Look on the Bright Side: 100 Tiny Tips to Improve Your Mood
Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 6:32pm by admin
Even the most happy-go-lucky person in the world has a bad mood now and then, but the difference between moving on and having a bad day all depends on what you do about it. There are plenty of ways to shake off a funky mood, and we’ve listed 100 of the best ways to do it here.
Recreation
If you’re feeling unlike yourself, get out there and do something you like to do.
- Play with a pet: Unless you’ve got a particularly surly animal, playing with a pet is sure to pick up your mood.
- Cook: Chop up some vegetables or tenderize some meat to take out your frustrations. Do even better by cooking food that’s found to improve your mood.
- Dance: Loosen up and lose yourself in music and movement to shake off a sour mood.
- Sing: Sing something upbeat, and you can’t help but feel happy.
- Play games: Concentrate on a game to get your mind off of whatever’s bringing you down.
- Watch a movie: Lose yourself in a movie to feel better.
- Get a massage: Let someone work out the kinks, and you’ll come out with a nicer mood.
- Get a mani/pedi: Get pampered, and you can’t help but feel good.
- Garden: Interact with nature and get some sunshine, and you’ll feel better. Check out these tips to find out how you can improve your garden and mood at the same time.
- Play guitar: Think about chords, and you won’t be able to dwell on your troubles.
- Read a book: Lose yourself in a fun story for a quick pick-me-up.
- Create art: Make something beautiful to brighten your day.
- Fly a kite: It’s hard to not be happy when you’re flying a kite.
- Karaoke: Make a fool of yourself, and you’ll forget about your troubles. Interactive music like karaoke has been found to be therapeutic.
- Have sex: Get cozy, and you’ll enjoy a rush of endorphins and some fun recreation time.
- Enjoy your hobbies: Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, do it, and you’ll get a mood boost.
Exercise
Exercise is a great mood booster, offering a way to concentrate, feel good about yourself, and increase endorphins.
- Martial arts: Take on martial arts to discipline yourself and get your frustrations out.
- Breathe: Do breathing exercises to calm down an otherwise foul mood.
- Stretch: Loosen up, and you’ll feel better.
- Take a walk: Clear your mind with a quick walk around the block.
- Do yoga: Concentrate on yoga poses, and you’ll feel better in no time. Try these mood-altering poses to turn your day around.
- Boxing: Take out your frustrations with boxing.
- Run: For a quick mood booster, just run away from it all.
- Swim: Lose yourself in the repetitive motion of swimming.
- Weight training: Concentrate on building muscles, not whatever’s bothering you.
- Go hiking: Go hiking for a scenic, peaceful way to feel better.
Food
What you put in your body can have a great effect on how you feel, so make sure you’re eating right for a good mood.
- Eat chocolate: Chocolate is great for endorphins, and of course, it tastes great.
- Eat consistently: If you eat every 4 to 5 hours, you’ll have constant blood sugar and be less subject to highs and lows during the day.
- Avoid refined carbs: Carbohydratess will give you blood sugar swings that can leave you feeling blue.
- Fish: Eat fatty fish to get omega-3s, which boost seratonin and improve receptiveness to seratonin.
- Coffee: Drink a cup of coffee, and you’ll get a boost energy, and a kick start to mental pleasure centers.
- Drink tea: The calming ritual of drinking tea can make you feel better.
- Turkey: This poultry helps produce dopamine, which elevates your mood and prevents depression.
- Drink milk: The tryptophan in milk will help you create seratonin.
- Eat protein: Protein slows absorption of carbs, and it will boost your productivity.
- Take vitamins: Make sure you’re firing on all cylinders by taking your vitamins.
- Enjoy whole grains: With complex carbs, you’ll get a slow release of seratonin.
- Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts offer one of the best sources for selenium, which maintains mood and fights depression.
- Broccoli: Broccoli offers B-vitamins and folic acid, both of which will help your mood.
- Eat breakfast: Start your day right, and you’re less likely to feel down later.
- Anything yummy: By eating anything that tastes good, you’ll spark mood-boosting endorphins.
Mental Power
Put your mind to work on your mood with these simple tips.
- Meditate: Try meditation to shift the focus away from your bad mood.
- Try hypnosis: Hypnosis is a great way to get your mood level.
- Change your perspective: Consider how your troubles might actually be good.
- Recite affirmations: Focus on a few simple phrases to remind yourself to be happy. Affirming your goals has a great way of making you look at a more positive future.
- Imagine your perfect place: Put yourself somwhere else for a moment.
- Count your blessings: Remind yourself of all of the good things in your life.
- Laugh: Find something funny to feel better.
- Forgive yourself: Don’t dwell on your mistakes.
- Concentrate: Think about something: anything but what’s causing your bad mood.
- Look forward to tomorrow: Thinking about tomorrow will remind you that a better day awaits.
- Smile: Fake yourself into happiness with a smile. With a forced smile, you’ll send a signal to your brain to be happy.
- Make fun of yourself: Think about how ridiculous you’re being.
- Set attainable goals: Set goals to think of the future.
Social Aids
You don’t have to fight a bad mood by yourself. Call on friends, family and strangers to help you feel happier.
- Join a group: Find a way to interact with people for a boost of happiness.
- Attend a party: Even if you don’t feel like it, attending a party can boost your mood.
- Call a friend: Share your troubles with a friend to feel better.
- Go out to lunch: Visit with a friend or loved one, and you’ll lose your troubles for a while.
- Make friends: Find a new friend for a nice pick-me-up.
- Participate in a discussion: Get your mind moving to pull yourself out of a funk.
On the Outside
Step outside of yourself to improve your mood.
- Volunteer: Do something altruistic for others and you’ll feel better about yourself.
- Act happy: Trick yourself out of your bad mood.
- Take action towards a goal: Even if it’s a small step, taking action towards an attainable goal feels good.
- Finish your to-do list: Although it’s easier said than done, closing out your to do list is sure to make you feel better.
- Wear blue: The color blue offers relaxation, and color therapy has been found to be very effective.
- Forgive someone: Make someone else feel better, and you will too.
- Dress well: If you look good on the outside, you’ll feel better about yourself.
- Make plans: Give yourself something to look forward to.
- Go to bed at a regular time: Get your Circadian rhythm in order for a better day.
- Random act of kindness: Practice a random act of kindness to give yourself a boost.
- Practice deep breathing: Use deep breathing to calm yourself.
- Visualize: Use your mind’s eye to see a better day.
- Stay busy: Keep yourself busy, and you won’t have time to think about troubles.
- Learn something new: Expand your horizons for a nicer mood.
- Leave your house/work/etc.: Sometimes you just need to get away, so get out and do something to feel better.
- Mentor: Teach someone else how to follow in your footsteps for an ego boost that will help your mood.
- Donate: Do something nice with your money, and you’ll feel good about yourself.
- Blow off steam: So do something enjoyable for a pick-me-up.
- Return a favor: Have you asked someone for help in the past? Now’s a good time to return the favor.
- Take a bath or shower: Wash away your troubles.
- Write it out: Get your bad mood out on paper and let it go.
- Indulge yourself: Whether it’s chocolate, or just reading the paper, do something you like, if only for a moment.
- Play with a baby or small child: Pick up the carefree fun of a child.
- Give someone a compliment: Make someone feel good, and you will too.
- Check out stupid videos online: Take a mini-break to smile and laugh for a while.
- Cry: If you’re troubled, let it out to feel better.
- Pet your dog or cat: The act of petting is enough to calm most people down.
Environment
Change what’s around you to improve your mood.
- Get a burst of morning light: Morning light will reset your inner clock and boost your spirits.
- Get away from negative people: Remove yourself from the people who are bringing you down.
- Minimalize your decorations: Create a clean, simple environment for clarity of mood.
- Practice aromatherapy: Use aromatherapy to lighten your mood. Try mood-boosting scents, like eucalyptus and ylang ylang.
- Redecorate: Change whatever it is that you don’t like to feel better.
- Organize: Get rid of clutter, and bring order to your environment.
- Listen to music: Play music to keep things flowing and relaxed.
- Get in the sun: Get natural light for a mood boost.
- Take a nap: If lack of sleep is what’s causing your foul mood, catch up on your sleep.
- Fresh flowers: Bring something beautiful into your environment for a mood boost.
- Use a water feature: Even if it’s just a tabletop fountain, water can have a calming effect.
- Full-spectrum light: Beat winter blues with light therapy.
- Color therapy: Get relaxed with blues and softer hues to feel better.
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Great list, something for everyone!
Comment by iHanna — February 22, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
What a comprehensive list! I can attest to most of these: especially cleaning out clutter and bringing fresh flowers into my personal space.
Comment by Jacqueline — February 28, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Thank you. Thank you. I so needed this right now. See. Blogging does make a difference, one person at a time.
Comment by barbara — February 29, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Love these. I just subscribed to Bootstrapper and am delighted to find this!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
Comment by Lelia Carlson — February 29, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Impressive list on this topic and many other topics as well. Thanks for the ideas that are useful and doable.
Comment by Susan — February 29, 2008 @ 4:16 pm