by The Lovely Refinement Team | Sep 20, 2024 | Finding Motivation
How to Get Motivated When Depressed: A Step-by-Step Guide
Image Source: AI Generated
Depression can make even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming, leaving many women struggling to find the motivation to get through their day. For those in their twenties and thirties, juggling career aspirations, relationships, and personal growth while battling depression can be particularly challenging. Understanding how to get motivated when depressed is crucial for regaining a sense of purpose and improving overall well-being.
This guide offers practical steps to help increase motivation when dealing with depression. From setting small, achievable goals to incorporating physical activity and building a support system, these strategies are designed to help women find their inner drive. Whether you’re looking to get motivated to clean, lose weight, or simply tackle daily tasks, this article provides insights to help you navigate the complex relationship between depression and motivation, drawing on resources like SAMHSA for additional support.
Understanding Depression and Motivation
Depression and motivation are closely intertwined, with a lack of motivation being a common symptom of depression. This connection can have a profound impact on a person’s daily life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. For women in their twenties and thirties, this struggle can be particularly challenging as they navigate career aspirations, relationships, and personal growth.
The relationship between depression and low motivation is complex and multifaceted. When someone is depressed, they may experience little to no energy, causing them to feel lethargic and struggle to get out of bed in the morning. This lack of energy can lead to a decreased interest in activities or hobbies they once enjoyed, and a reluctance to socialize with others [21].
Depression affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, which play a crucial role in regulating mood, focus, and motivation. Serotonin, for example, is essential for stabilizing happiness and feelings of well-being. When serotonin levels become imbalanced, it can alter the way a person perceives joy and motivation, often leading to a state of depression [13].
Similarly, dopamine, the chemical responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward, can be affected by depression. Chronic stress, which often accompanies depression, can cause a sharp decrease in dopamine activity, resulting in decreased motivation [13].
It’s important to note that depression isn’t solely caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Research suggests that a range of factors, including genetic vulnerability, medications, medical problems, and lifestyle factors, can contribute to the development of depression [13].
Common Challenges Faced by Women
Women face unique challenges when it comes to depression and motivation. The prevalence of major depression is higher in women than in men, with a global annual prevalence of 5.5% for women compared to 3.2% for men [25]. This gender disparity begins to emerge during puberty, with young women aged 14-25 being at the greatest risk for major depression globally [25].
Hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in women’s experiences with depression. Specific forms of depression-related illness, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression, are associated with changes in ovarian hormones [25]. These hormone-related mood disorders can contribute to the increased prevalence of depression in women and present additional challenges in maintaining motivation.
Women may also face societal pressures and expectations that can impact their mental health and motivation levels. Juggling multiple roles, such as career and family responsibilities, can lead to increased stress and feelings of overwhelm. Additionally, women may be more likely to internalize their symptoms, presenting with feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and guilt, which can further erode motivation [26].
Understanding these unique challenges is crucial for women seeking to increase their motivation when dealing with depression. By recognizing the complex interplay between depression and motivation, as well as the specific factors that affect women, individuals can begin to develop strategies to overcome these obstacles and find ways to increase their motivation.
Start with Small, Achievable Goals
When dealing with depression, finding motivation can feel like an uphill battle. However, setting small, achievable goals can be a powerful strategy to increase motivation and build momentum. This approach allows individuals to experience success and progress, even when their energy and enthusiasm are low.
One effective way to get motivated when depressed is to break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This method makes overwhelming tasks feel less daunting and more approachable. For instance, instead of aiming to clean the entire house, focus on taking out the trash or sorting laundry piles for later. By concentrating on one small task at a time, individuals can create a sense of progress that boosts motivation.
A helpful technique is to use the “box method” for microtasking. This involves dividing a sheet of paper in half and listing all tasks on one side. On the other side, draw a box and write down the next three steps for the most important task. This visual reminder helps to laser-focus on immediate, achievable actions.
Celebrating Small Victories
Acknowledging and celebrating small wins is crucial when learning how to get motivated while depressed. Every accomplishment, no matter how minor it may seem, deserves recognition. Celebrating these victories can have a positive impact on mental health and offer relief from depressive episodes.
To incorporate this practice:
- Keep a daily list of small wins or journal about one or two accomplishments each day.
- Share achievements with supportive friends who can celebrate alongside you.
- Create a reward system for completing tasks, no matter how small.
By celebrating small victories, individuals can change their perspective and begin to look at their own achievements in a new light. This shift in mindset can lead to a sense of excitement and motivation, encouraging further progress.
Remember, when dealing with depression, it’s essential to be kind to oneself and meet oneself where they’re at without judgment. Setting realistic expectations based on one’s current state is crucial. On days when getting out of bed feels impossible, simply accomplishing that task is a significant achievement worthy of celebration.
By focusing on small, achievable goals and celebrating each step forward, individuals can gradually build motivation and confidence. This approach creates a positive cycle: each small win builds confidence, leading to new habits, which in turn lead to lifestyle changes and ultimately, success in managing depression and increasing motivation.
Incorporate Physical Activity and Nature
Physical activity and spending time in nature can be powerful tools for women struggling with depression and low motivation. These activities have a profound impact on mental health, offering a natural and effective way to boost mood and energy levels.
Exercise has been shown to have a significant positive effect on depression and overall mental well-being. For women in their twenties and thirties dealing with depression, incorporating regular physical activity into their routine can be particularly beneficial. Research suggests that exercise can be as effective as antidepressants in some cases, making it a valuable addition to treatment plans [46].
The benefits of exercise for mental health are numerous. Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can help alleviate symptoms of depression. Additionally, exercise promotes the growth of new nerve cells and connections in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, a region associated with mood regulation [47].
For those wondering how to get motivated when depressed, starting small is key. Even five minutes of walking or any enjoyable activity can make a difference. As Dr. Michael Craig Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, advises, “Start with five minutes a day of walking or any activity you enjoy. Soon, five minutes of activity will become 10, and 10 will become 15” [47].
Harnessing the Power of Outdoor Activities
Combining physical activity with time spent in nature can amplify the mental health benefits. Outdoor activities to improve mood and fight depression have been shown to have numerous advantages. Studies suggest that spending just twenty minutes a day outdoors can be highly beneficial for people with depression or other mental health disorders [49].
