Top Tips For Self-Care On Bad Mental Health Days.

Bad days. There’s no getting away from them and, honestly, if we didn’t have them it wouldn’t be very human of us, now would it?

How do you practice self-care after bad mental health days?

There’s no getting away from bad mental health days. They’re part of being human and although life would be much better without them, they help us to appreciate the good times. But for some of us, bad days can feel like every day and for others, it’s a rare occurrence. No matter what side of the coin you’re on bad days are horrible and infectious not only to you but to everyone around you.

The day after I returned from a vacation in March nineteen was a pretty bad day for me. I’d broken my nose in a freak accident (entirely my fault) and the vacation itself was a write-off for various reasons. But things were only starting. When I found out a few weeks later that my grandfather was dying from terminal cancer, it felt as if someone had run me over with a steamroller. Self-care was the last thing on my list.

I felt deflated, lost and extremely depressed.

I took to napping during the day and going home to help whenever I could. Being constantly on the go kept my mind from going completely off the edge, but it eventually got to the point where I could feel myself burning out. My weight was falling, food restriction was creeping back in and yoga had all but been forgotten. When I finally slowed down and realised what I was doing, I cursed myself for falling into the habit of forgetting about myself again.

Image from SHVETS production

Self-care when you don’t feel deserving.

How do you begin to practice self-care when you don’t feel deserving of it? Good question! Every morning I get out of bed I have to fight with myself to take my medication, to eat, not to weigh, etc. The list of horrible things I could do to hinder my recovery is endless while the list of self-care options is seemingly pointless. I know that any of those negative things could make or break my day and yet I still want to stick by them. Really? It makes no sense, but neither does mental illness.

But the truth is, despite how I feel about myself, I am deserving of self-care. I am allowed to take five minutes, five hours or even five days to decompress. And so are you!

When things get tough I try to think about what makes me feel better. I start with the easiest on the list which could be a quick nap, a shower or binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine. But sometimes it takes a lot more and I have to actively remove myself from my thoughts. As counter-productive as that sounds burying myself in heavy metal and power-walking to clear my head is sometimes the most cathartic thing I can do for myself amid a breakdown.

Remember: If you’ve had a bad mental health period, you’re not alone. Millions of people go through months like these; you can get back on track.

Are you a busy mama? It’s even more important that you find the time for self-care! Check out this article for more help.


Top Tips for practising self-care After Bad Mental Health Days, weeks or even months!

A bad mental health month can tank your sense of wellness. You can feel like you’ve taken a step back, and you’ve become overwhelmed with a feeling of low mood and motivation. However, it’s important to note that times like this aren’t your fault! And they’re also not a permanent state of being. But when you feel yourself coming out of a bad month, and you want to do more for yourself going forward, self-care is essential. Here are some great activities to try.

Allow yourself to feel.

There’s nothing wrong with having a bad day. What’s important is that we don’t let one day translate into a bad week, month or year.

For many people, emotions can be tricky. I find it difficult to feel anything other than negative emotions as if I’m almost too afraid to allow the positive in for longer than a second. It’s not uncommon and in fact, many people are stuck within a negative bias mindset when it comes to feeling. Often it’s because we tend to judge ourselves for how we feel, worry about how others will judge us, or quite often we fear to be positive and joyful because we’ve been let down in the past.

No matter what way you put it emotions are complicated!

Accepting and allowing ourselves to experience all emotions is arguably one of the most important types of self-care there is. If we’re unable to cope and process negative emotions, then how can we possibly move forward and begin to heal? We need to feel a vast range of emotions; Good and bad! Allow the negative emotions into your life, sit with them, and welcome them like visitors but don’t let them set up camp!

Learn how emotional avoidance can be connected to food issues.

Call someone you love.

Sometimes we just need someone to listen to us. Talking to others can help rationalise what we’re feeling and give us the support we need to come out of a rut. Make sure that you have a trusted friend or family member that you can call on in times of need (and vice versa).

Failing that there are various helplines available with volunteers ready and willing to help you through it.

