Have you ever felt Blue? The chances are, like many people out there, you have too. Feeling Blue is a normal feeling and is a part of our human experience, the good thing is though, that there are many things we can do to #BeatTheBlues.
Even though we have a day of the year demarcated as ‘Blue Monday’, is it important to know that feeling Blue doesn’t look into what day of the week, month or year it is & it is a feeling which can affect anyone of us. We can all feel blue, whether or not someone has a Mental Health condition & we need to normalise the conversations around this feeling. One of the things that 2020 has reinforced for us is that feeling Blue is ok - its part of the experience of being human & we all have the power to #BeatTheBlues. With an aim to encourage conversations and spread this awareness, this Blue Monday (18th January), we ran a campaign across Instagram and Twitter where we asked our followers to share their tips and strategies which help them to #BeatTheBlues. This was also a way to show people that they're not alone on their bad days and that there’s always hope, and they have what it takes to bounce back from their bad days.
Here’s some of the suggestions we received from our social media family:
Cycling
Dancing
Journaling
Gardening
Having lots of coffee
Listening to relaxing music
Crying it out if you need to
Fist bumping with your crew
Spending time with your kids
Boxing or kickboxing workouts
Turning to sport and spirituality
Taking a break and resting it out
Finishing things even if it is small
Allowing yourself to rest & slow down
Making or getting yourself a nice meal
Going with the flows of ups and downs
Getting an hour of boxing every morning
Catching your overthinking and reframing it
Cutting down on screen time and social media
Scheduling self-care time as if it were a meeting
Meditating & aroma therapy with soothing music
Just embracing the feeling and knowing it will pass
Squeezing in an activity you really enjoy on Monday
Engaging in present moment meditative techniques
Volunteering or doing something nice for someone else
Getting outside in the fresh air and doing some exercise
Slowing down and starting again when the storm has passed
Making list of achievements and keeping them in a jar for rough days
Cuddling a pet if you have one (or cushion, pillow or someone you love)
Doing normal things like actually getting dressed, out of your PJs, doing your hair, doing your make up and nails
Hugging a stuffed animal and wrapping up in your favourite blanket
Browsing on Twitter for photos of people smiling & their pets
Using the AeroPress every morning to make a cup of coffee
Taking your pet for a walk, or going for a walk yourself
Tuning into things like art, music or even a funny video
Starting a positive ‘My Me jar’ with your achievements
Adding a fun or energising thing to your schedule
Talking to loved ones about how you feel
Writing down 3 things you’re grateful for
Engaging in deep breathing exercises
Spending time with people you love
Taking a long bubble bath/ shower
Drawing or doing some art or craft
Reaching out if you need help
Having a tasty hot beverage
Having healthy boundaries
Having frequent check-ins
Always getting ME time
Having quality kitty time
Spending time in nature
Celebrating small wins
Having bubble baths
Practicing gratitude
Creating something
Cuddling pets
Taking a nap
Making lists
Reading
Gaming
We are immensely thankful to everyone who joined in and shared their tips with us. To anyone reading this, know that whatever you’re going through right now, you are not alone. Together, we can #BeatTheBlues, no matter when they crop up!
You can watch the entire compilation of responses here: https://youtu.be/34PRmpP3ch8
#MentalHealth #SelfLove #Wellbeing #MindMatters #YouMatter #Wellness #Psychology #ShareYourStory #BeKind #BlueMonday #Depression #Worries #Stress #BeatTheBlues #SelfCare #YouCanDoIt #Coping #ShareYourTips #TogetherWeCan #WeCanDoIt
March, 2021