There are days when you just don’t feel right. Not sad enough to cry, not tired enough to sleep ~ just stuck, like you’re wrapped in a wet blanket you didn’t ask for. The kind of day where even making coffee feels like climbing a hill with no top. And if you’ve had one of those, you already know: the worst part isn’t the mood ~ it’s the feeling that you’re supposed to just push through it. But “pushing through” isn’t enough. What you really need are ways to meet yourself where you are without making things harder.
Take a Walk, Even If You’re Still in Pajamas
You don’t need to make it a whole thing. You don’t need fancy sneakers, you don’t need to time yourself, you don’t need to turn it into a mental health moment. Just open the door, step out, and move your body a little. The sky looks different when you’re under it instead of behind a window, and even if all you do is walk to the corner and back, that’s still movement ~ and movement matters.
Make Something That Doesn’t Have to Be Pretty
There’s a weird kind of freedom in creating something with zero pressure to make it good. Doodle, tear up magazines and make a collage, smear some paint around, cut up cardboard and tape it into a weird shape ~ seriously, anything. When your thoughts are loud or cloudy or just tired, your hands can speak in a different language. And when you’re done, don’t throw it away ~ look at it and think: This came out of me. This is real. I’m still here.
Text the Person Who Gets It Without Needing an Explanation
You know the one. The person who doesn’t need small talk, doesn’t ask for context, doesn’t judge you for disappearing sometimes. On a hard day, send them a “hey” or a random photo or a meme ~ anything to crack the silence. You don’t need a full conversation to feel less alone; sometimes, it just helps to know someone’s on the other side of the line.
Fuel Your Body Without the Pressure
Eating well doesn’t have to mean planning out elaborate meals or following rigid rules. On days when your energy is low or your mood’s off, just reaching for something that makes your body feel a little better is enough. It might help to keep easy options on hand ~ like a piece of fruit or a handful of cut-up veggies ~ so when that mid-afternoon slump hits, you’re not automatically reaching for a bag of chips or something packed with sugar. Food should feel like support, not another thing to stress about.
Dump Everything in Your Brain Onto a Page
No one’s grading it. You’re not writing a journal for future you to re-read with tea and wisdom. You’re just emptying out the noise. Type it, scribble it, bullet-point it, curse through it ~ just get it out. It’s wild how heavy a thought feels when it stays in your head, and how much lighter it gets once it’s somewhere else.
Make a List of Ridiculously Small Wins
This one’s for the days where even brushing your teeth feels like an event. And if you did brush your teeth? Write that down. Got out of bed? That too. Didn’t cry until noon? Victory. The point isn’t to be sarcastic ~ it’s to honor the fact that you’re doing your best with what you’ve got, and that counts. It always counts.
Play Music That Meets You Where You Are
If you’re feeling raw, don’t fight it with fake pep. Start with something slow, something that feels like it sees you. Let it hold your mood for a while, and when you’re ready, sneak in a song that lifts things just a little. Don’t skip straight to the dance playlist ~ just edge closer to it, one song at a time. Your body will know when it’s ready.
Clean or Organize One Random Thing—Just One
Don’t do a full overhaul. That’s way too much. Just pick something tiny: one drawer, one chair covered in clothes, one cup in the sink. Give it your full attention for ten minutes. It’s not about becoming productive; it’s about reminding yourself you can affect your surroundings. And sometimes, seeing something go from messy to done gives you a little sense of control when everything else feels out of reach.
Sit Somewhere Different Than Usual
Seriously ~ just move spots. If you usually sit on the bed, go to the couch. If you’re always on the couch, sit on the floor by the window. Bring a blanket, light a candle, change the lighting. You’d be surprised how different your head feels when your body is somewhere new, even if you only moved six feet.
That’s the truth nobody tells you. You don’t need to be “productive” to take care of yourself. You don’t need to wait until you’ve hit bottom to start climbing out. If today feels like trash, that’s oka ~ but you’re still allowed to reach for something soft, something warm, something kind. Not because you’ve earned i ~ but because you’re alive, and that’s enough.
Step into Jared’s Little Corner and explore the world through the eyes of a curious high-schooler who loves learning, playing, and sharing his adventures. Join the fun and discover stories, toys, and collections that will brighten your day!