Keeping in contact with loved ones is especially important during the current pandemic. COVID-19 has thrown a lot of us off our game and has caused quite a bit of upheaval. For those having to self-isolate, it can be the breaking of their recovery. As hard as it might be, make sure you keep in touch with your loved ones from a safe distance. Use the technology that the 21st century has given you and call your bestie for a virtual coffee!

Tidy Your Bedroom.

You might have spent a lot of time in bed lately. If you’re able to get up and go about a day semi-normally, take a moment to tidy up your immediate area. If there are food wrappers, empty bottles, and tissues on the floor, throw them away. Then, change your bed sheets (or just make the bed) and think about putting the vacuum around. After these three tasks are done, you might just find you feel a lot better about yourself and your life, without needing to put much effort in. 

Stay hydrated.

Remember that water is your friend. It can make you feel surprisingly better in a bad situation. I always keep a trusty water bottle with me at all times!

Who knew something so simple could be classed as an act of self-care? I certainly didn’t!

Remember to eat.

Please remember to eat. As much as it causes me discomfort I know that I need to keep myself nourished. It not only helps physically but mentally too. If you’ve ever heard of the term ‘hangry’ you’ll know what I mean. Food is important to regulate our blood sugars which can be a big reason why our emotions are in the weeds.

Take a bath or a shower.

A long bath gives water time to soak into your skin and helps you feel refreshed. However, if it’s been a while since you washed and you don’t want to sit in water for a while, take a shower instead, but still use some luxury creams to give your skin a treat. If you’ve got some stashed away in the cupboard for a bad day, this is the time to use them.

I might be among the few who find showering to be relaxing. When I feel myself becoming overly anxious or distressed, I often take myself to the shower to calm down. It’s almost as if the water washes away all the tension in my bones and allows me to take some much-needed deep breaths.

Want some of your very own homemade soap scrub bars? Check out this post for information on how you can create your own!

Image from Taryn Elliott

Use a body lotion or body scrub.

Sometimes the simplest way to feel good is to look after your body. Treat yourself to a face mask, new body lotion or even a hair wrap! For the gentlemen out there with beards that would put grizzly Adams to shame, why not pick up a beard grooming kit?

There’s a reason we’re encouraged to pamper ourselves in recovery and it’s not to feed our inner vanity. It’s to show ourselves that we’re worth the effort and that we deserve to be treated like VIPs.

Watch some feel-good TV.

One word; Netflix. Queer Eye, Ru Paul, The Office. I could go on, and on, and on.

Netflix has added some bangers in the last few months. If you have a whole day to spend (let’s be honest, you do) then Tiger King is a rabbit hole you need to get dragged into!

Brush, Floss, and Mouthwash.

If you’ve been in a depressive spiral, it’s likely you’ve not really been looking after your oral health. It’s easy to fall down a slippery slope regarding this, as even going a week without brushing your teeth can be a problem, but it’s also a very easy thing to ignore when you’ve got no energy for it. 

So, now is the perfect time to step up the routine. Brush, floss, and use some mouthwash. And if you like, you can also invest in a teeth whitening kit to use at home, for added convenience. If you don’t want to face up to a dentist quite yet, this can help you feel like you’re getting back on track. 

Have a Laugh.

A laugh can solve a lot of little problems, as long as you’ve got the mental capacity to focus on something funny. If it feels like the brain fog is clearing, why not put on something funny and/or beloved to you? The more you recognise what’s going on around you, the easier it is to bring yourself back to you. And easy laughter makes us feel good from the inside out, even more so than trying to force a smile or seeing a friend when we’re not really up to it.

Take part in a hobby that’s easy for you to manage.

As I mentioned sometimes we just need to take care of simple things. Napping isn’t necessarily a hobby (although it should be) so if you’re feeling low on energy pick up a book or an easy-to-manage video game. If you enjoy being creative but can’t bring yourself to open your sketchbook, why not try colouring in an adult colouring book?

Do some exercise (if you’re fit and able).

Do some yoga or go for a short walk if you’re feeling up to it. Exercise isn’t the answer to all life’s problems, but it can help release pent-up stress that we may have built inside. I take a walk late at night or early in the morning when fewer people are likely to be around. Fresh air and natural light can do wonders for our mood.

