Sometimes I feel flat. Squashed and uninspired.
Maybe you do too? We’re not alone.
I’ve written earlier about two simple strategies for alleviating the downward pull of black dog days. My go-to fixes are exercise (burning up excess nervous energy and getting me out of my head) and boosting my blood sugar with a healthy treat (it lifts my happiness index).
Here are some other things that can help, particularly if you’re feeling more down than up and low days are morphing into low weeks.
- Sunshine: get into it. Go out in your lunch break, on the way to or from work and let the sun warm your skin. Not only does this feel nice, it will support your body’s production of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a role in most body processes, including mood and mental health.
- Magnesium: eat it. Magnesium has many important functions in the body, including relaxing the muscles and the nervous system. Supplemental magnesium is very effective – but I would also recommend trying to get as much as you can through your diet by eating plenty of magnesium-rich foods such as nuts and seeds, whole grains and cacao.
- Stay hydrated: sounds too simple right? It’s not. Dehydration can exacerbate stress, anxiety and related moodiness. By keeping your fluids up, you can avoid going to that flat and thirsty place.
- Herbal teas: Passionflower, Chamomile, Lemon Verbena… all of these can help to take the edge off. Plus, the practice of brewing and sipping tea is therapeutic and calming in itself.
- Soften your eyes: this and other simple relaxation, awareness techniques will help to calm worry and lift your mood. Just try it.
- Talk about it: share how you feel with the people who know you and love you. Oftentimes we don’t speak about low moods, anxiety and flat feelings until they’ve built up into something almost too much to bear. Why? There’s no need to carry this burden alone.
There is heaps – plenty – that you can do lift yourself out of the flats. The suggestions above are just a few easy at home options to get you thinking.
This guy. Making the most of being flat.
If you have any questions about mood foods or are in need of nervous system support, come and have a chat to me at Uclinic in Sydney or HealthWise in Brisbane.