Nature-based activities can help boost serotonin and dopamine levels, naturally promoting relaxation and reducing stress. They also increase heart rate and blood flow to the brain, enhancing mental focus and clarity [49]. For women looking to increase motivation when depressed, outdoor activities offer a refreshing change of pace from indoor environments.
Some effective outdoor activities to consider include:
- Taking a walk or hike in a local park or nature reserve
- Practicing yoga or meditation in a green space
- Gardening or tending to plants
- Cycling through scenic routes
- Participating in outdoor group exercises or classes
These activities not only provide physical benefits but also offer opportunities for social interaction and connection with nature, both of which are crucial for mental well-being.
Remember, the key is to find activities that are enjoyable and sustainable. As Dr. Miller suggests, “Pick something you can sustain over time. The key is to make it something you like and something that you’ll want to keep doing” [47]. By incorporating regular physical activity and time in nature into their routines, women can find new ways to boost motivation, improve mood, and manage symptoms of depression more effectively.
Build a Support System
Creating a strong support system is crucial for women dealing with depression and low motivation. Social support has been consistently linked to improved mental health outcomes and can play a pivotal role in the recovery process.
Reaching out to friends and family can be a powerful step towards healing. These individuals often form the first line of defense against depression and can provide emotional support, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging. For women in their twenties and thirties, connecting with loved ones can help alleviate feelings of isolation and provide a safe space to express emotions.
When building a support network, it’s essential to focus on quality relationships rather than quantity. Seek out individuals who are understanding, non-judgmental, and willing to listen without trying to “fix” everything. Remember that your loved ones may not always know the best ways to help, so be open about your needs and how they can support you.
To strengthen these connections:
- Schedule regular check-ins with trusted friends or family members
- Be honest about your feelings and struggles
- Ask for specific types of support, such as help with daily tasks or simply companionship
Joining Support Groups for Women
Support groups can be an invaluable resource for women looking to increase motivation when depressed. These groups provide a unique opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar challenges, offering a sense of community and understanding that may be difficult to find elsewhere.
Many organizations offer support groups specifically tailored to women’s needs, addressing issues such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopausal depression. These groups can provide a safe space to share experiences, learn coping strategies, and gain practical advice from others who have walked a similar path.
To find a suitable support group:
- Research local mental health organizations or women’s health centers
- Look for online support communities if in-person options are limited
- Consider groups that focus on specific types of depression or life stages
Remember that it may take time to find the right group that fits your needs. Don’t be discouraged if the first one doesn’t feel like a perfect match – keep exploring until you find a supportive environment where you feel comfortable.
Building a strong support system, whether through personal relationships or support groups, can significantly impact your journey to find motivation when depressed. By surrounding yourself with understanding and supportive individuals, you create a foundation for healing and growth.
Conclusion
“Guide to Boosting Motivation Amidst Depression”,
“Explore practical strategies to increase motivation when dealing with depression. Learn about setting achievable goals, incorporating physical activity, and building a supportive network.”
by The Lovely Refinement Team | Mar 24, 2022 | Finding Motivation
Almost everyone has experienced a time in their lives where motivation was a little, if not completely, depleted. Motivation is the strong desire to carry out an act with the goal of achieving some objective. It’s the driving force behind a lot of our decisions. Without motivation, people tend to approach certain tasks with dread and apprehension, making the process rather unenjoyable.
When we aren’t motivated to do something, it feels like we’re trying to push a concrete wall. The resistance seems so great that we may feel as though we don’t have the strength to persevere.
Where a Lack of Motivation Comes From
Women looking to boost motivation should first understand where these feelings usually originate from. In many cases, people who lack motivation discover that there are unhealthy sentiments and beliefs about one’s self lurking beneath the surface. And, these negative beliefs tend to find their origins in things like childhood trauma, bullying, domestic violence, and loss.
- Perceived failures
- Unsupportive parents
- Depression and anxiety
- Self-limiting beliefs
- A lack of quality sleep
- Tendency to procrastinate
- A lack of self-accountability
- Unrealistic expectations
- A stressful environment
- Low self-esteem
How to Get Motivated: 10 Tips for Women
In knowing the signs, we become more self-aware of our habits and thought processes. Once this self-realization has occurred, it’s time to heal. When we nurture and heal ourselves, we become a better version of ourselves. However, when we aren’t confident in who we are, we don’t feel as capable or motivated.
Here are 10 tips women can use to boost their motivation and stay motivated.
1. A Playlist of Motivating Songs
Music has the power to lift our spirits when other things fail to do the trick. Meaningful music has the ability to make us cry, smile, and get goosebumps. Having a to-go-to playlist of motivating songs helps us to get our minds in the right place.
Of course, everyone has a different taste in music. It’s good to recall music that makes us feel focused and inspired. Compile all these songs into a personal playlist. This playlist can be enjoyed in the shower or during a morning run to help set the mood for a productive day.
2. Make a Vision Board
Motivation can leave us when we don’t have a grasp on what we want. In a busy world, our minds can look just as hectic and cluttered. When we don’t have a good direction of where to go, things feel much more complicated. This lack of direction feels especially discouraging.
To alleviate this confusion and motivate one’s self, a woman should reflect on what she wants. In other words, what will bring her peace, fulfillment, and joy?
Once this is known, it helps to create a vision board with pictures representing the goals she has. Seeing this board every day will serve as a constant reminder and motivator on what’s to come if perseverance persists.
3. Identify and Remove the Root of Fear and Doubt
Self-doubt is a huge blockage. It’s also a cause of one’s lack of motivation. A person may unconsciously self-sabotage themselves from feelings of unworthiness and insecurity.
It’s vital to eradicate fear and doubt by identifying their origins. Much of what we believe comes from our experiences growing up. It’s interesting that we aren’t born believing we aren’t attractive or smart. These ideals are almost always imposed or projected on us. And, we have the tendency to believe them.
4. Seek an Adviser for Guidance
Having an advisory or guidance counselor helps a ton. Sometimes, we need to hear an outside voice of reason. Advisers have resources they provide us with to help us achieve our goals. It’s okay to ask for help. Having a support system helps us in our pursuit of self-improvement.
For example, a woman wants to write a book but isn’t motivated due to feeling overwhelmed. She can find encouragement and guidance by reaching out to marketers, writers, publishers, editors, etc. Asking for help takes a lot of pressure off of us, allowing us to see a clear path to achieving our goals.