Take a nap.

If you’re feeling low on energy and have the option, allow yourself to take a nap. Don’t feel guilty about feeling exhausted!

Note: Become aware of where the exhaustion is coming from. Is it mental, physical or emotional exhaustion? This can make a big difference to what needs doing to shift it! Naps, although helpful, can become a coping mechanism in themselves and that’s where self-care shifts to self-soothing.

If you have a pet show it some love.

Cats and dogs are proven to reduce stress! Get cuddling.

Read a good book!

Take some time out and dive into your latest (or favourite) book. I even find spending time online reading good news articles can help lift my mood.


How else do you practice self-care on bad mental health days?

Learn more about self-care in these other articles!


211 comments

  1. Practicing self-care on a bad day is always hard, sometimes you simply just don’t have the energy or motivation to do any self-care! However, it is important to try and practice self-care on the baddest of days, sometimes something as simple as doing your skincare routine can make you feel a whole lot better! x

  2. For me on bad mental health days I really like to get outside and also do something for myself.

  3. Self care is really important specially if it about taking care of your mental health. This is a really great article.

  4. We all have days where we don’t feel our best. There are days where we will feel a range of negative emotions. Thank you for these tips.

  5. I just read your article on self-care and it’s amazing! Your tips are practical and easy to follow, and I love how you emphasize the importance of taking care of oneself on bad days. Keep up the fantastic work!

  6. There are serval things I need to do more from this list. Drink more water, Naps, Call a friend. I haven’t called a friend in a long time. I’ll do it tonight.

  7. These are really good tips! What helps me is talking to a friend and having a walk in nature!

  8. These are great tips. I sometimes forget to allow myself to feel. I often push my feelings away. Taking a nap is nice to and start a new day the next morning.

  9. I definitely need to drink more water. It’s amazing how many things staying hydrated impacts!

  10. YES! These are excellent suggestions for self-care. Self-care is an absolute must. You must be intentional about it. It takes time but a little bit of self-care goes a long way. I have definitely been much better about taking care of myself first without feeling guilty about it.

  11. Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new
    apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and
    look forward to all your posts! Carry on the superb work!

  12. Your mode of describing everything in this article is really
    nice, every one be capable of easily understand it, Thanks a lot.

  13. Sometimes we need to feel all those emotions and get it out loud from our chest in order to moved on (and breath freely). In this way, when it happen again, we know what to do. Nobody will take care of us, but ourselves first.

  14. Thanks for the tips! Indeed calling someone you love is a great pick-me-upper on a bad day.

  15. Some great relaxation/ self care tips. I especially like the shower bath one. I love a really hot bath with the shower cascading over me at the same time

  16. I’ve been having a nap at least once a day. Although I enjoy it I’m also struggling not to feel bad about it. Truth be told we all need to be easier on ourselves at the moment.
    Sending lots of love.x

  17. Thank you so much for reading Bex! I really appreciate it. I’m doing well and I hope you’re also doing well 😀 x
    [Yes! You do need to check out Tiger King because OMG]

  18. I thought I was the only one, Lynda! A shower is a God-send for me when I’m feeling low (or achy, or overwhelmed).
    Hope you’re keeping well and thank you so much for reading. x

  19. Wonderful post, thank you for sharing and great tips. Bath (now that I have one) and Netflix are my favs, but also hugging my hubby when he is done with work or when we are eating lunch together. While I do know the tips I do need to hear them in this time, need to be reminded of them again. My mental health is steadily going down with this being week 3, almost 4 of stay inside and nothing of future plans to look forward to.

  20. Thank you for these amazing tips! I have been napping a little bit too much and have been making a little bit too much food haha. But silver lining is that I am well rested and well fed!

  21. Wonderful tips! Definitely helps during this time of quarantine. I am making sure I stay hydrated and when I just start feeling too overwhelmed, I slow down and allow myself to rest or even nap. It’s so refreshing!

