HERE'S 4 COMMON FEELINGS YOU MAY BE HAVING, AND HOW TO TACKLE THEM

FEELING: I’VE JUST NOT BEEN FEELING IT LATELY.

We all know the feeling, right? There’s nothing WRONG, but something just doesn’t feel right. Feeling down and out of sorts is normal sometimes, for all the high moments you have, there are always going to be lows too. But if you’re feeling sad every day, it’s a good shout to chat to someone.

FEELING: WORK JUST FEELS TOO MUCH ATM.

Work. Some of us spend more time with our colleagues and in our workplace than we do at home. So it makes sense that work has the ability to make us feel proper stressed out.

If you’re beginning to experience burnout, or finding it hard to switch off from work in the evenings, there are some things you can try to help manage work stress and look after your mental well-being:

• If you’re able, book some time off to do some things you enjoy, even if it’s a low-key staycation, or a long weekend .
• Give yourself a moment to relax. Read a book, take a bath, whatever helps you to unwind.
• Try indulging in hobbies you enjoy to take your mind off work.
• Eat well – skipping meals will mean you’re low on your energy stores and can leave you feeling drained.
• Make time to see or speak to your mates. Having a chat with friends or family can help us get things off our chest.
• If possible, set boundaries to help maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you’re asked to take on extra work, or to stay in the office after your colleagues have left, have the confidence to stand your ground and say no.
• Take breaks at work. Don’t stay glued to the job – take a few minutes to sit back and relax, or take a walk during your break.
• If your work anxieties and stresses aren’t improving, you may think about talking to your GP. They can give you advice on the best ways to manage these feelings and move forward.

FEELING: I HATE WHAT I SEE IN THE MIRROR.

Look, it’s probably unrealistic to believe that anyone 100% loves the image they see in the mirror. But with social media and reality TV shows consistently showing us the ‘perfect’ body, sometimes it can get too much.

No matter what the scale says, no matter the definition of your muscles, or the hairs on your head, that image of the perfect body in our heads is make-believe.

And chasing after it? It can make life pretty tough and sometimes lead to other mental health issues such as eating disorders, obsessions and anxiety. Our advice, ditch the search for perfection.

FEELING: I FEEL REALLY LONELY.

Loneliness sounds like something you should leave behind in the playground, but the truth is around 9 million people in the UK say they feel lonely some or most of the time. You might think that loneliness means having no one, but you can feel lonely even if you’re surrounded by people.

It can feel embarrassing to admit you feel lonely, but loneliness is a natural emotion and feeling. It does not mean you have failed in any way.

The good news is, loneliness is something you can tackle.

You can build up slowly, renew an old connection, find a support group, or jump right in and commit to a new social activity – there are loads of ways to tackle feeling lonely. There’s no right way, but here’s some pointers.

• Re-connect

It can be a bit awkward reconnecting with an old mate, but it shouldn’t be. People drift apart for a whole host of reasons, if there’s someone you used to love spending time with, but haven’t in a while, send them a message, schedule a meet up, or have a video call.

• Talk about it

If you’ve already got a solid group of mates or family members, let them know how you’ve been feeling. People live busy lives and often social stuff is the first thing to fall through the cracks when things get busy. Sharing how you’re feeling, and scheduling in a time to chat and catch up could be all it takes. And having it scheduled in will give you something to look forward to, and time to plan if you feel worried or anxious.

• Rejection is scary

Many of us are scared to make the first move in a social or even romantic situation because of a fear of rejection. It’s fine to be worried about rejection, but studies have shown that people who experience loneliness are more likely to pick up on signs of rejection. That means they often close themselves off to protect themselves, which can impact their ability to seek out friends and relationships. So our advice here? Feel the fear and do it anyway. Even if people don’t respond, remember this says more about them than it does about you.

• Join Your Local Community.

Got a passion? Use it. Having something in common with a stranger is a great way to connect with people. Search online for groups or communities in your area that have the same interests – from cycling to dungeons and dragons, there’s something for everyone. Don’t have a passion? Try something new. You never know who you’ll meet and you might even come out with a new skill.

• Connect online 

Social media can make us feel more connected than ever, joining communities of like minded people online is a great way to feel validated – especially if you feel like there’s no one like you in and around your area. Be wary of relying on social media too heavily – it’s no substitute for real human connection and it can make our loneliness feel worse if we get stuck in a cycle of comparing our lives the social media feeds of the people we follow.