Being human means sometimes being sad. Sometimes when you are sad, all you can do is ride the sad out until it goes away. It could be that you spend this time in the foetal position on your bed, or under your office desk, or in the quietest part of the shopping centre (sometimes you just have to make do) until you feel strong enough to power through the rest of your day.
But feeling better could take an indefinite amount of time, so here are some things you can do to speed things along, but only if you feel up to it.
+ Light a scented candle. Make sure it is large and three-wicked; stare into the flames and take lots of deep breaths. This works particularly well if you’re using a good quality candle, and if scented things calm you. If you hate scented things, this will probably make you even sadder, or even angry, so maybe don't do this one.
+ Listen to music. Sad music, or angry music, or instrumental music — whatever will help you get out of your funk. It's different for everyone. When I am sad, I like listening to music by people who are also sad, because it gives me a sense of solidarity. Listening to people being happy when I am not makes me want to BURN THE WORLD DOWN, because HOW DARE THEY! But maybe you will find it inspirational, I don’t know. You do you.
+ Go for a run. Or do something that will get your heart rate up. I find I work out the best when I am just the right level of sad, the kind of sad that can escalate to anger fairly quickly. This way, I spend the time walking to the gym being sad, but by the time I hit the rowing machine or treadmill, I have worked myself up into a blind rage and power through my workout like a crazed robot. Maximum efficiency!
+ Cut up some paper. There is something soothing about wielding scissors, I think. Take a fashion magazine and cut out supermodels, and then glue pictures of cheese onto their heads. And their hands. And their feet. Now you've made a sexy cheesemonster!
+ Cry. It's a really simple thing, but I feel like often we don't give ourselves permission to cry, even if we really need to. Find a safe space where you can be alone, and then make like an ice queen and let it go.
I hope this helped. I really recommend the sexy cheesemonster. And I'm sorry for the Frozen reference1.
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1 no I'm not.
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1 no I'm not.