  22. Great tips! a lot of people are loosing the self-love and confidence these days

  23. A friend of mine always says, if you’re feeling down, go wash your hair. Having clean hair makes everything better. And he’s right. It’s like taking a shower washes those feelings away, but I think, too, it’s that we’re cleaning ourselves, nurturing ourselves (and our biggest organ – skin), and just taking time to stop and be in the moment. Thanks for your tips. Very timely for so many of us.

  24. These are all great ways to self care. I am so busy taking care of everyone else that I forget myself some times. Drinking water is so helpful yet i forget this often.

  25. Lots of good options for activities when you’re having a bad day. I usually listen to music, busy myself with a project or take a bath or a hike.

  26. Great tips! Self care is really important especially during these challenging time we are in. I will take OMG some of your tips. Thanks for sharing ????

  27. Sadly I think bad days are going to be more common with people at the moment. I find having a nap super helpful because it allows you to pass the time whilst not having to think about anything xxx

  28. I think many people, myself included, forget sometimes to allow yourself to feel. We try to be strong for even ourselves now allowing the time to process the emotions. I love the ideas you mentioned to go along with that process.

  29. I need this! I love your tips here. Yesterday, I was sick and migraine is attacking. I think it’s time to reflect what I am doing iwth my body. 🙂

  30. Oh these tips are so amazing and easy to try. My favorite is to do some exercise, it is good for the body and the soul. – Amalia

  31. Great tips! I’ve been watching Designated Survivor on Netflix (now into season 2). Can’t beat a lovely hot bath with some Lush bubbles 🙂

  32. I really like how you mention to feel what you feel. That does a lot for me. And definitely staying hydrated and eating healthy. Thanks for this post!

  33. The bath literally saves my life every time. And exercising! Thanks for sharing!

  34. What a great post filled with lovely ideas. I especially like the point of letting yourself feel and giving yourself permission to have a bad day! Thanks for sharing xx

  35. These are such helpful ideas, thank you for sharing Nyxie! I also find that a bath or shower is the perfect way to unwind and wash the stress and tension away. Netflix and naps are my favourite too. I need to check out Tiger King, I’ve heard so much about it, I feel like I’m missing out! Fab post, hope you are doing okay and having a nice weekend <3 xx

    Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com

  36. It is very hard to find the energy to take care of yourself when you are having a bad day, or when you are depressed. You are so right, it feels often that you don’t deserve it, especially when everything seems to be going against you.

  37. Spot on, as always. This really is very helpful in this surreal time with Covid with so many confined to a small space indefinitely. We are very lucky that here in my pocket of Japan we are able to got out to secluded spots as long as we can practice social distancing. Generally though, apart from walking, if I’m having a bad day for me a long hot shower – as you listed – helps a lot. –Lynda Hogan

  38. I think it’s so important to turn outwards instead of inwards. Too much self-absorption can just make it worse and create a cycle. Thinking more of others and turn to God in prayer really helps to give me perspective and lift my spirits.

  39. Beautifully written post. So much positivity. I loved the way you have conveyed your thoughts on the same. Thank you so much for sharing this piece of writing. Much love❤

  40. I learned to practice self care about 2 years ago and it made a big difference in my life. I dont feel so resentful because I treat myself good so I can take care of other people. – Taylor

  41. I am pretty bad at self care..even on good heath days which are actually far and few, I will try to use these tips and observe if i can notice any change.

  42. I am sorry to hear about your grandfather and your accident. Hopefully you are on your way to recovering. There are lots of different ways we can take care of ourselves. We need to keep pushing and do different things. Sending you lots of love!

    Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me

  43. Thank you for sharing these tips! I actually love to call my family from the province. I really miss home. I just can’t go home due to the lockdown. For now, I am here in my apartment with my 9 cats. 🙂

  44. Self-care is challenging by itself. So much more when we don’t even feel like getting up. These are great reminders that no matter what we feel, we need to give ourselves the best attention that it can get.

  45. We all need this! Self-care is as important as our needs. But you know sometimes when things go hard, I am forgotten to take care of myself and kinda mentally affected with a lot of things.

