When you’re suffering from a low mood, anxiety or depression, you can get stuck in a rut and you just can’t get out of it. You might have a to-do list that’s really long, but you’re struggling to even get out of bed. 

Things can pile up and can add to your low mood when you’re finding it hard to get inspired about life. Your brain may feel overwhelmed and it’s hard to get excited about anything at all. But it’s not impossible to feel inspired again after being stuck in a rut.

Here are 10 ways to get yourself back on track:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

More specifically, medical or professional help if you feel you need it. If you’re suffering from depression or anxiety, it’s absolutely essential to talk to your healthcare practitioner. For some people, therapy or medication can be the thing that helps you on your way to feeling inspired again. Sometimes depression can be a result of brain chemistry, and balancing that out can be a way to get back on track.  Or therapy can help you to talk through the problems you’re facing in your life and help you carve a way through them. Speak to a professional if you’re finding yourself feeling much lower than normal.

2. Give yourself reasonable expectations

If you ask the world of yourself, then it’s going to be harder to feel motivated and inspired. Don't give yourself the expectation that you’re going to finish everything on time with zero mistakes, and don’t get angry at yourself when this is not the case. When you’re feeling low, energy levels can change drastically, and negative emotions from ‘failure’ can plummet your energy and mood even more. Set yourself reasonable goals and expectations, and give yourself a celebration or reward when you achieve it. 

3. Create a routine

Having a routine that makes you happy is a great way to get yourself motivated and inspired. Setting a happy routine can help you to pick yourself up and allow you to cope with your mindset - combating dips in your mood. These can be as simple as sitting down with a new book, or going out for dinner, or working out in the mornings. 

4. Make a schedule

People are creatures of habit and having a schedule can help to keep you calm and feel secure. A stable schedule when you’re feeling out of balance can help to keep you feeling comforted and in control of the world around you. Think about the things you need to do every day and schedule them, and make them regular habits. Over time these will become second instincts and will help you to feel more normal.  

5. Fake it 

Need some motivation and inspiration to be happier and more confident? Sometimes faking it can actually pave ways to real feelings of contentment. Projecting happiness can bring it into your life, from the people around you. On another level, if we look nice, we usually feel nicer about ourselves and are nicer to everyone around us. Putting effort into your appearance and faking happiness till you feel it 

6. Delegate

When you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, you may find it harder to complete the workloads you’re usually able to manage. You may find that your work starts to pile up - which can lead to more feelings of stress and feeling overwhelmed. It’s easy to combat this and delegate those small tasks to other people - leaving you open to inspiration as your mind isn’t taken over by those smaller things. 

7. Socialize

Staying isolated can reinforce negative self-talk, and can make you feel even worse. It’s important to try and stay social, even when it feels like the last thing you want to do. Make plans with a friend or family member, and force yourself to stick to it - even if all you want to do is stay in bed. It’s easier to get out there and see the world when someone else is holding you accountable - and by getting out and interacting with other people, it’s easy to find inspiration coming to you.

8. Reframe negative thoughts

When you’re suffering from depression, it’s easy to get stuck in negative self-talk and soon, your negative thoughts can spiral out of control. We can reframe these thoughts with positive words and uplifting thoughts. It might sound impossible, but force yourself to think more positively, and it can help to create new thought pathways. This naturally leads us to feel happier and inspired. It can also help create new, happier habits.

9. Put up boundaries

Boundaries are important, to help protect your mind and mental state. There are a lot of things that can trigger unwanted or unproductive thoughts, and by removing these triggers from our life we can keep ourselves productive and stable. This could be cutting out social media, or turning off notifications on your phone - or even getting yourself out the house and away from the TV. Or it could be something hard, like getting rid of memories or keepsakes from past relationships that bring bad thoughts to your brain. These things can make it harder to focus on the present and the things that really matter.

10. Exercise

Yes, it’s true - working out is a great remedy if you’re feeling blue and want to get inspired. Something as simple as just getting your body moving with a walk or slow jog can get the blood pumping - and getting outside will help too. Just 30 minutes of moving 3-5 times a week can actually combat depression. 

Even in yoga, it can be easy to fall into an autopilot routine. These diverse practices have an underlying theme to give you perspective on why you show up on your mat and how the practice has the power to help you thrive off of your mat.

By Amy Cavill

Need a happiness boost? Practice these yoga classes on YogaDownload, designed to help lift you out of any funk you're in, now! 

Not an All or Nothing Practice with Christen Bakken

Beat the Winter Blues Namaskara with Maria Garre