We've all been there before: it's Saturday night, you are comfortable in your PJs, and laying in bed. You decide to check out your friends' Snapchat stories and discover that they are all out with each other having fun and... you were not invited.
For me, this has happened countless times. It's a very discouraging feeling to see people I thought were close friends constantly spend time together and not think of inviting me, but who wants to be a Debbie Downer?
So here are 7 things you can do to avoid being sad when you weren't invited to hang out!
1. Netflix & Binge
Obviously the easiest way to get your mind off of your friends, sit back with a snack and a drink and see how many episodes you can get through of your favorite shows on Netflix. My personal favorites are "The Office", "Parks & Recreation", and "Criminal Minds". "The Office" is a for sure way for me to get my mind off of anything sad, and is my go-to distraction when it comes to being alone on a Saturday night.
2. Delve into a new book.
Before I was introduced to the technology that drives my life now, I was an avid reader. I still am, actually, especially on nights when I feel left out. A couple good reads that will have you distracted in no time are "The Book Thief", "The Lovely Bones", "Good Poems for Hard Times", and "Tuesday's With Morrie". Books provide an even better story and it'll definitely divert your attention for the night.
3. Talk to someone who is in the same boat.
Chances are if you got forgotten about, someone else was too. Seek them out and have a 1-on-1 about how they feel and what you think should happen. Oftentimes you'll grow closer to this person and find a close friend from these situations. It's always comforting to have someone who understands.
4. Write, draw, sing, dance....
Et cetera. Whatever it is that makes you feel better or you feel like you are talented at, do it. I like to write out my feelings because it makes me feel less overwhelmed to have it organized and written down, but maybe you like to draw or sing. Whatever makes you feel best, go for it. A lot of good art can come from negative emotions like loneliness or solitude.
5. Listen to music.
The type all depends on you. Feel like wallowing in self-pity and listening to sad music? Go for it. Want to feel happy and listen to upbeat tunes? You can do that too. Spotify has endless playlist options to fit whatever mood you're in or what genre you prefer, so take this time to discover new songs and artists. Don't feel bad if you just want to feel sorry for yourself for a while. After all, it's your party and you'll cry if you want to. Just don't let the pity party last too long. Here are a couple of examples of playlists I created for several moods.
6. Take a nap.
Without a doubt the easiest fix to most of my problems (ha). Naps are a good way to take a small hiatus from the world for a couple hours. When you wake, you'll probably feel more well-rested and you'll have killed several hours that would've been spent being sad, alone.
Lastly...
7. Stay off of social media.
I can't stress this enough. Why subject yourself to looking at videos of your friends having fun without you? Why go through the hurt of seeing their posts on Instagram and Facebook about what fun they're having? You don't deserve it, so don't put yourself through it. Unplug and spend time with yourself.
Everyone knows how it feels to be left out. But if you're the one constantly being forgotten about, know that you are loved and valuable and not being invited to hang out doesn't change that. Try to be better than your friends and make sure you're the one to break the cycle and be a person who tries to make everyone feel included.
But don't forget you're never alone.