  46. Once again, I read about self care and I know I should be doing it but rarely take the time until I am forced to. Maybe I should take this list and turn it into a checklist, lol.

  47. It can be tough to pick yourself up when it comes to bad days. It always seems like it isn’t just one thing, either. These are good ideas for helping repair.

  48. Surely this year you will live in a different way this day but you can still make it special by finding a way to feel close to whom we love.

  49. Thank you so much of reading. I plan on updating this post soon so there are even MORE self-care tips for bad days. We need to make sure we have a good amount of ideas to fall back on should we need them.

  50. I am also really bad at preaching self care and then forgetting to do it when it comes to myself. I think I am going to mindfully start scheduling just a few minutes daily with a list of simple things I can do to make that happen. Then when the bad days come, I will already be covered.

  51. This is really good advice! As someone who sometimes suffer with poor mental health, I agree with all of your points!

  52. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. I still struggle with giving myself permission to rest, even though I know I need it!

  53. Great advice! Thank you for sharing – it can be difficult when having a bad mental health day to so anything but it’s good to set yourself smaller goals and feel good about what self care you achieve. Emma x

  54. This is such a great post. Self care is always so important and it’s the one thing that we always forget to do. I know I personally struggle with it.

  55. This is such an important post. With busy lives, the first thing you end up neglecting is yourself and your self care. I think it’s one of the most essential practices for leading a happier and healthier life.

  56. I really love this list and especially that you worded everything without judgement. The world always looks a bit brighter after a snack, nap and a glass of water ❤️

  57. Awesome tips! I like that you keke mention of deserving self care. We forget so often that we cannot pour from an empty cup

  58. Thank you for sharing!
    I know that with Celiac Disease I was EXHAUSTED from years of never getting a good night’s sleep and bad digestion. I finally gave myself permission to nap. Daily. Every afternoon.
    Little by little – my energy and focus – mental clarity – began to return.

  59. This is really good advice, especially about allowing yourself to feel and showing your pet some love. ????

  60. Been having a few of these bad days recently! Thank you for sharing your tips.

    Jess x

  61. This is such an amazing self-care list, I always forget about the more physical things we can do to look after ourselves so this is a really useful reminder! Thanks for this post!

  62. I love this! There are so many great tips and suggestions and I absolutely love that you included a gif for everything! ???????? I sometimes forget to hydrate or rest up.. or even eat when I’m stressed and I do the exact opposite of caring for myself. Great reminder! Thank you for sharing xx

    Geraldine | https://geraldinetalks.com

  63. I really like that you included ‘remember to eat’ as well, because as soon as I get even a little stressed it’s like the last thing I want to do is to eat, but then I know that doesn’t help in the long run at all.

    Julia // The Sunday Mode

  64. Thank you so much for stopping by 😀 Bottling up emotions is the worst for me, it just comes out in irritation and self-loathing!

  65. Yess! So many great suggestions Nyxie! When I am feeling down, I usually have a bath and a nap and watch some Netflix. Your advice to feel emotions is so important, I find that if I bottle things up it just gets worse and I feel tense and stressed. Thanks for sharing, fab post, hope you have a lovely week <3 xx

    Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com

  66. These are good tips! Maybe listening to some music while reading a book is another one that could be of help?

    – Laura || afinnontheloose.com

  67. This is great! I love these ideas. I’m obsessed with Rupaul and Queer eye!
    Self care is so important, and we forget this so easily when we’re busy with our lives.

    Emma

  68. Of course you’ll get there. It was never better time on Mother Earth for healing, transformation and acceleration journey. That is why I recommended to take it easy with a read that can open your heart, mind and awaken your beautiful soul/spirit! ~ in Love and Light for you always, TJ

  69. I will most certainly look into your blog further. Thank you very much for popping by on both occasions and I didn’t find your message blunt at all, don’t worry 🙂 Getting in touch with my own inner power has always been my issue but through my recovery journey I hope to some day get there.

