Some days, no matter how hard you try, you may feel in a bad mood, or just low about your life. It happens to all of us. Get to know what your body is telling you, accept it – its ok to feel down and its ok to feel negative sometimes. The problem occurs when these feelings become the norm or stick around a bit longer than normal.
Here are some very quick and easy ways to lift your mood:
1. Listen to your favourite music.
Music that makes you want to dance or sing can instantly lift your mood. Take the time to make a playlist of songs that you love and have it handy for those days that you need some encouragement. Try to choose songs that get you wanting to move or sing, as these can be the most powerful in shifting your mood.
2. Watch a funny film or video
Laughing can instantly raise your mood and help to clear away and release any stagnant energy. There are so many funny clips on YouTube, get browsing.
3. Go outside, get some fresh air
A dose of fresh air can do wonders for your soul. Take a short walk, do some gardening, sit in the sun and feel the breeze over your face and body.
4. Do something altruistic; do something for someone else.
Sometimes the best way to feel better about yourself is to help someone else feel better about themselves. Even something as small as holding the door open for someone, or sending a loving text message to a friend can go a long way to helping lift your spirits. Everyday tasks such as shopping, travelling, having a coffee or meal out can create opportunities to give a compliment to someone who is doing their job well.
5. Make a gratitude list
Take a minute to think about all the things that you feel are going well in your life. By bringing awareness to what you feel good about in your life, or something that has gone well for another family member, it can help you become aware that things sometimes go well for you, which in turn gives you hope that other things might also go well for you.
These small acts can help you to shift your mood, and may give you a push in the right direction for that day or that week. Give it a go, what have you got to lose?