5. Do Research
Self-knowledge boosts self-esteem. When we feel competent and capable, we feel prepared and motivated to take on the tasks before us. Women must invest in themselves, cultivate their skills, and develop their assets. Hence, it’s incredibly helpful to educate ourselves on the things we are interested in.
6. Review Your Progress
We should always take a moment and look at how far we’ve come. It’s known that people seldom take the time to review their success. Instead, there’s almost an immediate set of new goals and aspirations that follow after the completion of previous goals.
Reviewing our progress gives us a sense of accomplishment which boosts our confidence and self-efficacy.
7. Take a Cold Shower
Cold showers have a host of benefits for our mental, physical, and emotional health. While comfortable, hot showers oftentimes make us feel incredibly lethargic afterward, cold showers activate the sympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to release several stress hormones. We not only feel stress-free after a cold shower, but we also feel fresh, energized, and alert.
8. Speak Words of Encouragement
Negative self-talk is like having a crowd following us around telling us hurtful things to make us doubt ourselves. Many people relate to the influx of negative mental chatter. With this ongoing noise in the mind, it’s hard to think and perform at one’s highest potential.
To alleviate this kind of self-talk, one should fertilize their mind with positive words of encouragement.
9. Remove Negative Nancies
Just as we remove the negative voices that originate from ourselves, it’s equally important to remove the external voices of limitation, scarcity, and fear. It’s common for other people’s emotions to rub off on us. We may feel incredibly motivated one morning. However, as the day progresses, we might hear a slew of negative projections and complaints. Hour by hour, we witness the vibrant motivation and potential of the day begin to fade.
To get motivated, we have to remove negative people from our lives as these individuals have a direct influence on our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
10. Make Your Goals Known
To get motivated, making goals public can be of help. However, it’s important we don’t go telling everyone our dreams as they may not have the vision that we do. Sharing goals with a trusted, supportive friend is ideal. This establishes a sense of solidity and accountability.
Staying Motivated and Resilient in Trying Times
It’s one thing to try to be motivated during the good times, but difficult and challenging times can make it even more difficult. A lot of women have found themselves burned out and motivated since 2020 began. Here are some tips that can help during the not-so-easy times:
Complete Small Tasks
Getting motivated is like building muscles. Without proper conditioning, getting motivated can feel like trying to lift weights outside one’s fitness level. If a person struggles to lift 100 lbs, lifting 150 lbs won’t be a good option just yet.
Motivation is something to be fostered and increased over time. When we overshoot our goals, we end up failing and feeling disappointed as a result. To keep our motivation boosted, it’s important to set and achieve small tasks. We are more likely to achieve these smaller goals than a bunch of bigger goals. Thus, we experience consecutive success.
Listen to Motivational Speeches
Having a self-empowerment routine is important. We should all aim to have a daily routine that aims to establish motivation. Motivational speakers have a way of grabbing our hearts and minds. Finding a motivational speaker that resonates is definitely beneficial for staying inspired.
Look at the Bright Side
As cliche as it sounds, it’s always best to look at a cup as half full rather than half empty. Perspective is everything and it constitutes much of how we see the world. We can not control all the events of our lives. However, we can control how we respond to these events. Purposefully choose to look at the bright side.
Add More Humor to Your Days
Don’t take things so seriously. Being so serious can put a damper on things and make matters look much worse than it is. Just as we intend to lift our spirits by shifting our perspective, we should also shift our mood as well. And, what better way to do this than with some good ol’ humor?
Keep Your Environment Clean
Keeping a clean environment allows us to think clearly. When the environment is cluttered and disorganized, it’s harder for us to find things. Our environment is usually a direct representation of the environment within our minds and vice versa. When our environment is organized and clear, we think clearly.
Don’t Share Your Dreams and Plans with Everyone
The mind is very powerful. However, it is very sensitive at the same time, susceptible to negative influence. If a person is known to be dismissive and envious, then it is crucial that we not share our plans with them as they will not give us the support we seek. Instead, they may actually present as blockages.
Surround Yourself with Successful People
Having successful people around is a constant reminder of what we seek to become. People should aim to keep good company with individuals who can help give them guidance and resources. In doing this, there’s no peer pressure or negative influence from others.
Finding motivation can feel like a long, arduous process. However, once found, it’s like a spark of pure energy that inspires us to take action. Whether women aspire to accomplish their wildest dreams or succeed in completing their everyday tasks, these tips will help women to get motivated and stay motivated.
by The Lovely Refinement Team | Aug 31, 2020 | Finding Motivation, Self-Confidence, Self-Improvement
Gandhi once said: “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” And he wasn’t wrong; our every thought does have the power to influence our entire lifestyle.
If you’re an overthinking woman like myself, your thoughts can be detrimental to your personal development, hindering you from becoming the best version of yourself. I know you probably feel that you don’t have control over your mind because that’s how I felt for the longest time. Yet, the matter of the fact is, you do have the power to control your mind’s inner dialogue.
How so? One word: self–affirmations. Self-affirmations are sentences targeted at affecting your conscious and subconscious mind in positive ways to influence your behavior, thinking patterns, and habits.
Because I know that you might bounce off this article this very minute, let me first tell you whether affirmations work, and how they do. Then, I’ll showcase some of my favorite positive affirmations for women that I’ve tried myself at different stages of my life. Read on!
Do Affirmations Work?
You probably think that this is just some wishful, unrealistic thinking. I thought so too before trying affirmations myself. But believe me, they do work!
You can use affirmations in almost any scenario where you’d like to see a positive change. For instance, you could want to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence levels, overcome a specific bad habit, control negative feelings and thoughts, overcome self-sabotaging, and more.
When you use and repeat affirmations regularly, preferably daily, you actually start believing in them and make positive changes.
In a way, daily affirmations reprogram your thinking patterns and exercise your mind. Therefore, the key to make an affirmation work is to keep reciting it, especially as soon as you start encountering the negative thought or experience you want to overcome.
Just a tip: Before you start your affirmations, be clear with yourself about what you’re working on changing and what exactly you want out of the affirmations.
From one woman to another, below is a set of common yet diverse daily affirmations for women, including affirmations for black women, affirmations for single women, self-affirmations for women, and affirmations for positivity for women. To the power of positive thoughts!
Affirmations for Single Women
Lady, if you think you’re incomplete just because you don’t have a partner, think again! You’re fully whole on your own, literally. Being single will only feel horrible if you look at your life from such a pessimistic perspective. Shift your perception, take away the ‘being single sucks’ attitude, and be happy with the support of these positive affirmations. You go, girl!
