What do you do to cheer yourself up?

[maidenm]

Over the course of my short life I have spent far too much time being sad. It didn't really occur to me until recently that I haven't spent much time figuring out how to cheer myself up. I don't know what a proper pick-me-up is.
At the moment I'm in a bit of a "what's the point?" mood and I really feel like I need to do something about it but... I don't know what or even how.

How do you people cheer yourself up when you feel down? What can you do when someone says something mean, when you fail at your job or when your favourite teacher doesn't approve of your work? Or when you plainly just don't feel happy?

 

[CaptQuakers]

Music, music always makes me feel better. Richard Pryor always makes me laugh as well which cheers me up.

 

[Queen Michael]

I read manga. It always improves my mood.

 

[Blitsie]

Pouring time into a (proper) hobby always feels very rewarding. Currently learning to play the guitar and its practically been my go to thing for when I'm in a bad place or just overall feel down, there's just something about making music that's truly soothing for the soul, also I play pretty damn well when I'm angry for some reason, haha.

Learning to play a musical instrument is easily one of the best choices I've made, highly recommend looking into it if you never did something like that before

 

[Musette]

I guess all I can do here is echo the idea of using music to help you.

I study music, but even when it's the source of all my stress, I can still use it to cheer myself up. I sometimes will play my instrument solely for fun rather than to achieve some goal. I'll play a piece I already know, or improvise, or look up sheet music for a song I like (or transcribe sheet music myself), sometimes even compose, and it's pretty relaxing. I think there was only one point in my life where Even music wasn't able to improve my mood (apparently, I was exhibiting signs of depression, but I can't say for sure because I never went for a diagnosis), and after my studio professor basically asked me to focus on making music a "source of healing" rather than another stressor for the time being, I did manage to make baby steps to break that barrier and enjoy my music wholeheartedly again over time.

I think it's a matter of finding a hobby/form of self expression that you really enjoy. Sometimes, something as simple as a distraction will cheer you up, and sometimes, using art as a catharsis is incredibly helpful too.

 

[Padwolf]

Music always helps. So does burying myself into a book. But for me, the best cheer up by far, is just to simply sit and hug my dogs or my cats. I really want to go visit my parents just so I can sit with the dogs again. Taking them out for a walk also helps. Writing is also good for me, whether I'm writing a short story or just writing about my life, it helps get everything up and out and I finish feeling a hell of a lot lighter.

Try finding a project to focus on, I find things like doing some research into a subject, or just settling down and thinking "right, today I'm going to complete that game and clear up some of my backlog" really helps to pick my spirits up.

 

[Batou667]

Something constructive or cathartic. I like drawing and painting, but sometimes blowing the crap out of everything in sight on my Xbox hits the spot. Whatever floats your boat, really. Pick up a hobby, or exercise maybe?

 

[Kuilui]

Personally I enjoy completing small projects or even just stuff in my backlog that I've been putting off. such as doing my taxes. Accomplishing things in general is what I am saying. To pick yourself up you need to just doing something else, don't let yourself have time to just stew in your own misery and I enjoy saying mantras in my head to pick myself up. It could be anything as long as it is positive. "Tomorrow will be better" "I'm going to do fine", etc. Your brain can be reprogrammed in a way if you change the way you think. If your depressed often your mind will normally go back to that kind of default state. So try to stay positive even if it's just lies your telling yourself.

 

[Liberte]

A cup of tea and a good night's sleep in my Emperor Bed, with a best rated mattress topper like these here [http://www.zenbedrooms.com/mattress-toppers.html]. I'm kidding I don't actually have one of those. Just the tea for me. And then maybe a little film fest, usually with some kind of theme. So, when Leo DiCaprio announced he was taking a break from actinga after the Wolf of Wall Street, I had a little Leo series: Gilbert Grape to the Gatsby. Next on the agenda is Wes Anderson, in preparation for The Grand Budapest Hotel.

 

[Johnnyseven]

Music for me too, its what gets me through a repetitive boring day at work and helps keep my head up at home.

It used to be my cat but shes not around anymore!

 

[maidenm]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I've been trying to follow the advice most people gave. My mother used to be a music teacher and I've been trying to pick up my old ocarina again. Drawing has been a life-long hobby of mine, but I find it difficult to get started and get into the feel-good phase when I'm feeling down. If I could just get my horrible procrastination out of the way I'd write too.
I've been taking more walks and training sessions with my dog, I do like that.

A follow up question then: How do you deal with procratination or general apathy? Do you just power trough or is there a trick you've found to work?

 

[SlaveNumber23]

A follow up question then: How do you deal with procratination or general apathy? Do you just power trough or is there a trick you've found to work?

The problem with depression and procrastination is that it feeds itself, the only way out is to slap yourself in the face and break the cycle. Go out, do some exercise, try new things, meet up with friends, meet new people etc, you probably won't feel like you have the energy to do any of these things but force yourself to do it anyway and you will feel revitalized.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

When I?m feeling shitty about myself (which is often), I watch GameGrumps or I just hang out with my friends.

As for how you deal with procrastination: pfft, dude, you tell me. I?m more than a hundred words under the word count for an English Language investigation coursework that began in October and is due in later this month?and I?m just sitting here internally beating myself up about how unfulfilled I?m feeling and that I?m not getting enjoyment out of anything anymore because I?m always distracted by making bullshit super-neat lists about things that won?t even matter to me the next day. That?s the lethal combination of clinical depression and OCD for ya.

 

[Kuilui]

Personally I've been conquering procrastination, apathy, etc through religion actually *Flameshield*. It might seem like an odd thing but I've always been a religious person but I recently in the past months started reading the bible and listening to sermons again. A lot of it is "Why are you wasting your life, every day is precious so treat it like it is!" and I really thought about it and it really struck a cord in me. I like listening to impassioned sermons and reading religious books because it inspires me to get off my duff and make the most of every day. Needless to say that isn't for everyone but it is how I get through most days.

Provided that isn't your thing it's really just a mind over matter thing. When are you finally going to be so sick of being pissed off at yourself for being lazy that you'll just start doing things to shut your own mind up. It's all about reprogramming your own mind.

 

[Lynx]

Depends a lot on the situation. But stand-up comedy always works. Don't underestimate the power of a proper belly laugh.

These days I'm feeling a particular type of sad, but I've managed to distract it by reading Game of Thrones, laughing at Dr House's sass, and studying mathematics for fun. None of it solves my original problem, but since my problem is one of those annoying things you kinda have to wait out, I decided to pass that time doing something fun and/or productive.

Seriously, though. Watch some Dylan Moran or Ross Noble or Eddie Izzard and you might find your spirits lift.

 

[Grach]

I try to listen to the one song that always cheers me up, I gather that you have one too. Or watch the one comedian who always makes you laugh, or watch the one movie that always leaves you feeling warm, or try talking to a special someone.

If you want something more concrete, try giving this [http://www.scp-wiki.net/where-they-all-go] a read.

 

[Barbas]

I usually listen to soothing classical music, particularly waltzes. Or happy lively tunes like this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93M-HrexauM].

Music has an absolutely magical effect on your temperament.

 

[Jux]

Music is a good one, but one that never fails for me is doing nice stuff for other people. Whether it be actual charity work, or just volunteering your time to help out a friend or family member, nothing makes me feel better than helping others.

 

[RiseUp]

Driving around while listening to this always makes me feel somewhat better, you can't stay in a bad mood listening to "This Too Shall Pass" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w].