We’ve all been there-it’s the end of a workday or the beginning of a relaxing weekend. A time that should be spent relaxing and recharging becomes overtaken by all the emotions we’ve been suppressing during busier times. Perhaps we are feeling a bit anxious or lonely and isolated. Even if there are happy and exciting things going on in your life, uncomfortable feelings have a way of making it to the foreground. When these emotions bubble up, the impulse can be the tune them out- perhaps with work, mindless entertainment, or quick dopamine fixes. However, unless these emotions are properly ‘dealt with’ they will continue to surface up every time the business of life begins to subside. Next time you have the impulse to tune out these feelings to your favorite show, or to buy something to make yourself feel better (these temporary fixes are okay every now and then) try one of these six alternatives.
- Learn to sit with the discomfort: As with most uncomfortable things in life, these feelings will pass. Learn to ride the waves of your emotions rather than drowning them out with distractions. This will keep you present and grounded in your life. Opting to brush your feelings under the rug will simply delay your experience of them until another time.
- Use Your Discomfort as a motivator: In life there are positive and negative motivators for behavior. Negative emotions can be just as strong a motivator for change as the promise of a reward.
- If you are experiencing feelings of loneliness, use that feeling as a motivator to go to more social activities and to form more (and deeper) connections. If putting yourself out there is something that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps some feelings of loneliness will be the just the push you need to overcome your anxieties.
- If you are experiencing feelings anxiety about something in particular (perhaps, a job or a relationship) sit down and intentionally trouble shoot those problems. Make a plan for how to address these issues. Even if this plan doesn’t provide an immediate solution, working towards a solution can help ease your anxieties and give you back some control over your own life.
- If you are feeling trapped or stuck in a rut, try changing up your routine or trying something new. Even something as small as discovering a new restaurant or finding a new running route can add some spice and excitement to your day-to-day life.
- Channel Your Feelings into something a creative hobby: Instead of numbing your emotions, channel them into a hobby or artistic outlet. This is something that can become a habit with practice. The moment you start to feel discomfort, break out your guitar, take out your knitting supplies, or start to bake something. Instead of drowning out your emotions, you will be channeling them into something you love. You can create a safe haven for yourself in times of turmoil by immersing yourself into a beloved hobby.
- Move Your Body: Exercise is scientifically proven to release feel-good endorphins. You can channel your frustrations into an intense cardio workout or relax with an evening yoga video.
- Call a Friend or Family member: It’s good to fight-against the urge to self-isolate in times of turmoil. Although you may not want to feel like a burden, confiding in a friend or a family member is more than likely to ultimately strengthen the relationship. However, if you don’t feel comfortable spilling your heart out, even just having a laugh with old friends can be a wonderful antidote to murky feelings.
- Write about your feelings: This might be the most straight-forward advice of all. Simply writing down your feelings is a powerful form of acknowledgement. Perhaps you can elaborate on them, and even begin to troubleshoot. What could be the reason for the way that you’re feeling? Are there things you could do to prevent yourself from feeling this way in the future? How much of what you’re feeling is within the realm of your control?