- A relationship will never, ever define me.
- It’s not their job to like me; it’s mine.
- I’m 100% responsible for my own happiness.
- Every day, I will practice the art of self-love.
- I’m worthwhile and deserving of real love.
- My life is already fulfilling, and I hold the keys to my own happiness.
- My single status is a blessing, not a burden.
- I’m enough. If I can’t be myself, then I can’t be with them.
- I enjoy having time to do whatever I want.
- There are so many opportunities for love in the future.
- Starting today, I’m letting go of anyone or anything that’s no longer serving me and my best interests.
- I forgive myself for accepting less than I deserved in the past.
- True love is out there for me; I just need to be patient and accept that my timeline is different than those around me.
- I deserve to be happy in my life, no matter who is in it.
- I’m capable of living each day to its fullest without someone else in it.
- Being single doesn’t make me better or worse than anyone else.
Self-Esteem Affirmations for Women
It’s quite easy to get weighed down and lose sight of the bigger picture sometimes. However, it’s tough to restore our self-confidence and positive energy. Self-affirmation sure does take practice, so take yourself one step closer to loving the woman you are inside. Live by these boosters and watch how you’ll feel empowered with daily positive thoughts flowing through you.
- I’m in control of my life.
- I’m creating a beautiful life.
- I believe in myself.
- I value and honor my boundaries.
- Believing in myself comes naturally to me.
- I’m worthy of love and attention.
- I’m respected by the people around me.
- I value my worth.
- I will continue to learn and grow.
- I believe in my skills and abilities.
- I will stand by my decisions. They are sound and reasoned.
- I’m doing my best, and it is enough.
- It isn’t selfish to be kind to myself.
- I am my best source of motivation.
- I’m becoming a better version of myself one day at a time.
Positive Affirmations for Women
Positive affirmations for women are among the unique ones. Why so? Because positive affirmations can change your thought process, forever. Once your thoughts are positive ones, there’s no going back. Your life just propels from there, day after day. It’s worth the work, but if you want to take it slow, choose one positive affirmation to work with and watch the magic.
- I embrace myself and all women in the world.
- I attract energies and situations that fill me with joy every day.
- I’m grateful for this wonderful day and the endless possibilities it has to offer. I know something great is in store for me.
- I’m patient with myself and accept that positive change takes time. My best self is emerging every day.
- Rather than being discouraged by how far I have left to go, I’m grateful for how far I’ve already come.
- I’m ready to create more success in my life and release any excuses. I’m productive and focused on attaining results.
- I don’t have to wait until I feel ready to act on my goals. The timing will never be right; I’m ready now.
- I believe that life brings me only the best, and I rejoice in what is and what is coming.
- I recognize my role in attracting everything that comes my way.
- My journey of self-love means giving my mind some time to rest.
- My peace is mine; I won’t give anyone the power to take it away from me.
- I act with confidence and have a plan, and I accept that plans are open to change.
- I practice self-care and recognize when I need to take a break. I feel good about taking care of myself.
- I move at the perfect pace. I don’t need to speed up or slow down.
- I refuse to overcommit myself. I’m able to say no when I need to. I protect my time because I deserve it, and it’s invaluable.
Affirmations for Black Women
In these troubling and difficult times, we live in, we stand in full solidarity with our African-American sisters. Remember to love yourself and don’t lose perspective. Even one daily affirmation can go a long way, and these are some of the most positive affirmations for black women that I wholeheartedly believe in. I know that sometimes you believe you don’t have it in you to achieve your purposes, but in fact, all you need is this push below. You can, and you will!
- I have the power to create change.
- I will not let society dictate who I am.
- I feel comfortable in my own skin.
- “I know it can get tough out there. It can get downright ugly. Know you are designed for greatness. Black girl, you rock, because you have so much potential. I’m so grateful to be a black woman. I would be so jealous if I was anything else.”- Danai Gurira
- I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.
- I possess the qualities needed to be extremely successful.
- “The things that make me different are the things that make me ME.”- A.A. Milne
- I can. I will. End of story!
- I now choose to release all hurt and resentment.
- I’m superior to negative thoughts and low actions.
- Mistakes are not the end of me. Challenges are not the end of me.
- My hair is the perfect halo for my head.
- “The black woman is art; a perfect expression of pain, struggle, strength, and beauty.” – Dr. X
- The comeback is always stronger than the setback.
Final Thoughts
This is just a glimpse of the many ways you can use affirmations for women in your day-to-day life, and I truly hope that by just going through every affirmation, you feel some sort of motivation and positive affirmation that your life is nowhere as bad as it feels like.
As I said, use these affirmations to reinforce positive thoughts in your mind and make them your new norm. If you need to, take it one positive affirmation at a time; it also helps to keep an affirmation journal where you can record your reciting every day to maintain progress. Have a look at some of our other blogs like this one “How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Increase Your Confidence” which can also help in finding your confidence. I really love this video from Oprah as well which explains why it’s so important for us to value ourselves and what we do. When You UNDERVALUE What You DO, the WORLD Will UNDERVALUE Who You Are
Every single day is worth living; so, unleash the life of your dreams by bombarding your subconscious with confidence and certainty to replace the extra baggage of negative thoughts and beliefs. You’ll thank yourself later.
Be happy!
by The Lovely Refinement Team | Aug 28, 2020 | Finding Motivation, Happiness Tips, Self-Improvement
There’s a Japanese word called “Ikigai,” which means “a reason for being,” and which aligns perfectly with the idea of passion projects.
The concept is to find meaning in life, a purpose that guides and directs you, and a cause that makes your existence worthwhile. Of course, this entails plenty of things, including the ability to do something you enjoy while providing a benefit to society and those around you. The big question though is where and how can I find passion project ideas?
Naturally, you’d need to make money to fund yourself and have the needed financial independence to manage something of this magnitude. And this is where passion projects come in.
What Is a Passion Project?
A passion project is a project you work on that aligns with your interests or hobbies, makes money for you, and benefits people around you. It could be your main business or a side hustle, but most often, it starts out as something small that requires a few hours (maybe only one) every day and grows little by little into something big and beneficial. A passion project is a bit more involved than a usual hobby but look at these 13 hobbies as some of them might actually resonate and align with your passion.
What Are the Advantages of Passion Projects?
