Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Feeling useful
• Part 2 of 3: Contributing to your relationships
• Part 3 of 3: Dealing with stressful situations
• Tips
• Warnings

If you feel useless and want to get rid of it, you will have to find out where that feeling comes from first. Once you find out, you can take steps to improve your life - whether your feelings of uselessness stem from your relationships or a stressful situation that you cannot control. Either way, the steps below may help you deal with the sense of uselessness.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Feeling useful

1. Try to find the source of the feeling. Is it a certain relationship that makes you feel useless? Do you feel useless because of a certain situation that you have no control over? Do you feel useless because you do not feel that you are contributing to society in every way possible for you? Being able to pinpoint the cause of the feeling is the first step towards changing your life.
   • One way to examine your feelings is to keep a journal. As you write, think about these questions and try to figure out what's bothering you.
   • You can also talk about your problems with a trusted friend. Sometimes saying what you are feeling can help you figure out what is wrong.
2. Find your passion. Find out what you are good at by exploring different hobbies and reading books. Find out what makes you happy and what you can contribute with those skills so that you can bring something to the world.
   • One way to explore your interests is to take courses at a folk university. These are relatively inexpensive, so you can decide for six months whether you are really excited about an interest. Many of these courses are in the evenings and on weekends, which is useful if you are working full time.
   • Alternatively, you may also be able to take classes in museums if you are interested in art or history.
   • Another way to explore your interests is to join the library. Then you can borrow books and take the time to get to know your interest.
   • If you want to meet other people with the same interest, check out social media websites such as Meetup and Facebook to find people with the same interest in your area.
3. Do something kind every day. Buy someone a cup of coffee. Bring your loved one her slippers without being asked. Offer a parking space for someone who looks tense. The little things you do every day to help people can make you feel needed.
4. Volunteer in your community. Volunteering is not only a solid way to make you feel useful, but you also help people with it. Choose something you enjoy as a volunteer. If you like books, ask if you can volunteer at the library. If you enjoy working with children, offer to read to community centers after school.
5. Learn to be grateful. Focus on what's positive in your life. By focusing on what's good about your life, you may be able to overcome a useless or worthless feeling. You then focus more on the positive side of things, so that you get a happier outlook on life.
   • One way to focus on what's going well in your life is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, write down five things that you are grateful for in your life. Some people use social media like Facebook with the same idea - that is, they post five things they are grateful for every day as a status update. Using social media can help you get motivated about this project as you are likely to get positive feedback from friends.
6. Talk positively to yourself. Sometimes a sense of uselessness can stem from low self-esteem. You may feel like you have nothing to offer the world. However, take some time each day to let yourself see what you are doing well. You do mean something to other people, and you have to look for that in yourself every day.
   • One way to build yourself is to use your mirror to your advantage. Look yourself in the eye every morning and say something positive about yourself.
   • Place fixings on your fridge so you can see them every day. Write a phrase like "I am a good, valuable person," to increase your self-esteem.
7. Accept compliments. In the same vein as speaking positively to yourself, feel free to accept positivity from other people, especially when it comes to something you do or who you are as a person. You may feel like you don't deserve the compliment, but people are usually sincere when they take the time to compliment you. Think about the contributions you make that inspired these compliments.
8. Contribute to causes you care about. If you are passionate about preserving our nature, get out there and do something about it. Organize protests. Write letters. Talk to people. Fighting for what you believe in can help you feel less useless because you are doing something to help other people and society.
9. Don't be a procrastinator. Stay away from potential distractions such as the computer, TV, telephone, your cat or the refrigerator. If you postpone you will achieve nothing. However, once you are done with started tasks, you will certainly feel more useful. Start with something small, like cooking dinner for your partner, and work your way up to bigger tasks like cleaning the garage.
10. Take care of yourself. Increase your confidence and appreciate your time and skills more.You don't get a sense of purpose if you don't take care of yourself enough. Don't underestimate yourself and take the time to rest and relax when you need to.
    • One way to value yourself is to say "no" to requests that you don't have the time or energy to do. If you take on too much, you won't be able to do every task as well as you can.

Part 2 of 3: Contributing to your relationships

1. Listen better to other people. Be active in the way you listen. That is, pay attention to what the other person is saying instead of preparing in your head for what you are going to say. Be interested in what the other person has to say and respond in a way that shows you listened.
2. Be grateful. Recognize what the people in your life are doing for you. This recognition shows that you notice what they do for you and that you appreciate their efforts.
3. Be there for the people in your life. Your presence is one of the best gifts you can give to the people you love. It tells them you care about them.
4. Celebrate what makes the others in your life unique, instead of making fun of them. Instead of making fun of your boyfriend for crying, let him know that you appreciate his emotional honesty. Instead of making fun of a friend for dancing in the kitchen, join in just for fun.
5. Free yourself from relationships that are harmful. Some relationships will never work well no matter what you do. If another person is hurting you emotionally or just doesn't want to make time for you, it may be time to turn away from that person. You may feel useless in a situation like this because you may feel like you have failed. However, it may be that you just don't fit in with the other person, and not that you wouldn't have contributed anything to the relationship. Perhaps the other person has problems that he or she needs to resolve before starting a new relationship, so there is no need to take all the blame.

Part 3 of 3: Dealing with stressful situations

1. Do what you can. You may not be able to resolve the situation, like a loved one's illness - they will still be sick no matter what you do. But you can be there for him or her. You can come by when you are needed. You can provide support and encouragement. You may not be able to tackle the problem as you wish, but you are doing something that can help ease your feelings of uselessness.
2. Take time to stop and breathe. You can pray, meditate, or just take a few deep breaths, but whatever you do, take a moment to unwind. Accept that you have no control over the situation.
3. Focus on what's going well and make that a bigger part of your life. Your mom may be sick, but you can use the time you spend with her to develop a better relationship with her than you have had in the past.
4. Talk to others about what you feel in this situation. Even if it doesn't change anything, it will help others to realize that they are not the only ones dealing with these feelings, which is one way to offer support. It also opens the discussion so that others have a chance to talk about their feelings.
5. Watch for signs of depression. Prolonged stressful situations can lead to depression, and a feeling of uselessness can be a symptom of depression, especially when accompanied by other symptoms.
   • Symptoms of depression include difficulty focusing, pessimism, lack of interest in things you normally enjoy, feeling guilty, feeling extra tired or constantly sad, and even physical complaints such as a headache or stomach ache.
   • Just because you feel sad at times doesn't mean you are depressed. Depression is a long period of not caring and being sad. When symptoms start to flood your life, you may be depressed.
6. See a doctor if you suspect you are depressed. If you are depressed, you may need medication or you may need to find a therapist to help you solve some of the problems that are causing your feelings of uselessness. Remember that depression is not a sign of weakness. It can be caused by a traumatic event in your life, but it can also be a chemical imbalance that needs to be corrected. Certain medications, your genes and other problems such as illnesses can also lead to depression.

Tips

• Helping others gives you a satisfying sense of purpose.
• Recognize what you contribute to others.
• We all feel useless at some point in our lives, especially during life transitions or difficult situations. Recognize what is and what is not in your power.

Warnings

• Always consult a physician or other appropriate medical professional if you are concerned about your mental health. Don't take this lightly.