It hits everyone at some time. In fact, you shouldn’t trust someone who is always cheerful – what you should do is back off slowly without making any sudden movements and whatever you do, don’t turn your back.
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But how can you hoist yourself up from the doldrums when you wake up feeling blue? OK, so maybe the girlfriend has left, the final demand letter from the bank has arrived, you had a fight with your father or the toilet has started leaking again two weeks after you paid a fortune to have it fixed.
Life looks like a series of grim trials, in which there are no winners and for which you frankly do not have the energy.
But there are things you can do
Hit the sack. Sometimes when you are feeling like this, you are just tired. A hot bath or shower and bed might be just what you need. And hey, if you’re asleep, how can you worry about the electricity bill?
Raid the fridge. OK, within limits that is. If you make that a daily thing, your bathroom scale could apply for relocation. Sometimes a bit of fruit or a sandwich or yesterday’s leftover lasagne might just be what you need to cheer you up.
Phone a friend. Make it someone who is a good listener, who will hear you out without interrupting you seven times to talk about their problems. Sometimes we need to moan, not to be told what we should be doing with our lives. We know what we should do – doing it is the problem.
Hit the road. When you exercise, the feel-good hormone serotonin is secreted in abundance. Exercise does put you on a high – and it costs you nothing.
Vitamins are vital. You could be running short on vitamins – and who wouldn’t if they lived on cafeteria food and takeaways? Get a good multivitamin and pop one every morning at breakfast.
Go for a checkup. You may have some mineral shortage or slight chemical imbalance causing you to feel like this. If you feel blue for more than two weeks, take action. In this day and age there is no reason why you should suffer in silence.
Buy yourself something nice. I’m not saying you should rush out and seriously buckle the credit card. You can buy yourself something nice for R20 – a new magazine, a delicious piece of cheese, a lovely bar of scented soap, coffee and a muffin at your favourite coffee shop, a lottery ticket.
Go somewhere peaceful. Water has a calming effect – go to the sea, the nearest river or lake and just take some time out. Sometimes we need to get out of our immediate environment to get some perspective.
Do a cleanup. Cleaning your house, or even just one room can do wonders for your sense of self. Untidy homes are depressing – switch on some music and tackle the kitchen or the study. You are guaranteed to feel better once you have finished.
Go to the movies. Sometimes all you need is to get out of your own head for a while. Just don’t go and see a tearjerker – a feelgood movie or a thriller will be best. If you are crying over a departed lover, stay away from love stories.
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