
- 3). Exercise. Physical exertion releases hormones in your brain that make you feel happier. An easy stroll or an hour on the stair climber can both help buoy your spirits. Evamarie Pilipuf of the Flexibility Coach website states that stretching before you go to bed can lead to a better night's sleep. A better night's sleep gives your body a chance to balance its hormones, including cortisol, which has been associated with feelings such as stress, depression and fear.
- 4). Talk to a friend, or just get out of the house to be with other people. Join a monthly book club at the library, call a family member, or have dinner with some friends. Also consider joining a support group for people experiencing depression or talking with a counselor, religious leader or close friend about how you are feeling.
- 5). Volunteer. Find a way to be involved in your community or donate to a cause about which you are passionate. It takes effort to find a volunteering opportunity, get started with it and stick with it, but it is worth the time and energy when you begin to feel better.
- 6). Start and finish a new project. For example, crochet a blanket, build a motor for that dead car in your driveway, clean something in your house you have been meaning to do for six months or work with your child on a model of a ship. Completing something tangible and useful increases your sense of accomplishment.
- 7). Eat less carbohydrate-packed, refined and added-sugar foods. These affect your blood sugar negatively. Eat more fish and foods with lots of vitamin B6, such as lentils, fruit and brown rice, to improve your overall mood.
- 8). Write down what you are thinking in a journal. Getting your feelings out on paper can help bring your mood up.