  70. Dear Nyxinked, I am sorry for the brief message the other day. Anything you might suffer from, including any disease (anorexia), has a root cause from the soul of a particular organ, system, part of the body getting polluted and sick.
    Given that I am a Soul Teacher practitioner, I suggest to you reading some of my blogs that can open your mind and heart. There is an immense possibility once we understand the wisdom behind any illness.
    It all comes down to the power from within,
    and our own potential powers, for healing and transformation once the heart and mind, are open.
    In general, throughout all of my writings, I ponder this message on purpose to assist others on their healing, transformation and acceleration journeys.
    I know this can help you on your healing journey. in Love and Light, TJ

  71. Sometimes it’s just as simple as unplugging from everything. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you are feeling a little bit better today. x

  72. I had a day like this yesterday. I didn’t really do anything mentioned to fix the issue, barely even ate. But I did take some time out to myself and unplugged for the day. Sometimes it takes just simply logging off the computer for me to improve on myself mentally. Great post!

  73. I’m actually looking into holistic healing at the moment in conjunction with NHS funded healing (i.e therapy and pills). I’ve trying different types of homeopathy, meditation, and aromatherapy. Although this has all been a bit up in the air at the moment due to various reasons, I will get there. I have faith that there is more in life than anorexia, I just need to find it.

    Thank you so much for stopping by and showing your support 😀

  74. Hi there Chloe, sanding soul blessings of Love and Light for your speedy recovery.
    I’ve been there, done it. The good news it’s possible and seems like a past life today.
    I can’t more highly recommend holistic healing–soul healing in this regard.
    Soul gets sick for many different reasons, first. If you need someone to talk to you can reach out to me, via email or by phone/website, anytime. Sending Love and Light your way ~ ~ ~ TJ

  75. I have far too many of these days lately! I always feel like I should just plough through because I’ve so much to do, but it’s that whole being unable to pour from an empty cup thing. I’m bad with the whole lack of productivity guilt… Yet I know exactly what kick starts me again and it’s a shower and washing my hair! If I do that, most of the times, it pretty much does a system restore on me! It’s amazing the effect these little things can have on us without even realising.

    Davis |

  76. I LOVE this! And also, your placement of gifs and memes is seriously on point. And also, also, I’m SO sorry your broke your nose the day after you got back from your vacation! WTF, right?? Great tips that are so easy to implement.

  77. These are some really great tips. The pictures makes it all so much better to read and are funny to look at. My favorite is talking to others. I can always count on my friends and family to be there when I need them. Thanks for sharing!

    Kendra????

  78. Hydration, I have learned, is key to a lot of things in life. I wish my grass was both dry enough and cushioned enough to lie on here!
    Thank you for stopping by and showing your support.

  79. This is such a good list for those truly “bad” days. I personally like to start with hydration. Sometimes a little water (and maybe a bit of sunshine) are enough to make me feel better when I’m anxious or feeling down. I’ll just lie in the grass with my water bottle and a book. It really does help.

  80. Sometimes we just need a rest from ourselves sometimes, and if that means sleeping for 15 hours, then that’s just what we need to do! I often need reminding to slow down and take it easy, but I am learning that I respond better to treatment if I’ve had time to practice self-care on the daily.

  81. I loved this! I am such a giph girl so all those little visuals stick in my head. I have Bipolar 1 Disorder and need to be reminded to take care of myself. Yesterday I slept for 15 hours…I had simply come to the end and needed rest.

  82. Such a fab post! I love reading self care posts and seeing all the different suggestions people come up with! Honestly wonderful advice, I think we can get so caught up with the world and constantly having to do things for others we forgot to take care of ourselves more. As simple as your eating tip, we can forget to eat to time and making sure we get the rest our body deserves. Great post hun! ????????

  83. Self-care is so important, it’s what brings us forward regardless of the mood we’re in. Everyone deserves self-care! There’s no reason not to. Expressing yourself is important because keeping feelings bottled up doesn’t help at all. Oooh yesss on hot baths, hehe. Body scrubs are the best – scrub away and feel relaxed. You can never go wrong with naps- especially the ones where you don’t have to set an alarm. Thanks for sharing these tips!

    Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me

  84. Some really great tips and suggestions here that can help a lot of people out so thank you for sharing them. It can be incredibly difficult to do self care when you dont feel as though you deserve but then that’s usually when you need it the most, great post????

