How do you stop yourself getting down

sjprmc01

In the current bad/dull weather and gloom and doom vein that the country seems to be in right now, how do you stop it all from dragging you down?

At the moment I'm recovering from illness, overworked and generally overwhelmed by things

The kids just seem to fight and bicker no matter what I promise as a reward for getting on and doing as they are told or regardless of my threats of losing pocket money/confiscation of toys

I barely feel like I have charge of anything in my over cluttered house I know I need to de hoard but actually don't have the emotional energy to deal with it (and not for any particular reason)

And to top it all, I keep throwing money at the problems, buying 'stuff' to make me feel better for all of about 5mins.

How do yu switch off? Turn things around? Live 'the good life' without worrying and stressing constantly about everything? And feel optimistic in this stretch of utterly dreary weather we are having?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Go and do something. Not buy something. Not make something, do something.

Whether it is dragging them out to the park, leaving them with somebody else and doing your own thing, selling them for medical research :whistle: or any other solution that you can find, get outside and do something.

good_advice

It is all about attitude
I get up and often sing my song... get up, get dressed and put a smile on your face and make it up as I go along.

I have no job, not much money. Adult kids= 2 living at home and OH.

I live one day at a time. I break the day into little jobs = cleaning.

Decluttering, I have been doing for about 6/7 weeks. A little every day. I make it up as I go along. Today, I had a lot of the bits off my notice board in the hall. Put some in the recycle bin and made a new poster about dates for Easter = Good Friday, Sunday and Monday.Will be sticking a picture on when I see one in a free mag.

I often cancel unwanted mail in my email box = unsubscribe.
Cancelled a monthly magazine today. It was £7 a month for Which.
We just have x2 magazines a month now. Me = Easy cooking and OH= Gardeners world, both paid for with Tesco points.

I have trained myself not to buy stuff for no reason.I like looking around the shops and taking my cluttered stuff my children do not want into a cs.
My last big buy was a washing machine about 2 weeks ago. A need not a want as my old one gave up after 9 years loyal service.

Been there with the children fighting and arguing = try giving them something to do. A focus or something to look forward to.

Find a craft you like = it could be gardening, cooking, knitting.
Something to fill your time. Not watching TV.
I knitted 2 plain ladies cardigans this winter. Both given away as "can you knit me one?". Last winter I crochet 2 single blankets made of 12" squares. Again given away to family.

This is my "Good Life". Take care and think positive even if you do not have much. Try to see something good and make positive comments.

dronid

Personally, at this time of year I use a Light Box. That tends to bouy me up a bit. You can get an inexpensive one from Lloyds Pharmacy for about £37 and, if you're inclined to feeling down over the winter and it does work - you do need to sit in front of it for up to an hour though. Otherwise, and check out with a Doctor, I have taken St Johns Wort too which is quite effective.

Other options - sometimes difficult to engage with to start with are excercise. However, I've never been able to sustain it.

You might want to compartmentalise some of your issues. A good thing is to make your bedroom the way you'd like it. And then you can take tasks in there to deal with.

sjprmc01

Thanks folks

I don't know what it is at the moment! Just nothing I do seems to get me anywhere! And I'm not a 'warm summer weather' person but I think this prolonged winter is just taking its toll!

I tried to finish off a bit of painting in eldest DDs room but I gave up as the machine wasn't working no matter what I did (paint pod) and the paint is too watery on its own :mad:

I'm dreading going into work tomorrow for a 12hr shift but its not the work itself I'm bothered about, I am really bothered about the travelling there in the cold/snow I have no idea why though, its not like I'm not used to it!

I feel silly letting myself get down about inconsequential things but I just need some cheer!

I know I can only make myself happy, but everything seems like such an effort, you did make the edges of my mouth turn upwards though JOJO

Cheapskate

sjprmc01, this sounds rather like me, too. There's a lot going on in my life and in my head, and the clutter in the house, children arguing, etc., all contributes. It's taken me years to get this bad, and it will take a while to get "me" back, but I'm determined to get there.

Today, the littlies went out in the snow for a while, not long as the wind is biting, it was too cold for me, but I "played" with them from the dining room window - pulling faces at them, rating their snow angels, etc by the thumbs up method - they loved it! :rotfl:

I'm having to make myself do things that I used to do automatically and enjoy, it all seems like hard work, but once I've made something, been outside, or whatever, I do feel a bit better, and right now that's good!

BTW, have been trying to post this for nearly an hour, in case it sounds out of sync!

A xo

mi_jardin

I usually buy myself a bunch of flowers. Not expensive ones, but something cheerful. Daffodils are very pretty and only £1 a bunch in the supermarkets. Looking at them cheers me up and hopeful of spring coming....eventually!

blossomhill_2

I swear by Metatone tonic after any bout of short-term illness, well it suits me anyway

herbily

If you're able to get to a hot steamy greenhouse, I find it really helps - in London I used to go to the palm house at Kew, and found there's something about damp heat that cheers you up in winter. (I think that's why they're keen on saunas in Sweden...) If there's a garden centre or anything near you, it might be worth a try?:)

savingpennies

This may sound trite but I do a list of what's good and what's bad. I'm in good health, I have a good OH (ok his cooking is crap),I'm proud of my kids, I have close family around me (mum, brothers and supportive SIL's), celebrating small things (DD2 good report, DD1 latest 2.1 at uni for an assignment - all signs of progress) and although OH is out of work I am not - so solvent! We make a virtue out of spending less than last week, finding things cheaper in one place than another, or bargains in charity shops. Celebrate the small things. Life is generally good, I think we forget it sometimes. Although I appreciate life occasionally sends us the odd curved ball, I see it as a challenge - right you b*stard watch how I deal with you!

mysk_girl

I have just this minute been ranting to a friend about this very subject. I find getting fresh air really really helps.

I just want some sun. And for the kids to be able to go out without hat, scarf, gloves etc.

House is a tip. No motivation. My youngest child is only 3 months old though, so I don't have much energy as she wakes in the night. I've had tonsillitis, a hacking cough and now a runny nose so bad my nose is bleeding and sore, that's just in the last month.

The only thing I'm clinging to is the end of term next Thursday and a 2 week holiday is Wales. With OH, our 3 kids, MIL, BIL&SIL and 2 other family friends. Lots of people for kids to play with, I'm getting a days shopping in Swansea sans kids (well, I have to take baby as she won't bottle feed) with my lovely, amazing SIL who I don't see enough of (they live in Hong Kong).

Hopefully this will perk me up a bit!