It’s done, it’s over, it’s finally finished. You find yourself on a rollercoaster of emotion, you have so much to unpack; you may be wondering what went wrong or what you do now. There are a thousand things going through your mind and nothing at all at the same time. You haven’t gotten much sleep since the weekend began and you’re finding glitter in places there should never be glitter. This is it, the glitter crash.

A glitter crash is a comedown after a large social event; in this context, it’s generally from a large performance of some kind such as music, burlesque, pinup, dancing etc. It’s similarly related to the ‘post-con’ blues and refers to the emotional and physical come-down after all the hype and high for a certain weekend, performance, event or happening. You generally feel drained, emotional, exhausted and a bit lost; that’s ok, it happens to most of us and I always get it so you’re not alone.

How do you deal with a glitter crash? I really want to share some methods that I’ve found useful myself and ones that I have also shared with others throughout my counselling career. Of course, not all methods will work for everyone which is why I suggest you try out a couple; I definitely do not recommend closing yourself off and ignoring everyone and everything as you risk going down a depression spiral or making yourself ill.

It’s Okay Not To Be Okay
When the glitter crash comes, know the signs, acknowledge it and realize that it’s completely normal. There’s a lot of stigma around mental health but there really is no shame in feeling tired, drained or a little sensitive. A little while ago I glitter crashed really hard that I started crying because I ran out of cheese. I was too tired to go to the shops so I curled up in the couch and watched about 5 hours of Gordon Ramsey Hotel Hell/Kitchen Nightmares. I was exhausted mentally, physically and spiritually so this reaction can be considered completely normal. If you feel the glitter crash, acknowledge it.

Get enough sleep and rest.
Taking time out to sleep and rest is really important. Your body repairs itself when you’re asleep so it’ll help boost your energy and ‘catch up’ on the sleep you may have missed during the stressful prep time. Now is the time to listen to your body; if you need sleep, get some sleep. It’s totally ok to take a nap during the day; this only becomes a problem when you crawl into bed, and can’t leave for several days. If this is happening to you, please follow the next step.

Keep your friends close.
During your glitter crash, make sure you reach out to friends, family and loved ones and let them know how you’re feeling. If someone knows that you’re a little run down, they can be around to help or to just chat. Having people around will boost your mood and can even give you that little extra push to go out and do something to boost your mood. Keep your friends close; they care about you and I’m sure they can offer a helping hand. You’re not alone.

Go on, get out of the house.
As mentioned above, leaving the house can be a bit of a mood booster. You don’t have to do anything elaborate or huge and you don’t even have to get all dressed up. Something simple like a walk around the park, or a stroll down the beach can be enough to boost your mood. You can use this time to become re-inspired and have some fun.

Exercise the body and mind.
During this time, it’s important to recharge and reengage your mind and body. If you have the strength, doing some simple exercises can boost your mood and give you a sense of accomplishment. Exercising can also be a form of self-care which is really helpful during this time. If you’re not up for exercising, meditate and exercise the mind instead. Follow along with a guided meditation or do it yourself; it’s a great way to reconnect with yourself and get you feeling better.

Eat healthily.
You may be thinking that you deserve a ‘cheat meal’ which you absolutely do, but don’t turn unhealthy eating and snacking into a habit. The food we eat is vital in our bodies function, our mood and our recovery so make sure your meals and snacks are healthy. It’s ok to have a small treat but you’ll recover faster with a healthier diet.

Do something fun and self-care
Self-care is really important and necessary if you’re experiencing a glitter crash. By doing little things just for you such as watching a fun movie, taking a relaxing bath or doing a special skin care routine, you are treating your body and giving yourself a boost. Self-care can come in many forms so find something that works well for you. I know I’ve struggled to take time out to self-care and I’m really feeling the effects of it so don’t do what I’ve done, it’s not fun. Speaking of, have fun. Do something that brings you joy such as being creative. For me, I love to sew, take a nice relaxing bubble bath and cook so that’s something that I’ll take time out and do well.
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Plan Future Events.
After your mind has been so preoccupied with one event, it’s normal to feel a sense of loss. You could be wondering what to do next or just be lacking motivation. Now is a great time to slowly start thinking about the future, begin putting future projects into action and taking your first steps towards another dream. Regardless of the outcome of the event, you’re crashing from, stay positive and get excited about future ideas. Start making plans, even if it’s just catch up’s with friends.

The glitter crash isn’t fun but does not push yourself further than your limit as you can make yourself really sick either mentally or physically. Use this time to rest, relax and regain your inspiration. This is a great time to be a little bit selfish and watch YouTube all day, do some retail therapy and catch up with friends so make sure you do what makes you happy.
If for any reason you feel that you can’t get out of your own darkness, call out for help. Reach out to a friend or someone you trust. If you think it is an emergency, contact a counselling service such as HEADSPACE (1800 650 890) a free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time.

You’re not alone. You matter. You can do it. I believe in you. Yeah, I really do.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way.