I mentioned on social media last week that I had been in a bit of a funk of late. Nothing seemed to be going my way – even though I thought that April was tough and that I was determined to put more ‘yay in May’, May was kicking my butt! I thought that I had a cold, but after a 40 degree fever, I decided to head to the doctors to find out that I had both tonsilitis and a middle ear infection. Maybe it was feeling so damn awful that had put me in a funk?
They say after a long day, have yourself a drink. But I don’t like to drink when I am doing the single parent thing as I never know when we might have to jump in the car to head to the emergency – such is life with three young boys.
And they say that when you have had a long day, that you should go home and put your feet up. But I have no idea how one is meant to ‘put their feet up’ with three young children who are always demanding your attention.
It seems that most ways in which we like to relax – a long hot bath for instance – are damn near impossible when you have lots of small children and are doing the single parenting thing.
So I thought that I would devise my own list of 5 ways to get out of a funk when you have children.
5 ways to get out of a funk when you have children
- Sunshine: While too much of the sun’s warm rays can be harmful to your skin, the right balance can have lots of mood lifting benefits. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that is triggered by changing seasons. So when I am feeling a little down, my first thing is to get out in the sunshine. I might take the boys for a walk to the park or simply sit outside in the backyard with them.
- Exercise: Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts overall mood. And you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap the benefits. A walk to the park kills two birds with one stone – we get a little sunshine and a little exercise, and you can improve it a little better with a healthy lunch like a Fitness tuna wrap or eat more salads. I also like to take the boys down to the bay so that they can run as fast as they like along the path or even down on the sand.
- Coffee: Many of us rely on a cup of coffee to kick-start our day, and now new research suggests that our morning caffeine infusion may also help ward off depression over the long term, especially for women. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day were 15% less likely to develop depression over the 10-year study period, compared with women who consumed one cup or less per day. Women who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 20% lower risk. Women who drank decaf didn’t show a similar reduction in depression rates. I know that I am a much happier Mummy when we call past our local cafe on the way home from preschool drop off.
- Loud music:Are you sad, depressed, or anxious maybe? You will be glad to know that you can chase all the blues away just by listening to your favorite music. Considered as a natural antidepressant, music can give you the euphoric high that antidepressant medications can bring. So if you are looking for a great way to end your crappy day, maybe you might like to pump one of these child-friendly happy songs {you know, cause you might like to listen to a little R’n’B but there is a fair bit of swearing in there for young ears}; Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine, Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now, Taylor Swift – Shake it off and of course Pharrell Williams – Happy.
- Positive podcasts: Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. My old boss actually suggested these to me on social media and I am excited to get listening.
If you also have small children, I would love to hear your ways in which you pull yourself out of a funk?
