Are you fed up with life? That’s ok, we all have days from time to time when we feel a bit fed up with life. Feeling down occasionally is entirely normal. What you do about that feeling though can have a big impact on your life. Your life is your responsibility, you can choose to stay fed up or you can choose to fix it.
I know it’s not that easy though. I promise you, I’ve been there. BUT you can fix it if you choose to.
Do you want to fix it enough though? Are you fed up with life enough to do something different, to get out of your comfort zone?
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
-Einstein
Most people don’t.
Most people will look at the list below and think “I can’t be bothered to do that today” or “That won’t help” You’re wrong though. Doing SOMETHING, anything is helpful.
The question is are you “most people” or are you willing to start with one of the ideas below and start taking baby steps in the right direction because if you are consistent baby steps build momentum.
Here are some of my favourite quick fixes when I’m fed up with life…
1 | Call a friend
Although you might just want to pull the covers over your head, feeling down is the perfect time to reach out for support. Get hold of your sister, a friend, your mum or even your dad to talk about how you are both doing. Go ahead and pick up the phone, it’s okay to tell someone you’re feeling down. A simple chat will give your spirits a lift.
2 |Ask for help
I’ll be honest, this is the one I used to struggle with most. I would tell people “its fine, I’ll be ok” when inside I was crying out for help. I thought I was the strong one though and didn’t want to tell anyone how bad I was feeling. Plus I didn’t want to admit I wasn’t coping. That doesn’t make you strong though, it takes courage to ask for help.
What do you need? A break from the kids, help in the house, support from work, a hug, a dishwasher, a holiday? ASK! You deserve to have your needs met and the person you ask may just surprise you. It’s amazing how often the person you ask will turn round and say “yes of course, why didn’t you ask sooner”. And if they say no, would it really be that bad, you won’t actually be any worse off.
3 | Make a feel-good list
Make yourself a “feel good” list. Make it special by writing it in different colours and surrounding it with your favourite quotes, draw pictures or turn it into a visual list with pictures of things or activities that make you feel good. Being creative will lift your mood and then you can keep the list handy for next time you’re feeling fed up with life. You could add things like reading a book written by your favourite author or having an extra long bath. Perhaps you always feel happier after a 10-minute meditation or you could include watching your favourite funny film.
4 | Go for a walk
It may well be the last thing you feel like doing but If you can just get yourself moving your body will release endorphin’s, the “feel good” hormones which are guaranteed to lift your spirits. If you can go for a walk in nature that is better again. Science has shown repeatedly that being in nature is beneficial to mental wellbeing. Research in Japan showed a 15-minute walk in woods led to a 16% drop in cortisol, the stress hormone.
5 | Write it down
What are you really feeling? Label it. Why are you feeling this way? Describe it. How long have you felt these feelings? Jot it down. What can you do to feel better? Develop a plan and put it on paper. Writing helps you get your thoughts out of your head and to make sense of them.
6 | Give yourself a time limit
Sometimes we just need to give ourself a break. It’s ok to wallow in self-pity for a time. You’re human, you’re allowed to feel sorry for yourself, life’s tough. With a time limit on how long you’re allowing yourself to be in this mood, you might work harder to figure out the issue and tap into your personal power to feel better at some point you set in the future.
7 | Ask yourself, “why am I really fed up with life?”
One of my “Bigger Life Principles” is to ask yourself better questions. Once you understand the trigger for your mood, you might be able to do something about it. Approach solutions with an open mind, if you’re fed up because you can’t afford a night out at the end of the month then sit down and do a budget. It may be too late this month but you can stop the same thing happening next month and you will feel good at having achieved something.
If it’s because you have small kids and you have no time for yourself ask a family member to look after them for a few hours or overnight. But, if you can’t figure out what’s causing your low mood, that’s ok too. We might not like it if our partner implies that we are hormonal but let’s face it there is a very good chance you could be. If you think you’re hormonal check out this article
YOUR NEXT STEPS
I’ve just given you 7 quick fixes but if low mood is an ongoing problem consider calling a professional. There is a big difference between depression and low mood so if that fed up with life feeling is something you can’t shake, consider contacting your Doctor or a Counselor. If however you’re fed up and feeling stuck, confused, overwhelmed, lacking confidence or just want to achieve your goals as quickly and effectively as possible a coach will be able to help.
Leave me a comment below, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is.
Thanks for your advice but I need something a little stronger I am SO cheesed orf with everything and trying to gather the strength to do anything about it
Seems futile.