5 Things to Do When You Feel Blue

Whether you suffer from a mental illness or are just having a case of the blues, there are things you can do right now to help brighten your day. 1. Do something physical. Get out of your mind and into your body. Do yoga. Ride a bike. Or just stretch and take a walk. Anything to get your body moving.2. Get creative. You don’t have to be a trained artist to make art. Do something creative, whether it is coloring on a napkin at a restaurant or taking a photo with your phone. The finished product doesn’t matter, it’s about the act of being creative, and looking at the world around you for little details and capturing them.3. Self-soothe. Use your 5 senses. Taste. Smell. See. Hear. Touch. Taste a bite or two of something yummy. Smell for pleasant smells around you – flowers, perfumes, lotions. Listen to calming sounds or music you like. Look for tranquil or beautiful sites to focus on – perhaps a tree outside your window or a painting of an ocean. Keep a stone or something textured or comforting in your pocket to touch and ground you. You can also use imagery, meditation or prayer. Guided visualization/meditation techniques or prayer can be incredibly soothing, or just imagine yourself on your favorite vacation. Close your eyes and feel the sun on your face and the sand under your toes.4. Don’t judge yourself. It’s easy to be your own worst critic. When that little voice inside starts telling you negative things, stop, and look at the situation in a non judgmental way. If you listen to the negativity, your emotions can spiral. If you just look at the facts, you are more likely to keep a level head. 5. Take care of your body. Sleep. Eat well. Drink water. Take care of any physical problems. These are things that may seem small, but can definitely affect your mood. Want a bonus tip? Have fun and be silly!  This can be anything that is fun to you. If nothing comes to mind, try thinking like a child. You can pick up a hula hoop, play a game, or try to get a slinky down more than three steps. It’s harder than you think! *Please note, I am not a mental health professional. I am founder of Broken Light Collective, the online photo gallery for people affected by mental illness, and someone who suffers from severe depression, but not a doctor. I have picked up these techniques from different types of therapies, and have found them to be helpful, but sometimes more help is needed. Please seek additional help if what you are experiencing may be more than the blues. You can also always visit our gallery site (and/or submit), www.BrokenLightCollective.com if you want to feel less alone, and see some photography and hear stories from people who might also be feeling blue.