Mood is a thing. It can be a thing. One day you could be happy as can be, the next not so much. Especially for those who have experienced trauma, having as many tips and tricks for how to improve your mood in your emotional toolbox is so helpful!
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- My go-to first step at improving my mood is to embrace my emotions.
Sometimes it can be hard to shake a mood because we don’t address it. Anytime I start to feel a funk roll in I ask myself three questions.
– What am I feeling? So name the mood/feeling. Are you sad, scared, angry, etc.? (I never learned this growing up, so it definitely takes practice for me.)
– Why am I feeling this? Did something happen? Did an event or conversation trigger a past experience?
– What can I do? Is there an action(s) you can take right now to address your feelings? Do you need to have a conversation with someone and share why a certain topic is triggering to you? Are you beating yourself up about something? Or do you need to focus on yourself for a few minutes or the entire day? In which case, read on. - Talking to someone is also a great way to boost your mood.
I know for me personally, one of the best ways to improve my mood is to talk to someone about all of it. Whether that be a psychologist, a spouse, or a friend, each can be helpful (as long as they know how to listen). - Journaling can be your best friend.
Another method for improving your mood is to journal. Write about whatever is on your mind. Write about how you’re feeling, why you think you’re feeling that way, and leave it all on the pages. Then, write about what you are grateful for. Journaling on a regular basis or just when you feel the need also allows you to tangibly see progress through the pages. You can look back in six months or a year and see how far you have really come, which can be really powerful. - Meditation is rejuvenating.
I know meditation can seem overwhelming and difficult if you haven’t done it before but it can be mood-boosting and even life-changing so it is definitely worth a shot. Here is an easy 5-minute mood-boosting meditation to try. - Take a shower.
Taking a shower or a bath can be rejuvenating and leave you feeling refreshed. Also, changing your temperature can snap you out of a bad mood, so taking a shower or a soak in a tub accomplishes that as well. - Hug a tree!
Even if it’s just five minutes in your backyard, kick off your shoes and let your toes wiggle in the grass. Or, if you live in the city, a nearby park or rooftop garden can suffice. Utilize your senses, feel the breeze, touch the grass, and hug a tree. Listen to the birds. You can also take advantage of the sun and soak up some vitamin D. - Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy. Ever heard that before?
Get out and work out. Do a physical activity you enjoy. If you can’t think of anything or don’t have a habit of exercising, my go-to is stairs—either stairs in your home or stairs in a public space. Try walking up and down the stairs for 1 – 2 minutes, followed by as many pushups as you can do on the stairs (makes the pushups easier). Repeat for 5 – 10+ minutes. - Pet a pet. When has snuggling a furry friend not made you happier?
Do you have a furry friend that you can spend a few minutes with? If not, head outside and go for a walk; you might just run into a friendly owner who would allow you to pet their dog and even give them a hug. - Hug someone.
Hugs literally make us feel better, we actually need human contact to thrive so find a friend and hug away. - Do a random act of kindness for someone.
Doing something nice for someone else can make you feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy happiness. Ideas for this could be buying the person behind you a coffee, making a bouquet of flowers from your garden, and taking them to your neighbor. Bake some goodies and bring them to work, or even better, make an amazing fruit platter to share with your colleagues.
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