There are many days when nothing in the world around you is wrong, but you still feel sad, depressed, or angry at the world, or just in a bad mood that you can’t shake off.
Even if there is a deep-seated reason and you are not ready to face your feelings, the following tips can help you overcome your bad mood almost immediately. Let’s kick off your endorphins and help you pick yourself up on the bad days.
1. Identify the source of the problem and deal with it
The best way to move forward is to deal with the source of the problem or the issue. If you don’t know the problem, then retrace the past few days and find out when the change in you occurred. If the change in the mood happened very recently, trace back the last 24 hours.
Once you know what exactly caused it, you can either let it go, confront the person who caused it, get on with the task that caused the mood change, or just deal with the problem as positively as possible. The idea is to help you tell your brain that the issue is resolved, and I can move forward to the next challenge at hand or something that excites me.
If you are not ready to deal with it, let’s move on to some temporary fixtures that can help.
2. Cook something healthy for yourself/Order out
Think about what you love to eat. Something that brings a smile to your face. Either cook it or call for it. Not everyone is a great cook. But everyone has the right to enjoy great food. So, order your favourite food and enjoy it with something that you love to do as well (It could be a book, a show, a family gathering, or anything that you love to do)
3. Grab some motivational quotes or videos and feel what the words of the speaker are trying to tell you
There are thousands of them available online. Motivational quotes or videos by some famous people can really help you get out of the mood or the bed and get up and do something for yourself. Some names: Sonu Sharma, Jay Shetty, Sandeep Maheshwari, Vivek Bhindra. And many, many more.
You can grab some motivational books. Write down the ones that have an impact on you in a small diary and revisit the pages each morning to help you get going. A small saying I heard somewhere that really motivated me – It’s a great privilege to be who you are! Never forget and never take it for granted!
4. Put on soothing music
Music is one of my favourite things to do. You might like to put on some great music. It could be anything. I, for one, love to put on some Arijit Singh songs in the mornings. I love the beats and his voice. While I start doing my chores for the day, I keep humming and it makes me feel better. A new profound energy is felt.
I have the luxury to play it on speaker. But if you don’t, wear your headphones and go out for a walk if you have to. And see the magic happen!
5. Exercise
Not everyone loves to exercise. But physical activities increase endorphin levels and improve your blood flow. It is an instant refresher for your whole body, mind and soul. If done on a regular basis, it can really help you stay in shape, pick the perfect clothes for yourself and help you shine. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.
6. Have a pet? Play with it
Not everyone has a pet but if you do, play with it. Step out of the house with a toy. You could go to the park or maybe just play indoors. Your choice. But pets have the knack of offering unconditional love that can bring immense joy to you and lift up your mood instantly.
7. Spend time with family members
You may not have a great relationship with your family members. You might hate your siblings too. And it is very typical to have some people in the family that you are not very fond of. But it’s ok. Spending time with your family members is the best way to connect with them. It not only helps you from the short term perspective but also from the long term angle.
The more you connect and talk, the more you will be able to resolve the pending issues, get out of the past traumas and look forward to a happier life. Trust me. I have done this too and I was able to resolve a lot of things and move on. Even if your family members are not open to talking about their feelings or some instances, you share your thoughts and your heart out. Your genuine feelings will reach out to them for sure.
8. Hop on a call with your best friend
Best friends can bring in the best smiles. Even if they don’t bring a smile to your face, they can listen and help you take the weight off your chest. So, call your best friend and have an hour long chat. It will help you freshen up and move ahead. You might just be needing a change of pace in life and a crash action with a friend can really be the healing touch you needed at this hour.
9. Do something spontaneous
I love this one. Spontaneous actions and things are the best. I once got up in the morning and was feeling really low. I told my daughter let’s go out to play games in the nearest mall. One afternoon, I wanted to see the sunset from a hilltop. I grabbed my bag, drove to the nearest hill top in my pajamas and sat at the edge to just watch the sunset and spend time with my family.
These are some spontaneous things I have done, and these are the most memorable moments. Listen to your heart and see what it needs. Stop telling yourself why you can’t. Ask yourself, why not? Do something spontaneous or crazy.
PS: It was an act of spontaneity that I enrolled for a Master’s in English one fine morning. 😉
10. Laugh out Loud
It might sound scary and crazy, but it’s actually not. It’s one of the best things that you can do. You might not feel like laughing or even smiling right now. And for this very reason, there are so many videos of stand-up comedians on YouTube. Play one and laugh as loud and hard as you can. It is the most instant healer for low moods.
11. Take a few deep breaths or meditate
Meditation is a practice that has to be done daily. Check out the best practices and ways to do it. You might need just some peace and feel yourself breathe. We often forget that we are all just humans and have our own set of limitations. And you don’t need to feel ashamed of being too low some days.
Meditation can really help you clear your thoughts, gain a clearer perspective, and remove the cobwebs that have been clouding your mind. If you need additional help with this, I can provide it. Meditation and spirituality have saved me.
12. Check out your To-Do List and Tick Things Complete
Some people are so overwhelmed by the number of things that they have pending that looking at the task list scares them and brings them down. It might be the cause of your worries and the low mood of the day. So, check out the easiest of the tasks and mark each one as completed.
I love to write them down on a piece of paper and then mark them with a tick. That action itself helps me feel much better and gives me the motivation to move on to the next task.
Try them and let me know what works for you.
PS: Women also have the luxury to blame it on hormones or the monthly cycle. Grab some ice cream to make yourself feel a little better. 😉
I am curious to know about your experiences with these ideas. These are a rough draft. An eBook on these ideas is in the making. Hope these help.