You might be wondering why someone might want to add just another task on their to-do list with all the ones we can barely keep up with. Well, passion projects are definitely worth it if you pick the right ones. Here is what makes them worthwhile:
1. Boost Happiness
Everyone feels happier when they have a higher sense of control over their life, and that’s exactly what a passion project does. It enables you to pick what the project will be, its goals, its size, the deadlines, the standard you want to live up to, the plan to complete it, when it’s done, and the metric for its success.
2. Keep Yourself Creative
If you only finish work-related tasks throughout your day, how would you be able to think in different ways that aren’t shaped by your job? A passion project keeps your mind active and continuously provides you with fresh perspectives, which, in turn, help you achieve more in your everyday life and possibly your primary job as well!
3. Add Accomplishments to Your Portfolio
This is especially important for people who work in fields that require practical projects, not only certificates and degrees. For example, someone who wants to get a tech job would definitely need a portfolio of all the projects they worked on to prove the experience they’ve gained.
4. Stay Curious and Learn New Skills
If you pursue new ideas, you’ll need to learn skills that enable you to continue working on them and bring them to life. For example, if you want to enhance your writing, you might be looking for a program that collects synonyms and displays them in exemplary sentences.
Well, you could look for one, but a passion project would be to create your own! The possibilities are endless and are all quite promising.
Ideas for a Passion Project
Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind when discussing passion project ideas for students is to start a blog. There’s a high chance anyone reading this already knows someone who has their own blog, and these are pretty easy to start on different hosting platforms like Blogspot/Blogger, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and plenty more.
All you have to do is find the topic that interests you the most, like psychology, programming, or fashion, and write everything you know about it. The way I started was by using the “Launch your blog biz” course from the team at CreateandGo.com. This course helped me to build this exact blog you are reading. It’s a simple to understand and comprehensive step-by-step course. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
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Launch a YouTube or Vimeo Channel
I can bet on the fact that almost all of us have thought about becoming YouTubers at one point or another in our lives. If you’re into fashion, you can do “haul” videos, gamers can upload walkthroughs, and bookworms can upload videos of their book reviews.
There’s pretty much something for everyone and every interest. As long as you have something you love and find some free time to get creative about it, you’ll do quite well.
If you’re super talented with artistic work like animations or short films and have storytelling skills, you should totally opt for Vimeo.
Podcasts are the new hype. After all, they fit the modern person’s needs: get a lot of information quickly and compactly. Having your personal podcast is like having a YouTube channel, but it’s all audio, so you have to be a vocal and well-spoken person. But most importantly, you have to be really passionate about the topic you’re going to tackle.
You could tell Greek mythology stories, discuss your favorite books, review movies, or talk about trips and tricks to learn a certain skill that you’re good at.
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Have an Online or Physical Store
An excellent way to make money would be to sell things. I’d recommend an online store for students, but you can still have a physical one if human interaction is an important pillar for you.
There are so many free websites and apps that allow you to run your store such as Etsy (for handmade crafts), Shopify, Amazon, Carousell, or others. I’d recommend that you go through the subscription fees and the rules/regulations to start selling before you venture into that, though.
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Run a Facebook or Instagram Page
An excellent way to make use of your free time doing something you love would be to post on social media, such as Facebook and/or Instagram. All you have to do is post useful and meaningful content, which would be easy for you if you’re writing about topics you’re passionate about.
It’s a great way to build a community with like-minded people, and if you want to get some money out of it, you can definitely do so with some ads, especially if you curate good traffic.
If you’re good at something, like pottery, coding, makeup, you name it; you can definitely make a profit by teaching others how to do it. Holding a workshop is a fantastic way to share your knowledge as well as make some money on the side.
If you don’t have the time, place, or means to hold a workshop, you can replace it with an online course. It’s the same project idea, but you’ll be doing everything online. This means that you need to have incredible social and communication skills.
You can use Instagram (or any photo-hosting website) to start an online gallery of your drawings, paintings, or art. Of course, you can take it to a real-life gallery, but an online one would also be just fine.
This is the most creative of them all. Whether you want to solve a problem by creating something that doesn’t exist yet or modifying an already popular product, bringing your own unique idea to life would be one fantastic way of enjoying and monetizing your passion.
Passion Project Ideas by the Niche
High school students probably have the best head start when it comes to starting a passion project. This is because they have a suitable amount of time for a side project, don’t have something to do full-time, and can spare some effort for a genius hour project.
Middle-schoolers and kids can also benefit from how much free time they have, though their skills are probably still taking shape. So what are some passion project ideas for high school students? Do they differ from passion project ideas for middle-school students? And what about passion project ideas for kids?
I’d recommend online projects like Facebook pages, online stores, or YouTube channels for anyone. And if you want some creative inspiration, here are profitable niches that could serve as a compass and guide you to your future passion project:
For anyone interested in makeup and has a sense of color coordination and beauty, starting an Instagram page that shares tips or a YouTube channel with tutorials would be the perfect side hustle.
Are you a fashionista who knows all about the latest trends? Always flaunting your OOTD (Outfit of the Day, for those who aren’t into fashion)? Or perhaps, you were able to reach the perfect balance between being fashionable and preserving the environment by dressing vegan? These are all perfect ideas for blogs, vlogs, or content in general.
Love testing new games and reviewing them? Want to help other people by walking them through the toughest parts of the gameplay? Then, you have excellent content to share online and benefit from in the long run!
If you’ve built an incredible set of skills when it comes to a craft like pottery, knitting, crochet, or anything similar, then you’ve got a lot to share! People love to check out tips and tricks from passionate and experienced people. If you have those two, you should definitely start a YouTube channel or a blog to share what you’ve learned.
Art could entail creative writing, paintings, illustrations, animation, calligraphy, videography, or photography. It could also refer to performing arts like dance, music, spoken word poetry, and theater.
If you’ve got tips to share regarding these topics, like step-by-step tutorials or recommendations for the best equipment, you can build a strong community and benefit people as well as benefit yourself from this knowledge.
Do you love trying out new restaurants? Cooking unusual recipes? Taking aesthetically pleasing pictures of your favorite plates? You can make use of that by starting a page for it on Instagram, a blog, or a YouTube channel for cooking tutorials.
Do you love camping? Going on hikes? Taking day trips? Do you know all the places, secret spots, or hacks for backpackers or people on a budget? Make use of this information by sharing it online or by becoming a part-time local guide. There are online websites for that, like showaround.com.
