What to do when you’re sad? Sadness often leaves us feeling helpless. It falls on us and we don’t know what to do with it. That’s why I’m sharing 20 things to do when you’re sad.

1 – When you’re sad: read a book

Because reading is one of the world’s best stress relievers. In fact, just 6 minutes of reading can reduce stress by 60%. And why is that? Because as we read, our breathing becomes calmer and deeper, our thoughts calmer and our attention focused on just one thing: the words in front of our eyes.

In fact, reading is an excellent distraction from our thoughts, which are full of stress as well as sadness.

Indeed, when we’re sad, we tend to dwell on our sad thoughts, locking ourselves in a vicious circle.

In other words, when you’re sad, pick up a book and read for a few minutes: 20 minutes. And let your sadness float away.

2 – Writing in a journal

Writing soothes and relieves the heart and mind of worries. Indeed, as we write down what’s on our minds, what’s weighing on our hearts, we unburden ourselves.

In other words, when we’re sad, let’s pick up a sheet of paper and a pencil or open our notebook and write for 15-20 minutes without stopping.

3 – Cooking

When we’re sad, we don’t know what to do with ourselves, so we wander around the house or curl up on the sofa. But that’s how sadness tightens its grip on us.

So what do we do?

Cooking is an excellent idea, because while our hands are busy, our thoughts calm down and even fall silent. So they stop dwelling on our sadness and feeding it.

4 – When you’re sad: take a walk

As in the case of cooking, here it’s not our hands that are busy, but our feet. Walking soothes our thoughts. In fact, they let themselves be lulled by the rhythm of our steps.

What’s more, we can concentrate on what we see, hear and smell, and we can listen to ourselves breathe, feel our chest rise.

So, while we’re concentrating on our 5 senses, we’re no longer listening to our thoughts, which are rehashing our sadness.

5 – Exercise

If we don’t want to or can’t go for a walk, then why not let off steam with some exercise?

Indeed, when we’re sad, it’s a good idea to focus on the sensations in our bodies, as this will enable us to stop paying attention to the thoughts that are holding us back from sadness.

What’s more, it helps to secrete happy hormones.

6 – Meditate

When we’re sad, we can also meditate. In other words, we can sit in silence, in a quiet, comfortable place. Just be face-to-face with ourselves and our sadness.

The aim is to look kindly at ourselves and our sad thoughts. And let them pass serenely by.

7 – Gardening

There’s nothing like getting out in nature when you’re feeling sad.

So put on some comfortable clothes and get out into your garden. Touch nature, smell it, look at it.

8 – When you’re sad: try something new

When you’re sad, it’s essential to distract yourself from your sad thoughts. And what better way than to try something new? It will totally attract our attention and calm our thoughts.

What’s more, we’ll feel good, even proud, to have done something new. Sadness will have less of a hold on us.

9 – Call a friend

Call a friend, not to dwell on what’s making us sad, but rather to give news, tell them what’s going well and listen to their news too.

In fact, taking an interest in someone other than ourselves, especially in times of sadness, allows us to distance ourselves from our sadness. Afterwards, we feel lighter.

10 – When you’re sad: tidy up, clean up

Sometimes, when we’re sad, we don’t really know what’s happening to us. Yes, it’s a bit of a mess inside us, in our thoughts.

The best remedy for this is to tidy up and clean our house. Indeed, as we tidy up our home, we also tidy up our thoughts.

11 – Playing with your pet

Sometimes sadness invites us to curl up in a ball and not move. Unfortunately, our thoughts become more numerous and more painful. So let’s not sit around and brood.

When you’re sad, it’s also a good time to play with your pet.

In fact, let its joy infect you and keep the sadness at bay.

12 – Asking a friend for a hug

Sadness drives us to solitude, to withdraw into ourselves. But there’s a magic remedy for sadness: hugs from the people you love.

So when we’re sad, let’s ask for a hug and let our sadness melt away with this warm contact.

13 – When you’re sad: watch funny videos

Laughter is one of the best ways to ward off sadness. But, strangely enough, we don’t always think about it.

So when we’re sad, let’s remember to laugh by watching funny videos.

14 – Listening to music to cry

Sometimes laughter isn’t what we need most. In fact, sometimes we need to cry.

So, if the tears just won’t come out, listen to the music that has that power over you and let your tears flow and take your sadness with them.

15 – Listen to dance music

When you’re sad, sometimes you just need to do anything. So put on your favorite music and dance your ass off.

Let the simple joy of moving make your sadness disappear.

16 – When you’re sad: watch your favorite movie

Too often, we don’t watch our favorite movie, because we tell ourselves we don’t have time for it.

So when we’re sad, let’s tell ourselves that it’s just the right time for it.

17 – When you’re sad: set a new goal that makes you happy

Sometimes, when we’re sad, we just need to embark on a new adventure and set ourselves a new goal.

A goal that’s nothing serious, a goal that simply makes us happy.

So, what do you want to do? What would make you happy?

18 – Buy your favorite pastry

Gluttony has the power to make sadness go away, so let’s make the most of it!

Allow yourself to buy your favorite pastry and enjoy it with your eyes, nose, hands, mouth and, above all, your heart.

19 – Sitting in nature, listening to birdsong, looking up at the sky

When we’re sad, we feel alone in the world. That’s why, at times like these, it’s good to remember that we’re connected to something much bigger than we can imagine.

To do this, sit outside and contemplate the sky, so big and so beautiful.

20 – When you’re sad: start a book of sweet quotes

Sometimes, when we’re sad, we just need a few sweet words for our hearts.

That’s why I’m inviting you to start a notebook of sweet quotes.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Not in the mood? 3 great advice to stop feeling sad
Discover The 8 golden rules to boost your self-confidence and achieve your goals

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

The author crafts a story that explores the complexities of mental health and the search for hope in the midst of sadness. The protagonist, Pat, meets life’s challenges with humor and resilience, emphasizing the importance of embracing the good, even in the darkest of times. This book is a poignant reminder that, even in the face of sadness, there can be unexpected moments of beauty and joy waiting to be discovered.

An optimistic and emotional story about mental illness, family dynamics, love and friendship. I’m not a football fan, so the Eagles season wasn’t my favorite part, but it served as a realistic backdrop for the human connection. Very good read. Written with restraint, but with powerful emotions.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself