Quick Ways to Boost Your Mood
Listen to Happy Songs – Music is known to have the ability to change our mood making it an excellent stress reliever. In fact, music has been used therapeutically in hospitals for pain management and emotional well-being. Make a playlist of your favourite upbeat songs and listen to them when you’re feeling low. Sing along (perfect pitch not required) and dance for extra benefit.
Do Some Exercise – Even moderate exercise releases chemicals in your brain that lift your mood. It can also help you to sleep better, have more energy and keep your heart healthy.
Choose an exercise that you enjoy. If it helps, do it with a friend or while listening to music.
Talk And Share – Whether it's with a friend, family member or counsellor, talking and sharing how you are feeling will instantly make you feel better. So long as they are receptive, talking to others about our feelings also helps us to process them, put them into perspective, and obtain advice and support.
Don’t be afraid to tell people that you need their time, or feel guilty for taking it. It doesn’t matter whether you meet up face to face, talk on the phone, chat online or use Skype, connecting with other people will make you feel much more positive.
Have a Laugh – Laughter can cheer us up instantly and decrease anxiety. Watch your favourite funny film, a comedy show or comedian on YouTube, or search online for comedy podcasts to listen to.
Do Something You Enjoy – Doing things that you enjoy is good for your emotional wellbeing. Simple activities such as watching a movie, reading a good book, having a soak in the bath, or meeting up with friends for coffee can all improve your day.
Anything that takes your mind off your low mood is likely to make things that much better. Doing something you're good at, such as cooking or dancing, is also a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement. Try to avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterwards, such as drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food.
De-clutter – Getting organised can help us feel instantly calmer and happier. Just five to 10 minutes is enough to tackle a small project like a desk or the kitchen table.
Live in The Moment – Studies have found that the best way to stay cheerful is to stay centred in the present—even when it’s not that pleasant. Sometimes, second guessing situations and bleak outcomes and a wandering mind can often bring us down.
If you’re feeling low, try to regulate your breathing and pay attention to what you can see, hear and feel at that particular moment. This will help you to feel calm and bring you back into emotional balance.
Counteract Negative Thoughts – Make a list of all the positive things about you and your life and keep it in your handbag. Read it to yourself every morning and when you are feeling down. However bad you may be feeling, remember that you have not always felt this way, and that you will not always feel this way.
Do a Good Deed – Many people find that helping others brings feelings of happiness. When you do something nice for someone else, your focus turns away from yourself and your own problems, and toward others and helping them feel good. A good deed can be anything from a kind word to a stressed shop assistant, volunteering for a local charity, to a large gift for a loved one and it can make you feel happy right away—happiness that’s shared.