  85. I love a good meme! I need to start including them in more of my posts 😀
    I love some lavender! I have some in the house that I must use when I get back from the hospital today – thank you for reminding me.

  86. Great list Chloe! I ❤ the memes???????? they always keep it light hearted. Great post as usual girly.

    Also
    Try essential oils sometime. Seriously Lavender is so helpful when it comes to calming down/relaxing. One of my favorites????

  87. Love all these suggestions ^_^ especially the first one. It’s so easy to find ourselves fighting against what we feel. Thank you for such a great post! <3 Couldn't take the song 'Bad day' by Daniel Powter from my head 🙂

  88. I love gifs in a post as well! I don’t use them enough because I’m scared they will slow down some people’s computers!
    Sometimes it’s nice to have something to look forward to like a concert or a spa day, but also remember you can sit down with a simple book, good cup of tea and a hot water bottle and consider that minimal self care as well 🙂

  89. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment! Hydration is so, so important and so many people don’t realise what a difference it can make!

  90. Please take care of yourself! My advice to you would be throw the scales away before they do any more damage! They are so, so triggering. It’s so hard coping with your own body image issues and not knowing what to do, and I know it might seem easy for me to sit here and tell you what to do, but believe me those scales are the catalyst for disaster!

    I struggle around scales. If they are in the house at all it’s as if they pull me in and smother me with the need to weigh. That need won’t go until I’ve done what I’m told!

    If you need to talk I’m here.

    xx

  91. Nice tips! Sometimes I watch old Vine compilations on YouTube. They always make me laugh. Even if I go back to feeling bad afterwards, it gives me temporary relief from the sadness.

  92. I really needed to read this.

    It’s so easy to forget to look after yourself when some days are a struggle from the moment you open your eyes in the morning. It’s important to remember that it is okay to feel what we are feeling but that we shouldn’t wallow in that feeling for too long. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of effort to brighten up one’s day.

    I’ll be sure to bookmark this post and come back to it as often as possible to remind me to take care of myself.

    I hope you are doing well and that the bad days don’t get you down.

    Thank you so much for sharing.

  93. I really enjoyed this post. I know how much bad days can take over. Trust. I think your tips are great and easily done to improve your day. Even if just a little bit.

  94. These were some great tips! I especially agree with calling up someone you love. Taking things out always helps me. Thank you for sharing!

  95. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment lovely! I used to hate all those lotions and potions, but now I live for a good face mask!

  96. These are great suggestions and there are plenty of my favourites in here! I’m not great with lotions and such but I completely agree about trying a face mask. I never used to bother with them until I started trying to bring more self care into my routine and now they’re a staple! They’re quick, easy and bring great results.

  97. I hope you’re sitting down for this!

    Well we were coming home from picking up our cat at the kennels and I had her on my knee. The seat belt I had on was faulty (since been fixed) and when my partner swerved to avoid both a pot hole and a car, the belt came undone and I was sent across the car and my face hit the back of his seat.

    I have since learnt to check my belt before I get into a car.

  98. I love this! It’s sometimes hard to think we are worthy of self-care when we feel like shit, but that’s when we need to do it the most! Every little thing helps 🙂

  99. Such a great and inspiring post. Hope you’re having a great Sunday. xx

  100. Love this. So important to let yourself feel. On a bad day i try my best to brush my hair. Sometimes that’s all i can manage. Sounds silly but it makes me feel better in a small way.

  101. Great post! One thing I like to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed is go outside. Even if I don’t have the motivation to walk, just sitting on my doorstep is enough to take some deep breaths of fresh air. I’m also completely the opposite when it comes to food. I can eat more when my feelings feel out of control (which probably isn’t overly helpful) but it makes me feel a little better whilst it’s all happening.

  102. This! Is. Awesome. Great ideas. I practice everyone of them. The one thing I want to know is how the hell did you break your nose in the back seat of a car? Hmmm. ????

