Everyone can go through a bad period in their life. Sometimes it lasts a few days or weeks, but you could also struggle through a bad month or even year. When you’re struggling through the month, it might seem like there’s no way out and it’s never going to end. Unfortunate things often seem to happen in pairs or threes, and external factors can make you suffer internally too.
Things might be tough, for whatever reason, but that doesn’t mean there’s no end in sight. A difficult month is often followed by one where things begin to look up, especially if you decide to get proactive and tackle any problems you might be having. Whether you want to improve your situation or you just want to survive until things start to get better, try these tips to make it through the month.
Take Stock of Your Problems
First of all, you need to know why you’re having a bad month. This might be obvious. Maybe you just got some bad news, for example. But you don’t always know right away why your month is going so terribly. Is it because of external factors, or is it due to how you’re reacting to them? Maybe your main problem is how you’re feeling, rather than what’s happening around you. Taking the time to understand what your problems are and how you feel about them can allow you to start thinking about what your next steps should be.
Get Some Perspective
When everything seems to be going wrong, sometimes you need to get some perspective. It might be a bad month compared to other months, but it could also just be one bad month. You might have had a recent disappointment, but perhaps you need to think carefully about how it has really affected you and what you could do about it. Even when you’re dealing with something very difficult, there are still things to look forward to and good things in your life. You can also benefit from practicing acceptance and letting go to avoid blowing up all bad things into huge catastrophes.
Look Inwards
Is everything falling apart around you, or could your own mind be the source of many of your troubles? There are times when you can get in your own way or make things seem worse than they are. Equally, you might be having a bad month because you’re not in the best frame of mind. When you’re struggling with how you’re feeling, it can make things seem worse than they are, but it can also cause you to self-sabotage. Being able to examine how you’re feeling and take steps to get into a better mood or improve your mental health can be crucial.
Find Possible Solutions
Not all problems have a quick solution, or even any solution at all. But you can often come up with ways to address the things you’re going through. For example, maybe you’re struggling with money this month. It’s not necessarily easy to get the cash you need right away, but there are various ways you could address the problem.
If you need money right now, you could sell something you no longer need. Getting cash for junk car parts could be a quick answer to your money woes. Selling books, CDs or DVDs could get you a little cash. Or maybe you have old electronics you don’t use anymore.
Other problems might have relatively fast solutions too. Not everything can be fixed right away, but there are plenty of issues that could be addressed with some smart thinking. If you’ve had a disagreement with a friend, facing the problem head-on could solve it in no time.
Make a Plan
You might not be able to get your life back on track right away. Maybe you’re able to patch up some problems but it’s going to take a while before you’re really in a better place. But that doesn’t mean you’re completely stuck. You can still do something to change how your life is going, even if you think you’re still going to be having a hard time next month. By making a plan, you can create a light at the end of the tunnel and picture when your life is going to be better.
Start by thinking about what you want to change and how you can achieve your goals. You can create a timeline if you think it will motivate you. If you want things to change, you often have to take the reins to make it happen. Even if there are some things outside of your control, you can take stock of the things you are able to control.
Lean on Others
Going through a difficult time alone can make everything worse. When you have someone to turn to, you can let out your worries and perhaps get some practical advice too. Take the time to speak to friends or family members about what you’re going through and how you’re feeling.
If you’re not comfortable doing that or need some extra help, consider professional options too. Speaking to a therapist could be an option available to you and can help you talk through your problems. Alternatively, someone like a lifestyle or career coach might have the right advice for you.
Take a Break
Sometimes you just need to take a break from your worries. You might feel like you always have to be doing something to dig yourself out of the hole you’re in. But this can lead to more stress and make it harder than ever to actually get back on track. Allowing yourself a break to do something you enjoy or just relax for a while can be really helpful. Even if you just switch off for half an hour, it can give you time to regroup, re-energize and feel more prepared to deal with the problems you’re having.
Going through a bad month is never pleasant, but it can help make you stronger and more resilient.