Are you a gym rat with fun and engaging workout plans? Do you know the best tips to follow a diet religiously? Have you been through a successful weight loss trip? You can’t imagine the number of people who would love to hear what you have to say about it!
If you’re a thrifty shopper with a good sense of interior design, you will definitely do a good job in terms of home improvement. Plenty of people would love to renovate their room/house but don’t have the budget for it, so if you can give them tips on how to do it, you’ll have an incredibly wide fan base.
Just like home improvement, a lot of people are into DIY jobs as they provide more affordable alternatives to everyday objects. If you’re talented when it comes to building things using cheap materials, this is the niche for you.
This is one topic that everyone needs tips on. So, if you’ve already been through the ups and downs of raising a baby, you can definitely share your experience, tips, and things you’ve learned with other parents who are going through this satisfyingly life-changing journey.
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Personal Development and Self-Care
Self-care, mental health awareness, and improving oneself are all incredible topics that aren’t as tangible as others, which means they’re harder to tackle. If you’ve managed to do that, you can definitely use this knowledge to influence people and help them become better versions of themselves.
Though many people might limit this to career coaches, I think anyone could give career advice, especially those who have managed to shift careers. I think this is one of the most sought-after topics, so if you have information and experience, you can benefit from them.
Do you have advice on how to increase savings? Manage money? Be more thrifty? A lot of people have trouble with their finances, and they could definitely use your two cents!
From product reviews to tech-savvy how-tos and explanations of tech-related topics that aren’t as easy to grasp, the tech niche has endless possibilities, and focusing on a certain concept would widen your base and gain you lots of traffic.
3D printing is the new hype. If you’re into model building and 3D modeling, you can share all the tips and tricks with your audience. And since it’s a very skill-focused hobby with intricate details and complicated processes, it would definitely help that you’re passionate about it, and you’ll have an advantage in this field.
How Do You Write Down Your Passion Projects?
If you’re not sure exactly where to start, here are the general steps you need to follow to bring your passion project ideas to life:
1. Decide the Benefit You Have to Offer
You should prepare a list of benefits that someone could derive from your passion project. How would it help people? Try to think of all the possibilities.
2. List All the Project Possibilities
When you decide on a benefit, set a timer of around 20 minutes to come up with all the ideas you’ll filter through. Keep filtering them until you get to the top 3 ideas.
3. Don’t Divide Your Energy
You might be tempted to start more than one project to have backup options in case one project doesn’t work out. However, I would strongly advise against that. Choosing one thing and committing to it would be a much better route.
4. Set Milestones and Goals
For a project to be fruitful, it has to achieve something and make progress. That’s why you have to decide on short-term goals and long-term ones. Plan on the goals and how to reach them, how to stick to them, and when to decide that you’ve achieved them.
5. Commit to Your Genius Hour
Though deciding on a passion project is pretty hard, it’s only the first step. The tough part actually comes with setting an amount of time per day to work on it and grow it. So, make sure you’ve planned this out really well. Don’t overwork yourself, even if your passion pushes you to do so. Set one hour per day (The Genius Hour) and stick to it.
6. Document the Process
Even if your passion project is not a blog and doesn’t involve journalizing or writing, work on documenting the process. This gives you more credibility and serves as proof of experience and knowledge if you need to use it for future purposes like applying to a college or a new job.
7. Take the Leap of Faith
Most of the time, people are afraid of starting their projects because they think it’s not a suitable time or that they don’t have the means. However, in life, the best time to start something is right now.
Don’t stress yourself with something big or grandiose; just pick something you’re passionate about and love. Stick to the genius hour rule and make sure you’re making progress no matter how small. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
Final Thoughts
When all is said and done, a passion project turns out to be as simple as it sounds: having a passion for something and then having the consistency and commitment to stick to a project. These two qualities together can guarantee massive success for the idea you’re considering.
Don’t let other commitments or a full-time job weigh you down or stop you; all a passion project takes is an hour of progress per day!
by The Lovely Refinement Team | Dec 30, 2019 | Finding Motivation, Self-Improvement
If you have a string of bad events occurring in your life, it becomes difficult to work on fighting through them.
Especially when you’re losing your strength each time you get knocked on your ass.
The truth is that a lot of people who are going through difficult moments in their life don’t actively work on pushing through them.
They just find temporary coping mechanisms to help them through, even if they aren’t the healthiest. But there are positive things that can come from hard times.
How the Bad Times in Your Life Actually Make You Stronger
When life gets hard, it’s easier to just avoid what’s happening right in front of you. Ignoring it until it goes away.
You can build up your own internal strength by showing up during the roughest moments in your life.
Sometimes this feels scary and it will always be uncomfortable. And you may question why you decide to put yourself through the pain, instead of covering it up with something easier.
Trying to avoid pain in life just isn’t possible. Eventually, it will catch up with you, just like it does with everyone else.
Begin to Trust Yourself More
When things don’t go as planned you may look to your closest friends for a shoulder to cry on.
This can be a great way to let go of some of the frustration, but it isn’t helpful if you always rely on other people to pull you out.
When you start to become the victim of your life, you lose the strength to keep fighting.
At some point, you have to believe in yourself enough to trust that you can make it through this bad situation.
How do you do that? Well, it just starts with being alone with yourself more and seeing what you’re capable of.
Instead of calling up a friend every time, take a drive by yourself.
Go on a walk with your dog and listen to some music. Get some distance from everything building up in your head.
You can even try practicing meditation or yoga to calm your mood.
When you learn to trust yourself, you build confidence. And when you’re confident enough with who you are, you know you can make it through to the other side.
You may not feel like you’re good enough or worthy enough of being happy.
You have to work on breaking that thought process and putting up a fight for yourself when your life gets hard.
Friends and family are a great support system and important to have. But believing in yourself ensures you can survive anything on your own if needed.
Develop a Strong Support System
After you learn to trust yourself more, having a strong support system is essential to building enough strength during the most difficult times in your life.
We can’t always rely on other people to solve our problems so that’s why I encourage you to get more in tune with yourself, first.
Once you get more in tune with yourself and build up enough internal strength, you then learn when you do need to reach out for support. We can all use a helping hand during difficult times.
A strong support system consists of the best people you want to have in your corner. The ones who don’t judge what you’re going through.
They listen and sympathize with you. Sometimes they might give you a much-needed kick in the butt.
Other times they are the ones who you can laugh with when life just gets way too serious. This can be a large mix of people or just a small few.
