Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui atawhai.

As we all know, some days/weeks are easier than others. This past week has been particularly frantic as our staff and students are all doing the last minute push for their learning and to get all of our end of year ceremonies sorted.

I came across this article ‘10 Things To Do When You Are Feeling Down’ by Scott Christ online and I think there are some ideas that might be useful for us all at this time.

Any time you’re feeling down, you have two options: 1) keep doing what you’re doing, or 2) do something to try and pick yourself back up. Sometimes number 2 isn’t so easy, though. That’s why we came up with 10 things you can do when you’re not feeling your best to get that smile back on your face.

1. Stop Being so Hard on Yourself: We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. While it’s beneficial to aspire to greatness, sometimes you need to sit back, reflect, and recognize all the good things you have going on right now.

So when you’re feeling down, try this: think about the things in life you’re grateful for. Focus on what you have … not what you don’t.

2. Get up and Move: For example, go outside and take a walk. Ride your bike around the block. Go to the gym. Don’t just stay in bed and feel sorry for yourself. Get up, get moving, and get over it.
3. Surround Yourself with People You Love: Family and friends can be the best medicine when you have the blues.
4. Find a Way to Laugh: We take life a little too seriously sometimes. But let’s put this in perspective: how you’re feeling right now is one tiny moment out of the thousands you will experience in your life. Know that sadness is temporary.
5. Eat Something Healthy: Guess what most people eat when they feel down? That’s right, junk food. Do the opposite and your body will thank you.
6. Take Deep Breaths: Focusing on your breathing may not sound like much, but it can make a world of difference if you’re feeling down.

So spend a few minutes focusing on nothing except your breath. Take long, slow breaths and get rid of all negative thoughts on each exhale. Try these 5 Breathing Exercises for Anxiety (Simple and Calm Anxiety Quickly).

8. Do Something Spontaneous and Exciting: You may not feel like doing much when you’re down in the dumps. But one of the best ways to free your mind of those pesky negative thoughts is to go out and do something totally spontaneous.
9. Get Some Work Done: Here’s an easy way to take your mind off negative thoughts when you’re having a bad day: do some work. Getting work done will help you feel productive and free up your mind. Link to full article

This is my 10^th: take time to reflect and pray. Let God be a presence in your life to help you find comfort.