Little things to help improve mood?

[SADness121]

I realise it's a combination of winter blues and despair over the current state of things, also the fact I have had Covid, but I'm finding it hard to shake this feeling.

Obviously C has (drastically) impacted other parts of my life/all of our lives... so just feeling a bit crippled by the enormity of it all and needing to pull myself up and out of this.

I've been trying to get my sleep pattern back on track and make healthier eating choices. Housework is nightmare though. Also video calls don't help much in terms of feeling connection with others. Internet use is also something I need to curb - easier said than done. Trying my best to keep my head above water and count my blessings... I'm usually a positive and spritely person.

Advice greatly appreciated. Hoping this thread will help others too - we're all feeling it.

I've been feeling dreadful this week so stopped drinking and don't feel so miserable the next day.

I've literally dragged myself outside for fresh air and painted my toes nails with glitter and shaved my legs and straightened my hair.

I feel a bit better today.

The January blues are huge this year.

Keeping my space clean, getting dressed every day, some form of self care (a really nice meal, painting my toe nails, using eye cream), fresh air most days, activity with the kids, don’t just sit in front of the tv every evening with the husband, read a good book...

Yes. Fresh air. I had a good blast of yesterday. Yet here I am still in bed, scrolling through MN. I've at least had something to eat, though have drunk far too much coffee.

Right. I'm off to have a quick blast of fresh air in the back garden, then have a shower, get dressed and give myself a mini pedicure. I will do this!

Doing something creative or practical, like fixing something or a bit of DIY. Even something small like finally getting round to hanging up that picture you've been meaning to for ages can give you a little buzz of achievement. I like puzzle books for this too - healthier way of passing the time than endless doom-scrolling and you get a boost when you complete a puzzle.

A few things that I’ve been doing to try to feel a bit better -

• getting into a good skincare routine. I make sure to do it at 9pm every evening before I’m too tired and just collapse into bed
• try out new recipes/make a bit more effort with our food
• try to do something every evening after closing my laptop that isn’t just watching TV so maybe have a bubble bath with a book
• plan things that we can control. This week I’ve been starting to think about what DP and I would both love to have as an extra special meal for Valentine’s Day
• try to start some little projects you wouldn’t normally have time for. I’ve just had printed all our photos from the last couple of years and have bought some photo albums that I plan to put them in with little notes

Follow the Happiness Project: www.actionforhappiness.org/

Lots on on-going good ideas, and local groups if people want.

There's a smartphone app which gives you friendly daily happiness "nudges" if you like that sort of thing.

Find a song you love (Whitney Houston/ Rage Against the Machine works for me!), turn it up and belt it out. Dance if you can.

Fully open a window and stick your head out and take big gulps. Do this in the wind and rain which is even better. Sing Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush into the ether.

Change your coffee to decaff.

Talk to yourself. Loud and proud. I am alive. I will not let this beat me. Pretend to be Boudicca or Lara Croft.

Read a book out loud, it really helps you concentrate on the book and nothing else.

Know you are not alone.

I am doing some form of exercise every day even if it’s just a quick walk round the block, and I find it really helps- is that something you’re in a position to do?

Fresh flowers (you can’t get much more cheerful than daffs and they’re 99p a bunch from the supermarket)

Some kind of project you’re making progress on whether it’s knitting or decluttering or a jigsaw

Think of a friend or a relative that might be feeling lonely and send them a message

Oh and pop over to the good news thread on the covid topic if you haven’t already!

going to bed early with a book
watching birds on the bird feeder
taking care of my skin
walking - the good, fast kind, preferably up a hill
creativity - knitting/sketching/sewing/baking etc
cooking new recipes from my collection
planning small treats or activities for the weekends - this helps me mark the time and feel like i’ve ‘achieved’ one more week.

we can do this, one day at a time

Sing Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush into the ether.

also this

Doing online courses has kept me sane and kept the old grey matter turning! Lots on FutureLearn for free.

I am:

Re-reading old books I love
Watching a film I love with DH every Sunday night
Spraying on perfume in a morning
MAKING myself be positive in each Zoom/Teams call
Making my bedroom look nice so that I enjoy going to bed
Sending small nice gifts to grandparents (my mum and in laws)
10 mins of yoga every day
Only drinking on the weekend

I got a wok,and some non wok type cookbooks from Christmas,and some before,that I'm playing with and trying.
Books,but trying different ones to my normal choice.
Some chocolate (don't drink or smoke,so my one,controlled, indulgence)
Walk,even round the block,every day.
Take a breath if irritated or bored,and look to enjoy time with the people in the house,as I love them to bits.
Highly restrict news consumption.

It's helping me. Good luck 👍🤞

Thank you all. I've achieved everything from my last post. I've also managed to do a load of laundry and one or two other small things.

Going to message a friend soon. Still feeling down, but a bit better than I did earlier.

To the poster who mentioned doom scrolling - yes! I'm guilty of that. I'll be staying away from all news platforms for the next 24 hours. That's sure to help.

And to the poster who commented Know you are not alone.

To everyone