If you find you are surrounded by a lot of negative people who just believe the world is out to get them (especially during difficult moments), then it’s probably time to try and find some new people to be around.
Find people who lift you up, and who you can lift up as well. The ones who put in as much effort as they receive are the ones you want on your side.
Build Up Your Mental Strength
Your brain is a muscle and it is possible to build its strength.
If you struggle with anxiety or depression, building up your mental strength can go a long way.
You learn how to become more resilient in the face of stress and overwhelm.
You also learn how to control your thoughts better, and what you allow to have an effect on your life.
Building up your mental strength takes consistent work. Just like working out any other muscle in your body.
You want to spend time on it daily to see improvement. And you might think it’s not possible at first.
Our brains are tricky in the way that you can’t physically see any improvement—it’s all in your head. So, you can convince yourself it doesn’t work before you even try.
Some of the best ways to build up your mental strength include:
These are just some examples of what mental strength looks like. You can learn how to do this by working on it daily.
The more you build up your mental strength, the more resilient you will become to life’s toughest moments.
There are so many people out there who have faced tremendous amounts of tragedy and grief and who suffer from anxiety. These people also have come out on the other side and are some of the strongest people you will ever meet.
Because they know what they can and can’t control. And they have worked hard at building up strength mentally to endure whatever life throws at them.
Stop Relying on Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
While I will admit that I do enjoy a large glass of wine after a crazy stressful week, I don’t rely on it every time something goes wrong.
When we start to rely on the things that help numb us to the pain, we lose our strength to keep fighting the battle.
There are many different kinds of unhealthy ways to cope with stress in life.
And I don’t have to tell you that they are just a temporary fix that will only make you feel worse later.
Stop trying to fix your problems with these things.
If you do something every once in a while, to just take a break and want to enjoy yourself, then do it.
It’s if you do need it daily or most days out of the week in order to push through.
You don’t actually need these things, it’s just your brain thinking you do.
Letting go of unhealthy coping mechanisms can quickly build up your strength.
Just letting go of the reliance alone will make you feel better about yourself. You’ll also start to believe that you are strong enough to make it through without those things.
Moving Forward
I understand that there are certain moments in life that are crazy hard to get through.
Losing someone close to you or something that played a huge part in your life is never easy.
If you really do feel like you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to look next, I highly suggest reaching out to a professional.
by The Lovely Refinement Team | Oct 11, 2019 | Dealing With Emotions, Finding Motivation, Self-Esteem & Self-Love, Self-Improvement
I have created this 30 Day Mental Wellness Challenge to help you. Are you interested in improving your mental health?
To help reduce anxiety and depression, and improve your overall confidence within yourself.
Improving your mental health takes some time. Your brain is like a muscle, so you basically have to work out that muscle just like you would any other muscle in your body.
And you know that you have to work out at least a few times a week to continue to build muscle. So let’s begin!
30-Day Mental Wellness Challenge
There are a lot of options out there to help improve your mental wellness. Medication and therapy help in ways other options can’t.
But, if you can’t afford them or just want to see what else is out there it is possible to improve your mental wellness without those.
Note: You can get an affordable, virtual therapist via the BetterHelp app.
Working on building up your mental strength requires that you focus on it daily. The good part is it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of time on it.
And you can do it anywhere, you don’t need any special equipment.
To help you improve your mental wellness and reduce anxiety, doing a 30-day challenge can help keep you on track. You’ll also know exactly what to do each day, which makes it super easy!
You can start the challenge at any time. Some people find success at the beginning of the month, but you can start today as long as you just make a note of the day you started.
In addition to this mental wellness challenge, you may also like my Self-Love Guide, you can download that for free by clicking the image below:
Week 1
Welcome to the 30-Day Mental Wellness Challenge!
Day 1. Write down your goals for the next 30 days
What do you want to accomplish with this challenge? How do you want to feel when you’re done with this?
Where are you currently at with your mental health?
Tracking your progress throughout the whole challenge can help you notice a difference or not. Getting into the habit of journaling your thoughts daily can help improve your mindset as well!
Day 2. Wake up 30 minutes earlier to write in your journal about how you’re feeling
Today wake up 30 minutes earlier than you normally would so you have time to write down in your journal.
Here are some journaling prompts to help get your brain working first thing in the morning.
Day 3. Spend 20 minutes outside. Take in what you see and hear
Take some time to enjoy being outside, no matter what the weather! If it’s snowing, you don’t have to do it for the full 20 minutes.
Pay attention to what you see as you go on a walk. Being aware of your senses can keep you in the present and help reduce anxious thoughts.
Day 4. Drink enough water. A minimum of 8 glasses. Cleanse your body
Most people don’t drink enough water and instead replace it with other drinks.
Caffeinated beverages can increase anxiety levels and overall not make you feel your best.
- Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water today, and avoid any other type of drink.
- If you need a cup of coffee in the morning to get you going (like I do!), that’s fine. Just use the rest of the day to hydrate your organs and feel a little more refreshed.
Day 5. Ask to hang out with your closest friends
You might want to isolate yourself when you’re feeling anxious. Staying indoors away from people sometimes feels like the best solution.
But, isolation makes your anxious thoughts worse and can soon turn into depression.
- Make it a point to reach out to your closest friends or family.
- The people in your life who love to hear from you and want to support you. Set a date to hang out with them tonight.
Day 6. De-clutter
Cleaning out your closet might feel overwhelming, but it can seriously do wonders for your anxiety levels!
Look around your room or house and think about the things you can either clean or get rid of.
Clean up the space around you so you can clear your mind.
If It’s too overwhelming to tackle your whole house, just focus on one room at a time. Then reward yourself with a relaxing afternoon or your favorite dinner.
Day 7. Spend time alone. Practice self-care.
Today is your day. Time to be alone with your mind and body.
Practice some self-care:
- Sleep in
- Avoid any difficult chores
- Read a good book
- Take a bath
Give yourself some much-needed time to unwind and de-stress after a long week.
Week 2
Day 8. Eat healthy anxiety-reducing meals for the whole day
You can plan this out in advance or just work on making better food choices today.
Here is a list of the best anxiety-reducing foods and meals you can try today.
- Starting the week off with a healthy mind and body gives you the energy to tackle the rest of the week.
Day 9. Take a social media break for 24 hours
It’s scary how much we rely on our phones to get us through the day.
