Do You Ever Feel Like You Are Simply Just Existing? 5 Ways To Get Over Simply Existing

Lately, I Feel Like I Have Been Existing, Not Living

What does it mean by simply existing?

To me, existing means just doing what you need to do to get by. That can include:

– Working

– Eating

– Breathing

– Running errands

– Doing anything to survive, but if you want to compare it to something, the basic needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Most of the time, I feel like life is just passing me by, and I am watching from the outside. Does that make sense? I feel like I am not present, but I am just flowing through and doing what I must to make ends meet.

I do not want to feel like I am just working to pay bills for years on end until I meet my inevitable demise. I strongly believe that we are not simply here just to work.

That does not sound like a fun time to me, even though I enjoy my job. I want to get back to living, doing things that bring me joy and make great memories; I need to remember to capture on film as I am not great at taking pictures. I need to take more so I will have something to reflect on, remind myself, and show my kids one day.

When I asked how they had been feeling recently, the consensus was that they were tired and run down. I do not know what is in the water, but I know many people are feeling like this lately.

What can we do to change this? What can we do to get back into feeling alive and doing things that excite us other than doing what the system has told us that we must do to survive?

I have ideas to help me to live again, not just be a human existing.

Continue with counselling

Counselling is a wonderful way for me to express myself and get opinions/advice from an outside person to help evaluate the things that have happened and better understand the areas I need to work on. I am experiencing some symptoms of depression. A symptom of depression is no longer finding joy in the things that used to bring us joy. I have realised that I have not been as joyous as I usually am, but in some parts, that may pertain to my next point.

Get more rest

The way that I am set up, I struggle just to relax and kick back. I feel like there is always something to do either around the house or admin-wise. Sometimes, I feel like I bite off more than I can chew. I am a hard worker, but that can sometimes come at an expense. I have been extremely tired. No matter how many hours of sleep I get. That may be more related to my mind and how it races constantly.

In addition, I do push my body to the limit. Even if I am tired, I will drag myself to the gym as that is a form of self-care I love and need. Going to the gym helps me to relieve stress, and I have goals to maintain honey. However, I know that I also need to take some time for myself. So, I hope to have more rest days; this may mean that I stay in bed all day, and if I need it, I will do it.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness will help me to stay present and get past the existing phase that I am in. I still meditate daily, but I feel at times, I do it just to say I do it and I do not necessarily feel the benefits of it anymore. My mind is racing a million miles a minute, and when I can refocus and concentrate on my breath, I may be too relaxed, and then I fall asleep! It is time to switch up the type of meditation I do. Guided mediation may be suitable, or I need to change my position when I meditate because I do it in bed, which may not be the space for me.

Another mindfulness tactic that I am looking to implement is practising deep breathing. Deep breathing has many benefits, including decreasing stress. We all need to do that right! At any point during the day when I feel a bit stressed, I will find a moment to breathe deeply and then return to living no longer existing.

Make some adjustments to your routine.

I am a lady that loves routine. However, I am aware that doing the same things over and over will not create the change I want to see in my life. The current routine that I have played into the existing space.

My weekly routine is as follows:

Aside from working a 9-5 Monday thru Friday, I go to the gym thrice a week. I squeeze in some social time with my boyfriend, and rarely do my friends, and I will grab a bite to eat. That is amazing, and I am blessed with the position I am in, but I would like more excitement. To do this, I can look at different activities that I can do during my social times. I can do something active that does not have to involve going to the gym. I.e., I can attend a kickboxing class. It is something that I would love to try one time. So, that for which am I waiting? I just need to do it! What adjustments do you need to make to ensure that you are not just existing?

Take note of how you feel- do not always assume it will pass.

I have been tired, so I decided to speak to my doctor. I took a blood test, and I am awaiting the results. We are blessed to have free healthcare in the UK, so I need to use it. If I am feeling away, I need to speak out and get the help I may need. If I am honest, I put off speaking to someone about it for a while because I was hoping that it would simply pass and I did not need to do anything about it. I am still in the existing space, so I need to try every avenue to ensure that I do not stay here for much longer.