  103. This are all really great tips! I especially love the letting yourself feel. I tend to bottle my emotions up and essentially feel like an emotionless zombie sometimes BUT sometimes you do need to feel everything rather than putting that off. Thanks for sharing these tips! Very well written!

  104. These are great, some good tips and yeah, I hear you, it’s hard to practice self-care when you don’t feel like you deserve it! Love your writing style, by the way and the gifs are super cute. Hope your poor nose is mending well. Take care.

    Trace x

  105. You are so own point with this post. Especially with the first self care practice being allow yourself to feel. It’s so important to be gentle and forgiving with yourself. This helps keep you from spiraling deeper. I find that the days I feel most low are when I’m tired and worn out. That’s the first thing I ask myself – am I feeling extra sensitive today because I’m drained? This helps me establish that I need a day of rest and put it into action. I will definitely be using your list for bad days to get myself feeling better <3

  106. The pug with the pizza just completely made my night! I think the self care I would add would be to let yourself wear really soft comfortable clothing – if I have a bad day I wrap in a fluffy blanket, get into pyjamas early or (when it’s warm enough) wear really soft leggings instead of “proper” clothes 🙂

  107. I too used to deny my feelings to the point where it caused me to become very ill.

    Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

  108. I struggle or have struggled, with allowing myself to feel in the past, instead opting for harmful methods such as starvation etc. I have since learned to sit with it but also to make sure that I don’t let it consume me. Does that make sense?

    It’s so important to remember to look after ourselves even if we are feeling like crap.

    Thank you for stopping by pet. xx

  109. I am awful at looking after my skin! I really need to start introducing a skin care routine into my schedule.
    At any rate, thank you for reading and commenting 🙂

  110. I wrote a post a longgg time ago about basic self care and those are the things you really need to focus on when you’re having a really bad day; something so simple like staying hydrated and eating a meal. Just because you’re having a bad day, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve basic human needs, right?

    Allowing yourself to feel it out is so important too, whatever that might mean to you.

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

  111. Great tips! I especially agree with allowing yourself to feel. It’s something I’ve worked on because I used to be in denial about my feelings. Thanks for sharing!

  112. Such a useful post !! Loved it 🙂 I too practise some of these points like eating, binging on feel-good shows on Netflix, calling my mom, etc when I’m having a bad day. I also write down everything in my phone’s notes to read later when I am feeling better.

  113. These tips are useful! I try to allow myself to feel things and tall about them. I find it made me feel better and less stressed out. I also don’t allow myself to stay in that negative place. Thank you for sharing!

  114. This post was both adorable and also full of good, practical advice (I loved the gifs so much, I’m a simple creature). I really like messing around with bath stuff and lotion if I’m not feeling great, basic as it is, so I’m pleased that made the list!

    Something I sometimes do as self care is book stuff for future me to do (concerts or plays or whatever). Obviously not more than I can afford, but it keeps me out and about when I might not have been otherwise x

  115. This are wonderful tips. We all need to understand that having a bad day is normal and shouldn’t define us

  116. It’s so easy to forget about the basics in a moment like that – drink water, have something to eat, get a good night’s sleep, etc. Thank you for this important reminder!

  117. Love these tips! It’s amazing what a difference being hydrated and having some good food makes 🙂 x

  118. These are some good ideas. Taking care of yourself is so important!

    One thing I do when having a bad day is cleaning. It always gives me a sense of relief.

  119. Great tips right here! I think people tend to forget to indulge under duress but those hard times are when we needed it the most!

  120. Good post.
    I’ve just started weighing myself several times a day, as I triggered myself because I’ve put on a bit of weight. I’m now slightly overweight of what my BMI should be according to my height…and age etc…It scared the shit out of me, and triggered me badly and I’ve been restricting my food intake. I’m not allowing myself any treats. I’m hungry, and I’ve been killing myself with exercise…

  121. These are great! I especially love the one allowing yourself to feel. I am working on that . Thanks for sharing!

  122. Fab post! I struggle a lot with self care especially when I’ve got a massive list of stuff I need to do but I’m very slowly getting better at it. My go to is most definitely a boxset or a stand-up DVD! Xx

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