6 Tips to Defeat Sadness

Let me start by being totally honest. While I hope this post helps you to feel better should you ever need the extra reminder, I’m writing this post because I am in a funk. I can think of a dozen things I need to do that I normally enjoy doing (like posting the reviews and giveaways sitting on my desk, making cookies  and Christmas gifts, or simply enjoying life) but instead I am sitting on this chair, having to force myself to do anything I enjoy. The odd thing is that I WANT to do the things I love, I just seem to be missing that umph that takes things from want to action. It’s not that my life is bad, I am very blessed, it’s just  those few things that nag and worry my thoughts until I can think of nothing else. I really hate those!  They drive me absolutely insane. Taking a normally happy person to dark depths of sadness, a constant malaise that holds so tightly it becomes hard to breathe or do anything enjoyable.
It just so happens that Christmas is a little over a week away as I’m writing this. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. I love decorating, making cookies, watching holiday movies, doing gift projects and so many other activities that accompany the holiday season. This year, however, my decorations haven’t made it all the way out of the box, no cookies have seen the inside of my oven and the gifts I’ve bought for my family remain unwrapped and disillusioned. I thought that if I forced myself, my holiday spirit would come back after I wrapped a gift or two, so I wrapped three and was reminded that this year I don’t particularly care. Not exactly my typical holiday spirit. Not at all, really.
So, here are some thoughts I found from around the web to help myself and any of you who may need it lay down the Christmas blues and pick up that holiday spirit. Hope they help us all!

1. Read- Find an escape in something: a book, magazine, anything to get your mind on something else.
2. Listen to Music- Find some feel good music and blare it!  Leave it playing while you go throughout your day, eventually it will get in there and you’ll find yourself moving!
3. Socialize- I know, you have no desire to be social.  That’s okay, it’s understandable.  Thing is, it will help.  So force yourself to call that friend who always has something to say and let them do the talking for a while.  Go out to dinner, hang out somewhere, doesn’t matter what you do, just do something!
4. Journal- just write whatever comes to mind, often we end up letting out that suppressed sadness and either find a solution or simply feel the relief of no longer holding on to it.
5. Exercise- I don’t know what to say about this one, it’s not one I’m real excited about trying but I suppose it will be worth it if it helps, right….  If all else fails, I’ll try this one!  LOL
6. Restrict Your Thoughts- whatever it is that plagues your brain with negativity- avoid it!  When your mind starts to go to it, redirect yourself to a more positive set of thoughts.  With time, it will become much easier and maybe even your new habit!

All that being said, I’m off to put it into practice.  Hopefully it will work and I’ll be feeling much better soon.  I hope that it helps you too!!!  In the meantime, leave some tips of what makes you feel better!  We could all use them!!!

Sending love and happy thoughts to all of you!