If you're feeling lost and don't know where to find yourself again, I've compiled a list of six approachable tasks that will help guide you.
1 . Read a book that has always inspired you
It could be one pertaining to fantasy, adventure, romance, self-help, cooking, or learning; it just has to be meaningful to you. It's one that takes your mind off things and goes a long way in helping you remember core ideals about yourself. Maybe you're a dreamer and enjoy getting lost in another world. Maybe you're a scholar and find happiness learning new information and skills. Maybe you're on a journey of self-growth and are looking for guidance in the right direction. Any genre that fulfills your most basic desire of self-care, allow yourself to gravitate towards it. Become so consumed in its text that you forget where you are, who you are, and all of the worries of yesterday.
2 . Journal, and then journal some more
It's always important to connect with your emotions. Journalling is the easiest way to do so. Your thoughts become more organized once they're not spiralling aimlessly around your head. Allow time for introspection, go over the areas of your life you are dissatisfied with, and find a deeper connection with the emotions that have been swaying your moods. You'll find that as you write, the words will start to pour out. It will feel awkward at first, not knowing what to say, but eventually you will bypass the block in your mind preventing you from releasing everything that has been pent up. Give yourself thirty minutes to get everything out and onto the page. Afterwards, close your journal immediately. If you feel the need to run through all that you just wrote, feel free. But I suggest enforcing a divide between what you just let out and your current state. Allow your thoughts to refocus on your passions and desires, not what has been causing your stasis. You have allowed these thoughts to have their time, and now you must move on from them.
They have served their purpose, and are no longer needed.
It may be hard to fully separate from certain stressors if they are extremely prevalent in your life, such as mental illness or frustrations at work. Do your best to move forward, knowing that you have acknowledged them. Strategize a plan of action so that you do not come back to this place and feel exactly as you did before you picked up the pen.
3 . Watch your favourite show or movie
While doing this may evoke feelings of unproductivity, sometimes it's what you truly need. You want to shut your brain off and enjoy viewing something that makes you laugh, cry, or mellow out. Too much of it is numbing, sure, but don't feel guilty for needing a break. Curl up in bed, surrounded by blankets, and eat good food and hydrate. If that's all you can manage, that is perfectly okay. With time, you will be able to defrost your emotions, ready to take on more of the laborious parts of the healing process. Consider this your break from reality, a time to rest and recharge for the upcoming parts of your journey.
4 . Crafting is the best medicine
If you've ever felt the itch to pick up a crochet hook, paint brush, or hot glue gun, you know exactly what I'm talking about. There's something so calming about immersing yourself in a creative project. Crafting relieves my brain from stress and allows me to just do. Whenever I'm bored of mindless scrolling, sitting around in my room, or other various activities, I go to Pinterest and conjure up all of the different things I could create. Whether it's a miniature scene from The Legend of Zelda for my cousin or a crochet hanging plant for my sister, I can always find something to occupy my time and mind. It soothes me and allows feelings of unease to dissipate. It gets my hands moving and my brain scheming, utilizing parts of myself that are often kept dormant.
It's good to exercise your creative muscle, it encourages you to problem solve and hone your focus on seeing tasks through. I think that it's a great way to increase your patience, especially when things have a habit of going differently than you imagined. It's a safe space where you can push boundaries, not to mention you are fully in control. You can hide out here and recuperate, rebalance, and de-stress after an overwhelming, or even normal, day. Find what inspires you, and let your hands guide the way.
5 . Exercise... I know, not my favourite either
Moving your body helps you to dispel feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. Even if you get out of the house and walk your dog for 15 minutes, you will feel better for it. Try to carve out time in your day, or every other day, where you follow a guided video, run on the treadmill, or do some yoga. It doesn't have to be extreme, so long as you are focusing your mind on getting some physical activity in. Of course, make time for rest and do not push yourself if you don't feel like exercising, but when you are able, dedicate some time out of your schedule to promote your health. Whenever I do, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my mind, like I can think rationally again. While I don't always enjoy the duration of it, I never regret it afterwards.
6 . Ditch unhealthy vices
Maybe you spend too much money on clothing, or home decor you have no place for. Maybe you smoke or drink to cure boredom. Maybe you latch onto toxic relationships to feed your desire for external validation. You need to separate yourself from these.
Start implementing plans to prevent you from slipping back into unhealthy vices. If it's too much shopping, create a budget planner to follow. If it's smoking and alcohol, start limiting your intake day by day or week by week. If you're in a toxic relationship, try talking to your partner to come up with solutions, if that isn't an option, you will have to end it. You must learn to prioritize your health, in every form it takes.
The ones stated above are just a few of the many out there. What I hope you take away is that you need to start replacing these bad habits or vices with ones that fulfill you rather than diminish your power. Focus your attention on activities and people that bring enrichment to your life, forget all of the other nonsense. I know that it's a rough road to go down, but recovery is more attainable than you think. Set reasonable limitations for yourself, ones you know you can stick to, so that you're not quitting your vices cold turkey then coming back to them in a few days. It will take time and an immense amount of patience, but know that you are capable.
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This is an accumulation of things I am currently implementing into my life. They help give me structure, support, and encouragement to do better for myself.
I hope they do the same for you.
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