1. Stop Being Hard on Yourself
   
   There is nothing worse than when you’re feeling low, and you entertain negative thoughts about yourself. Girl, STOP! Don’t allow your mind to trick you into being mean to yourself. You don’t need to think about what if’s, or how things could be different. You don’t need to tear yourself apart and think mean things that will only make you feel worse. 
   
   Think about it in this way, if your sibling or best friend was feeling down, and they shared the mean thoughts they were having about themselves, would it not make you upset? You would not want your loved ones to tear themselves down, so, why are you allowing yourself to do this?
   
   Instead of giving in to negative or mean thoughts, I challenge you to turn those thoughts into moments of gratitude. Write down a list of things you’re grateful for, no matter how small or big! Keep writing and practicing gratitude, until you begin to feel lighter on the inside. This is a powerful practice that can help you boost your mood. 
   
   
   

2. Get Up and Move your Body
   
   I don’t know about you, but, when I’m feeling down, I want to lay in bed all day, or spend the day on the couch watching Netflix. While there is nothing wrong with doing this, I encourage you to move your body and allow the emotions you’re feeling to move through your body, and release them.
   
   Moving your body can be as simple as going for a 10-minute walk, or doing a 10-minute yoga video on YouTube. You can stretch, work out, or one of my personal favourites - dance! Moving your body will allow the emotions to flow, and help you gain clarity mentally. All these small changes help you feel better, throughout the day. 
   
   
   

3. Allow yourself to laugh 
   
   This may seem a little silly, but there is nothing a good laughing session can’t fix! Laughing has so many benefits. And, in the moments you truly feel the lowest, laughing can help trick your brain, and allow you to have a sense of relief. But, when you’re feeling low, what can you do to make yourself laugh? We recommend watching your favourite comedy shows or movies, scrolling through a funny meme page, or chatting with a loved one that always makes you laugh. 
   
   
   
   
4. Brain Dump
   
   One of the reasons we often feel low or upset could be because we simply have way too much on our minds, and we get overwhelmed or stressed. Our body will then feel those emotions, and slowly start shutting down as a way to protect ourselves. So, what can you do to help reduce the pressure off your mind? A brain dump!
   
   A brain dump is essentially dumping everything on your mind, onto a piece of paper. Are you worried about an upcoming project? Do you have several to-do lists that never seem to get done? Write all that down and release it from your mind and body! We recommend setting a timer for 5 minutes, and as the clock is counting down, you allow your thoughts, emotions, and worries to be dumped into paper. Once your timer goes off, give yourself 5 minutes to breathe and shake out the emotions from your body. Then, reflect on everything you dumped onto the paper. This exercise can help you better understand what’s on your mind, and bring you clarity on what needs to be prioritized. You may even laugh at some of the things you were worried about!
   
   
   
   
5. Connect with loved ones
   
   Never underestimate the power of socializing with those that you love and trust. Talking to someone about how you’re feeling is another great way to release the emotions and thoughts from your mind and body. Sometimes as you're talking to someone about how you’re feeling, you mainly gain clarity about your thoughts and feelings. And, sometimes, you may just need some love and positivity, and who better to get that from than those that you love!
   
   If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your loved ones, you can reach out to a counsellor, or call a hotline to talk to someone that will be able to help you. It’s very important to remember that you’re not alone, and there are so many free resources out there that can help you. So, please, don’t isolate yourself, and reach out when you need support. 
   
   
   

Well, there you have it! 5 ways to pick yourself up, on the days you’re feeling low. It’s normal to experience these types of days once in a while. Just remember that sadness is temporary, and it too shall pass. When you’re feeling low, stop being hard on yourself, get up and move your body, allow yourself to laugh, do a brain dump, or reach out to a loved one. You can either continue dwelling on your thoughts and feelings or do something to help you feel better.  You’re not alone, and you are SO loved! We hope this helps.