How To Cope in Dark Days

Remember to take care of yourself… Rest. Exercise. Eat healthy. Read. Be creative. Laugh. Don’t burn out. We need YOU for the long haul.- MarcanDangel

We stress we cry, and we pretend that the dark days don’t exist until we are alone in our rooms crying in the night. 

As I continue to go on this journey of self-discovery, one important factor in finding true happiness is how to deal with the days that aren’t the best. We all have reached rock bottom multiple times. And unfortunately, some of us are still at rock bottom, searching for a way to climb out.

And it’s hard right? We, as a human race, are trying to cope with the “aftermath” of covid-19. We have lost countless lives, jobs, and opportunities within the past year. So how do we keep moving forward when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders everyday?

I have had my share of bad days, just as recent as a few days ago. There are times where I feel horrible because nothing is going the way that I need/want them to go. I’m stuck in quick stand trying to find a branch to help get me out and often I find nothing to help. No way to escape. But in those days, in those moments where I feel down, I resort to my coping methods. 

My main coping method is meditation. I know that I’ve said it before on my blog, but meditation is truly one of the best things that I have discovered. Not only do I feel grounded and calm, but there is a sense of reassurance that fills me up. I know, sounds a bit weird but very true. There are times where I find that I haven’t meditated in a while, and when I start to down, that’s when I meditate. 

Another coping style that I just recently started doing again is painting. If you know me, you know that I love to paint. During the lockdown, and even before the lockdown, I was painting or drawing at least once a week. With a part-time job and a full-time school life, I didn’t have much time to myself. But when I found myself sitting on the couch watching T.V., I got up, took out my canvas and paint supplies, and painting something. And with each painting, I tried to increase the level of difficulty. Painting started off as a stress reliever, but now it’s a way of picking myself back up. It’s a way of keeping my creative and artistic side alive. 

If you feel that you don’t have any coping methods, here are a few that might help. The first thing I would recommend you doing is turning off the news for a bit and close your eyes. I would always say try to meditate and see how your body, mind, and soul feel after 10-15 minutes. 

If that doesn’t work, what I suggest is trying to have a sleep and eat schedule. Sleeping is so important and you might not even realize that you aren’t getting the “right amount” of sleep. You should be getting more than at least 5 hours of sleep every day. But if you aren’t, and you’re working all day with barely an hour break for lunch, your body isn’t going to have time to heal before the next day. And you need to eat properly. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snacks in between. Cheat days are necessary. Fuel your body with nutrients and good food. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Your body is your only temple. Treat it with respect, nurture, and love because you only have one body in this lifetime. 

Another piece of advice I give you is to find a hobby outside of your workplace. If you work in a corporate office or if you are unemployed, then you should probably find a hobby that doesn’t involve being in a confined space or being in front of the screen. Find a sport or an activity that is outside (or what can be since we are still in a pandemic) and be active. Get away from work and have a different type of fun in your life.

Being at rock bottom isn’t great. Trust me, I know. But I found ways to help me get out of rock bottom. I know that you will find what works for you. It takes time, and it might feel like you don’t have enough time. But I guarantee you that if you find what you love to do (and it wouldn’t be hard to figure out because it’s right in front of you), you will see a brighter tomorrow, a brighter future. 

-Nadine Bourne