Ways To Get Yourself Out Of A Funk

While depression can easily be a complex and clinical subject matter, there are basic things you can do to improve the way you feel. Getting yourself out of a ‘funk’ doesn’t have to be impossible. Some of the ways to do so are very practical and easy to implement. One of the keys is self-care. Prioritizing self-care is the first step in getting out of a funk. You want to do everything from focusing on your diet, exercise program, and social life. All of these things can influence your mood in one way or another. As you continue to move through your depressive state, you want to open yourself to possibilities and methods that could help. Keep in mind, not everything is going to work for everyone. You need to identify what works for you. It could be one thing or a combination of things. Here are some of the best tips for getting yourself out of a ‘funk.’

 

Tips To Improving The Way You Feel: 

 

1. Optimize Your Diet

 

Whatever you put in your diet can play a big role in how you feel. This includes both your physical and mental. While you may always have the craving to reach for those sugary snacks, you will want to stick to healthier alternatives. Sticking to a balanced diet of healthy vegetables and fruits can be advantageous to your mental health. Try to avoid skipping meals throughout the day. Skipping meals is one of the worst things you can do. It can cause your blood sugar levels to drop which can alter your mood considerably. Likewise, you don’t want to become too dependent on either caffeine or alcohol. Both of these things can have dramatic impacts on how you feel.

 

2. Incorporate More Exercise

 

There have been numerous studies that show how important exercise is to your mental and physical health. These studies have concluded that a basic 15 minutes of exercise per day can help to reduce signs and symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. This is primarily because exercise can reduce cortisol production. This is your body’s stress hormone. Also, throughout exercise, your body releases endorphins. Not every workout needs to be sweat-inducing. You simply need to incorporate more movement into your daily life. Some basic exercises can prove to be invaluable to how you feel. These include:

 

– Brisk walking for 30 minutes per day

– Going outside and gardening

– Washing your vehicle

– Going out for a bike ride

– Playing outdoors with your children

– Taking your dog for a walk

 

A lot of experts recommend spending a minimum of 30 minutes of activity every day. This can help to improve your mood and even help to protect you from various other problems that could lead to a decline in your mental state. These include weight gain, heart disease, and even diabetes.

 

3. Get Outdoors More

 

One of the most important self-care activities that can be easily overlooked is getting outdoors. You want to ensure you aren’t spending all of your time indoors. It’s essential to spend some time outdoors. Sunlight is essential to your happiness. Exposure to the sun promotes the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential to your body and mind. Without sufficient vitamin D production, you can develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  Also, it can increase your serotonin levels and allow you to sleep better. All of this can help to improve the way you feel. 

 

4. Improve Your Sleep

 

Sleep is easily one of the things that can dictate how you feel. It can influence just about every aspect of your life. This is especially true if you aren’t sleeping well. A lot of people that suffer from depression also suffer from insomnia or another sleeping disorder. It’s easy to see why. The lack of sleep can lead to depression-like symptoms. It can completely ruin the way you feel both physically and mentally.

 

To improve your sleep, you will want to sustain a regular sleeping schedule. The last thing you want to do is take long naps throughout the day. Also, a good way to improve your sleep is by exposing yourself to sunlight right after you wake up. This can help to sync up your body’s internal clock which can pay off in a big way. You want to sustain a regular bedtime routine too. Also, try to limit the amount of caffeine intake throughout each day. This can help keep you from staying up late because of having too much exposure to stimulants. 

 

5. Socialize More

 

Believe it or not, socializing can be just what you need when you are feeling depression-like symptoms. Whenever you are feeling depressed, you could find yourself straying away from social interactions. You may even find yourself hiding from friends or family. While it may not be something that you want to do, surrounding yourself with friends and family during these times can be life-changing. They can not only help you by giving you advice, but you’ll be surrounding yourself with people who love and care about you. For further support contact the Clarity Clinic. They will give you someone to lean on and someone you can talk to without the fear of judgment.