Sometimes you feel low because of a reason and sometimes you feel low because of no reason at all. This is natural and a part of being human. This roller coaster ride of highs and lows is what sums up human life. But the problem is we all love the happy moments but are never ready for the sad ones. Here are some tried and tested and some yet-to-be-tried ways to beat the blues:

Watch Movies/Read Books with The Characters Going Through a Situation Similar to You

“A good movie makes the audience feel like they’ve journeyed with the characters”- Rich Moore. 

Watching characters struggle and go through the same mess as you are is strangely a great comfort. I feel this is why such movies are made- to make you feel less miserable and find some inspiration to tackle your real-life problems. Some of the best movies about struggles are Dear Zindagi, Anand, and The Pursuit of Happyness. 

Watch Oswald

“The day Oswald stopped appearing on TV, a part of me realized finding a true friend and being a true person was going to be tough”- Soumi. 

This cartoon is a saviour for a hurt heart. Its main character Oswald is someone who is always happy and exudes a warmth that feels personal to you. He is always there for everyone and when you watch him and see your worries go away, you know he has been there for you too.

I have tried this and it works like an instant balm. Just open YouTube, you can watch it in Hindi or English. Even just 10 minutes of Oswald can make you feel light and cheered up. 

Try Aroma Therapy

“Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which seeks to induce relaxation, to increase energy, to reduce the effects of stress and to restore lost balance to mind, body and soul”- Robert Tisserand. 

You don’t have to visit a spa to experience this. Just light an incense stick- you can find many natural incense sticks online. My personal favourites are Jasmine and Tulsi incense sticks from Phool.co. The fragrant sticks from Phool are made from temple flowers and are free from chemicals. Light the aroma stick and just sit there inhaling the scent. You might witness a tornado of thoughts circling in your head at first but don’t give up. Keep breathing and focusing on the scent- you will slowly start to feel relaxed and your mind will stop producing any distressing thoughts. An incense stick normally lasts for 45 minutes which is enough time to help you relax. 

Go Forest Bathing

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein. 

The best thing to do when you have been consistently feeling low for days is to book a ticket to a forest. Taking a walk on a path surrounded by greenery, wildlife, and unpolluted air does wonders for a wounded heart and mind. The forests of Muthanga Wildlife Santuary in Kerala, Mawphlang Sacred Grove in Meghalaya, Kazinranga National Park in Assam, Vantawng Falls in Mizoram, Adirondack Mountains in New York, Monteverde in Costa Rica, and Mathews Range in Kenya are some of the best spots for forest bathing as recommended by travel experts. If you can’t make it to the forest, even spending time in a park nearby, surrounded by nature, will help you feel much better.

Go Shopping 

“Happiness is not in money, but in shopping” – Marilyn Monroe. 

You don’t need me telling you this- you already know that shopping uplifts spirits. Then why are you waiting for someone to tell you to go shopping when you are low? 

Books, jewellery, hats, home décor- pick what you like, pick a store, and start shopping. If you aren’t shopping right now to save money or be more sustainable you can still browse products online and save those things for buying in the future.

Cry

“Tears are words the heart can’t express”- Gerard Way. 

Why is crying seen in such a bad light? Sometimes sitting in a corner, alone, and just crying till we are incapable of producing more tears is the solution to overcoming a dark phase. I think only those who have never cried their heart out are the ones who shush you and tell you to not cry when you feel like it. Cry when you can’t take it anymore. Empty yourself of everything that is bothering you by pouring your emotions out with some tears.

Talk It Out

Once my mum and I fought, uglily, and I felt terrible afterward. Nothing I did helped ease my ache. I finally went up to her and cried my heart out. She consoled me and made me feel loved with her words. They were a balm on my wounds. We lived happily ever after. 

Sometimes all you need to do to feel good again is to talk about what’s bothering you to the person who might have half contributed to your low mood. Talking clears doubts and removes hatred, opening the way for love to flow between you and the person freely.

Happiness is a butterfly. The more you try to grab it, the more it slips away. So is happiness never going to embrace you? That’s not true. You might want to just stop chasing it, and sit still. The happiness butterfly will land on your nose. That’s the true nature of most things in the world. The more you want them the more they elude you. Sit quietly and they will start inching towards you.

–xx–

About the guest blogger: I am Niharika, a solitude-loving creature with no ambitions in life (apart from maybe seeing my blog become successful ). I am mostly found at home writing, reading, watching movies, sipping tea, or simply gazing at the beauty of nature. My blog, Yoursbookfully is where I talk about the stories I read and experience and the bookstores and book cafes I visit. I hope to see you there.

–xx–

What are your tips to get that instant serotonin boost? How do you help yourself get out of the funk?

Thank you Niharika for submitting this guest post. If you’d like to submit a guest post too, drop me an email at – mokshasustainable@gmail.com. (Please note: that this is only for fellow bloggers and not businesses. If you are a business looking to promote yourself, please drop me an email specifying the same and we can discuss the same.)

PS: All views expressed in the post are of the guest author.

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• Need A Serotonin Boost? Here Are Some Tips (Guest Post)
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