That’s why it’s important to consciously take a break from it all for a day.
Turn off your social media notifications, log out of your accounts, or even delete the apps off your phone.
- Do a social media detox for the whole day and log how you feel at the end. (If you don’t use social media, then you can do the same thing for emails, text messages, and phone calls. The only exception is if you need those things for work.)
Day 10. Spend 5 minutes meditating
There are some awesome apps out there that help you focus on meditating.
The cool thing is you only have to do it for 5 minutes today!
The best times to practice being mindful are either first thing or right before you go to bed.
Choose an app from below and pick a time of day that works best for you to practice being more mindful.
Some great apps for mindfulness are:
Day 11. No TV Night
Avoid coming home and watching Netflix for the rest of the night.
Most of the time we turn to TV as just a distraction from our lives.
Tonight, do something you really enjoy. What hobbies do you like that you haven’t done in a while?
- This can be something simple like cooking up a tasty dinner and baking dessert, reading a book, being around family, learning a new language, practicing an instrument, or building a skill of some sort.
Day 12. De-compress. Spend the evening watching your favorite movie and relaxing
You’ve worked hard, so it’s time to take a break!
Go easy tonight and do what makes you most comfortable.
Day 13. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing, then spend today doing them
Make it a point to go after the things you want today.
Splurge a little and go do something fun. Maybe that’s calling up some friends and going to the museum, bowling or on a hike.
Really enjoy today and soak up every minute of it
Day 14. Dance around to your favorite playlist.
Let loose, throw on some headphones, and dance around to your favorite tunes.
This helps you release all of the built-up tension. Allow yourself to fully enjoy each song and let go of all your problems for a few minutes.
Week 3
Day 15. Start your morning with a bang. Wake up earlier, drink some water, write in your journal, and practice gratitude
Today’s challenge is setting up a strong morning routine.
Take some time to complete each thing and really focus on being present for each task.
- You can see how you feel at the end of the day and if it helped your anxiety levels at all.
Day 16. Workout for 30 minutes
Yay, exercise! Well, the good part is you get to choose what it is.
Everyone has different preferences for working out. Some love running, others love yoga.
Choose an exercise that works best for you and do it for 30 minutes today.
Day 17. Do something that pushes you out of your comfort zone
Talk to your crush, ask your boss for a promotion, talk to a stranger, or travel to a different city.
These are just some things that will push you out of your comfort zone.
A good way to combat anxiety is by taking action and doing some of the things that really scare you. That way once you do them, you will see they aren’t as scary as you thought.
- Choose one thing that would make you uncomfortable while also benefiting you. Preferably something you have really wanted to do but were too afraid to try.
Day 18. Give more to someone in need.
Today you can focus your attention on helping someone else.
Pay close attention to someone who may be in extra need of support today.
Day 19. Listen to Mental Health Podcasts
Fuel your mind today by listening to mental health podcasts that are relatable to what you’re going through.
Podcasts have become really popular lately and there are a lot of valuable series to listen to or save for later.
Here is a list of highly-rated mental health podcasts.
Day 20. Cook up your favorite meal
You can do this for every meal or just for one. Even if you barely know how to cook use it as a challenge to learn something new today.
Pick one of your favorite dishes and spend time cooking it up and enjoying the art of cooking.
Day 22. Practice breathing exercises
Having a few breathing techniques up your sleeve can quickly help you relieve anxiety.
Any time you’re feeling anxious today (or any time you want to), practice some breathing exercises.
Week 4
Day 23. Don’t complain at all today. Work on seeing the good
Complaining leads to feeling like the victim of your own life. Instead of blaming other things for going wrong today, practice letting go.
Each time you get annoyed or frustrated by things, turn your thinking to something good.
For example, if you get annoyed about waiting in traffic, turn on some music or a podcast and look around.
- List 5 things you see, feel, and hear.
- Then list 3 things you’re grateful for. And think about what you have to look forward to when you get home.
Day 24. Act like a kid for the day. Do things your inner child would love
Think back to what you liked to do as a kid, then make it a point to do some of those things today. Act like a kid for the day and let go of adult responsibilities (as best you can).
When you listen to what your inner child wants, you help connect with yourself on a deeper level. And life doesn’t feel so overwhelming when you work on taking care of the inner child in you.
Some ways you can act like a kid for the day are:
- Color in a coloring book
- Go for a bike ride
- Eat your favorite cereal and watch some cartoons
- Hang out with your friends or family’s children
Day 25. Set some boundaries. Practice saying no to doing the things you really don’t want to do
Today, focus on setting some boundaries. If you have agreed to make plans or do something you didn’t want to do, speak up and let the people know you can’t do them.
Setting boundaries helps you feel mentally stronger because you don’t put up with things you don’t want. And other people start to respect you because they know they can’t walk all over you.
Day 26. Put yourself first today. Be kind and listen to what your gut tells you
There are many reasons to put yourself first, the main one being that you will have more patience for the people around you because your cup is filled.
Spend today putting yourself first. Set some boundaries and listen to what you truly want to do. Try to let go of the stress that other people may be causing you today and remember that you deserve to come first.
Day 27. Make a list of 10 things you love about yourself
Practice some self-love today and come up with 10 things you personally love about yourself. This can be anything.
From your personality to what you look like, list some things that you appreciate about who you are.
And if you can come up with more than 10 things, great! Throughout today try to come up with some things you like and then review them at the end of the day.
Day 28. Treat yourself. Buy that outfit or thing you’ve been wanting for a while
You’ve been working hard at improving your mental health! Take today and treat yourself to something special.
It’s always good to reward yourself every once in a while when you’re doing a challenge. This keeps you motivated to keep going.
- Treat yourself to your favorite meal or buy that thing you’ve been thinking about for a while now.
Day 29. Challenge your negative thoughts
You can honestly spend every day challenging your negative thoughts, but today it’ll be your main focus.
Whenever you feel your inner critic take over, work on challenging those thoughts. And if you’re feeling particularly anxious work on digging a little deeper as to why you’re anxious.
Ask yourself “Why is this bothering me?”. You can even write down your thoughts to get them out of your head and into the open.
Day 30. Self-reflect on the month
What do you want to do differently next month? What worked this month? Did this challenge help your anxiety?
Reflect on how this month went and see if this challenge helped your mentality at all.
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- Did you accomplish the goals you wanted?
- Which was your favorite and least favorite day?
- What do you want to do next month to help with your mental health?
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