Actually, I’m feeling a little down right now.
I’ve always thought that articles like this are more meaningful when written during a difficult time rather than when everything is going well, so I’ve been waiting for this moment!
Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of ways to get through periods when I wasn’t feeling well.
The two things that have worked best for me are getting some sunlight and going for a walk.
I spend about 20 minutes simply soaking up as much sunlight as I can.
At times like this, worrying about getting a tan is the last thing on my mind.
I don’t think about anything. I just let myself soak in the bright sunlight and empty my mind.
Even on cloudy or rainy days, going outside still exposes you to much stronger light than you would get indoors, so I find it helpful.
And then, walk.
As much as possible, I try to look at the scenery and direct my attention toward the world around me.
Personally, I feel better when I walk somewhere that has a decent number of people and a little bit of energy and activity.
“Sunlight” and “walking.”
In the end, I think these two are the ultimate combination.
There’s something else I’ve noticed: I don’t feel good when I eat a lot of animal protein.
I don’t have much energy if I eat too little, either. But when I eat too much, I tend to feel mentally unstable.
The same seems to happen with sweets, alcohol, caffeine, spicy or strongly stimulating foods, and very cold foods.
But if I start thinking, “I can’t have this, and I can’t have that,” it becomes stressful in itself, so finding the right balance can be tricky…
I think it’s important to regularly listen to your body, make sure you’re eating well, and give yourself permission to relax and enjoy a little indulgence from time to time.
If I suddenly feel unwell in the middle of the night, when it’s difficult to go outside, I watch a video I enjoy.
You could read manga or a novel, too, but personally, I recommend something that is input-focused—something that keeps your attention occupied.
When you’re feeling this way, if your attention turns inward, anxiety and emotional distress can gradually become amplified.
So I try to direct my attention outward as much as possible.
One effective way to do that is to engage with something that gives you new information or occupies your attention.
When we’re taking in information, we can’t endlessly focus on our own thoughts at the same time.
In other words, it can help us temporarily stop overthinking.
And if possible, I sleep.
If I can’t sleep, I simply lie down, close my eyes, and let my body rest.
I wait quietly for the storm to pass.
Like a wild animal!
This may just be a little comforting ritual, but I’ve heard that citrus scents can help promote a sense of emotional balance.
So you might want to try incorporating citrus essential oils, such as bergamot or grapefruit, into your environment.
We are all part of nature, so it’s only natural for both our minds and bodies to have ups and downs.
That means we may have times when we feel low, but we won’t stay there forever.
The tide will turn again.
All we can do is trust that and wait.
Of course, that’s much easier said than done…
But I believe the only way to get better at it is to keep practicing.
Thank you so much for reading today. 🍀
Let’s get through these ups and downs together. 😊