Amy's Advice on Getting Through Grey Days

We all have bad days, we probably wouldn’t be human if we didn’t, but not all of us like to admit we’re struggling. On days like these, often the simplest of tasks seem impossible. This semester, I’ve had quite a few of these days with the covid situation going on. I’ve had days where getting out of bed in the morning (or afternoon) seem physically impossible, resulting in my head yelling at me to ‘just move!’, sometimes there are days where I have breakfast and find myself back in bed asleep for the rest of the day, and others where getting out of bed is manageable but actually getting stuck into anything seemingly ‘productive’ is exhausting to even think about.

Since starting university, I’ve been calling these days ‘the grey days’ because they purely feel cloudy and dark. It’s important to remember that these days are okay! You’re going to have them, especially in periods of time where you’re finding yourself burnt out or are dealing with personal struggles, or there is a goddamn global pandemic going on. It’s perfectly fine to also have the grey days when there’s nothing heavy or pressing happening and these days are not a reflection on your overall achievements, level of motivation, nor do they make you lazy or selfish.

A few things to remember on these days:

• Attempting to eat or drink something usually helps. If food doesn’t seem manageable today, try to keep hydrated. Liquids (water, tea, juice, smoothies) are good to help pass the haziness and eating will also help with this.

• If you can manage it, get yourself outside. If that means you open your front door and sit in the sun for half an hour, or you manage to go for a walk or some other form of outdoor activity, that’s great. The sun and fresh air are your friends on the grey days.

• Keep yourself as content as possible. If there is something you can physically avoid that will make today easier, do it. Turn off your phone for an hour (or all day), read a book, watch a movie, sleep, eat, call a friend. You’re aiming to make the day more bearable, so removing obstacles that are creating frustration or anxiety are important. Put some healthy distance between you and these obstacles.

• Remember that it is completely okay if halfway through your grey day you feel better. There is no shame in feeling like this. If your grey day extends a couple of days that’s also okay, but try not to isolate yourself from your routine for long periods of time. This can make it difficult to return to this following a grey day.

• Remember that this will pass, even when it doesn’t feel like it, or like it will be there forever. It will pass.

The most important thing to remember about the grey days is that anything you’re able to achieve that day counts. If that means you make a meal or shower or just wake up and breathe, that’s perfectly okay. Don’t beat yourself up about the days that all you can do is be truthfully human.

P.S. Head over to our Instagram post to see some tips of things to do on the grey days.