Let’s beat the blues!

By Klaus Döring

The more rainy days – the more I feel low. I don’t really feel depressed, but a bit lackluster. Especially during Sundays or during the first days of a longer vacation. But, during my last years as an expatriate living here in the Philippines, I learned to change my lifestyle. I don’t want to give suggestions or advice “about what to eat  and drink”, or, better “NOT to eat or to drink”. Such explanations to turn your mood better, other expert columnists might do much better.

However, I experienced myself that some simple things are really working well:

Distract yourself: the last thing you should do is lie in the bed wallowing in self-pity. It’s better to distract yourself with a dose of normality. Watching a movie (possibly not a drama or tragedy!) or even cleaning the kitchen on a Sunday can help. Important is that you move from where you were when you felt bad. I mostly love to “arrange my office new” or do a simple walk around into nature. It really does miracles.

Forgive someone: When you forgive someone or even yourself, you release anger and resentment that’s bogging you down. If you stay angry, you’re carrying all the negatives of the day and maybe from the whole world. Check the news: there is already enough negativism. Natural disasters, war, corruption, incompetent politicians, bullying neighbors, etc.

Switch to realistic thinking: The happy medium between rose-tiny positive thinking and beat-yourself-up negativity is when you can say, “Okay, I’m having a bad day, but it doesn’t make me a failure”, instead of “I feel awful and/or my life is so awful”. The last will only make you feel worse.

Develop a positive attitude: I met a lot of expatriates,  complaining about everything and everyone. I try my very best to avoid meeting them. There is nowhere a paradise on earth. Examine your thoughts and perceptions, and replace unhelpful thoughts patterns with a more positive approach. The difference between a happy person and someone who is really depressed isn’t that one has all the luck of the world. But, they perceive what’s happening to them differently.

By the way: besides walking in nature, my best all-round exercise is swimming. It’s an excellent mood-booster, as water supports your body, allowing it to relax completely. I feel like a total free spirit in water.

Last but not least: Do a life audit. Some people become stuck in a rut because they don’t take time to work out where they are heading. Try to make decisions to change your life and ask yourself what is getting in your way and what you can do about it. It is the same principle as going through your cupboards and tossing out the clothes that don’t fit you or you do not need any more. If there are no uses, they are just cluttering your life. And remember, you might even laugh about it later. Stop trying to “cope’ (making sure everything goes smoothly!) and deal with life more simply.

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You can email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit one of my websites www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.