Leaving my teenage years behind me and living in my early twenties has brought plenty of hard times, heartbreak, and many nights of being lonely and sad. I know I can’t be alone in this, I don’t doubt that every person my age is having rough times just like I am. So I’ve put together a list of everything I do to help me get through the hard times. I hope this helps you through your rough times too.
- Let yourself be weak
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You don’t have to always be strong. If you are looking for a sign to let yourself be weak, this is it. The nights are going to come when all the hard times pile up. Stress from school, struggles in relationships and difficulty with self love happens to all of us. When you feel like you feel like you’re going to pop from everything boiling inside you, just cry. Crying isn’t bad, it doesn’t make you any less strong or amazing than you are right now. So don’t try to push away all the sad emotions, let them out.
- Talk to a friend or family member
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Sometimes the best way to get through the hard times is talking through it with someone you trust. I know how hard it is to talk to people about your struggles sometimes, but it’ll be best for you to get through it with someone compared to getting through it alone. Don’t hide yourself away, it may feel easier but in the long run, it’s better to talk it out.
- Indulge yourself
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Can’t stop crying and all you want is ice cream? Then get it. Heartbroken and craving chocolate? Go buy some. Don’t worry about your diet if you’re on one, you can get back to it when you feel better. Find a new recipe and take the time to make yourself an amazing dinner. You’ll be suprised at how much better a freshly cooked meal can make you feel.
- Get outside
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Go for a walk. Find a nice open field, put down a blanket, and feel the sun on your skin. Take a deep breath of fresh air. Don’t hide in your room, you need the fresh air to heal your heart. I promise, it’s worth the walk. Being able to pull yourself together enough to go outside for any amount of time will show you that you are better than you were before (ie. when you couldn’t even get out to bed).
- Take a bath, change your sheets, wash your face
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Having a clean environment and body is a good way to make things feel better. Run yourself a bath and use that bath bomb you bought some time ago. Relax and breathe the steam in. Do a face mask or just wash your face with soap and water. Having the feeling of clean skin and fresh sheets will help you feel better, even if it’s just a little bit. Having little achievments such as washing your face or cleaning your sheets could also help break you out of your sad mood.
- Ask for help
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It’s okay to ask your professors for an extension if you absolutely need it and if you think they’ll give it. Don’t let yourself fall behind and miss assignments, that will only stress you out more. Plus, it will be relaxing to know that you have time to feel better without the pressure of getting every single assignment done when it’s due. It’s okay to ask your friends for help if you need it. If you feel like you can’t get through something alone, don’t force yourself to.
You don’t need to take my advice if it doesn’t work for you, no one heals the same. But I hope this list might at least give you an idea of how to heal. From one person going through the worst to another, I hope things feel better soon.
HCXO, Becca