7 Things I do When Life Gets Heavy

In my last blog post I shared a little life update and left off right before Winter. Now let me start off by saying I LOVE, like really really loovveeeve living on Vancouver Island. I truly think it is one of the most beautiful and magical places in the world. I have definitely gotten more used to the rain and greyness in the Winter months but this past year it was wetter, colder, darker, and much more challenging for me than it has ever been before. To compound that we were not able to travel internationally with ease, COVID fatigue really hit hard, and then more terror and atrocities continued to happen daily. My heart was sad, everything was very heavy, and the best way to describe how I felt was just “BLEH”.

Moody is right.

This year has encouraged me to dig even deeper and focus on my mental health. I intentionally check in with myself and see where I am at every single day. I have had to continually remind myself that I cannot control what is out there. I cannot control the weather. I cannot control the fact we are still technically in a pandemic. I cannot control how other people act. I cannot control things outside of me. What I can control though is how I respond to those things, what and where I choose to direct and invest my energy, the decisions I make on how I live my life, and my actual perspective on the world. The following is a list of seven things I find helpful when I just feel “BLEH”

1. Put your phone down people.

Like actually though, being on your phone is probably not going to help. The blue light from staring at the screen and the addictive scrolling through social media is going to add to your “BLEH”. At the beginning of the pandemic I started logging off Instagram on weekends and since then every few weeks I’ll preemptively log off for a few days, a weekend, or even a few weeks at a time. As gross as it is, this automatically and substantially decreases the % of time I’m on my phone. I wrote a full blog post about it here.

2. Feel your feels folks.

I have been working on not falling into toxic positivity. I see the world in a very beautiful light and experience life with a very open heart. I live this way but can still feel sad, angry, frustrated, anxious, upset, etc. The important thing is to not brush past these so-called negative emotions. They are meant to be felt. Feel these emotions. Let them release from your body, don’t hold on to them and don’t ignore them. Again feelings are meant to be felt in all the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is what makes us human. We are dynamic creatures and life is not all rainbows and butterflies. So when it rains (both literally and figuratively) let yourself feel what you are feeling. Sink into that feeling. It is tremendously important to validate what you are feeling. Just because your city is not being bombed or your not dying with COVID doesn’t mean that what you are feeling is not valid. Yes those other things are absolutely awful but the emotion you are feeling is real for you. You are experiencing it and as uncomfortable as it may be, let yourself sit with that feeling. Don’t judge it, just beeeee with it. Then cry, yell, scream, shake, dance, move, laugh, or do whatever you need to allow the emotion to move through your body.

3. BREATHE baby

Focus on the life force energy flowing through you. Come into your body and feel your lungs and abdomen expanding and contracting. Feel this sustaining you. Know that you have all you need right here. YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED. Remember this feeling you are having is not forever. You have a choice to allow it to stay for a moment, or a day, or a week, or even let it engulf your whole life. I like to remind myself just because I’m having a “bad” moment does definitely not mean I have a bad life. Nothing in this world is permanent. Literally nothing. All is temporary. This to shall pass…

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

4. Write down that gratitude list.

Actually pick up a pen and write it down. I don’t do it in my phone (cutting down screen time remember?) but instead have a specific little note pad beside my bed that is just for my gratitude practice. I will get into specifics in another post but focus on what you have already. Become a witness to how abundant you really are and then fully feel that in your heart and soul. Embody gratitude. What does that feel like for you?

5. Get outside.

Nature is magic. I really truly deeply believe that. Changing up your surroundings, stimulating all your senses, and grounding down into Mother Earth has such healing powers. For me it allows me to process any trauma or feelings that have come up. It is an energetic spiritual experience for me. It connects me to something greater than myself but also reminds me that I am part of nature. I am nature. I am magic too.

Just looking at these beautiful spaces makes me feel better...now get out there!

6. Move your body

Yes yes yes. It may not always be easy to get going but I never regret it afterwards. I always feel 100000000x better after moving my body. It doesn’t always have to be an intense HIIT workout or weight lifting session at the gym. Walking in your neighbourhood, dancing in the living room, slow yoga flow, going for a swim, or playing with your dog or child in the park can all be meaningful and beneficial for both your body and mental health. Numerous studies have shown how regular physical activity can positively and greatly affect cognitive function, sleep quality, emotional wellbeing, mental clarity, depression and anxiety, and just overall quality of life.

7. Talk to someone.

Social support and meaningful connections are important to a good quality life and getting out of that “BLEH” feeling. Call a close family member, go for a walk with a friend, or plan a weekly get together with people who can support you. There is also always help lines that are available 24/7.

Free and confidential mental health and substance use support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Wellness Together Canada. You can talk to a mental health professional one on one. Call 1-866-585-0445 or text WELLNESS to: 686868 for youth.