No matter how bubbly you are, we all have our bad mood day moments. Bad moods are a necessary part of life, but they can also be a hindrance to your everyday life. However, by taking time out to have a laugh or take a stroll around the block, it is possible to give your mood a positive boost. How can you change your mood when you’ve started your day off on the wrong foot? How do you stop annoyances from dragging you down and killing your productivity? The following tips will help you turn your bad day around.
1. Live In The Present.
Very often you find yourself in a bad mood because of something that has happened to you or something that you are afraid will happen in the future. Worrying about what has occurred or what will occur can put anyone in an unpleasant mood. However, one way in which to change this and thus, improve your mood, is by focusing on living in the present.
2. Volunteer To Help Someone.
Lending a helping hand to someone in need can actually help to improve your general well-being and mood significantly. Helping others, regardless of how big or small the deed, can impact positively on your mood. So next time you are in a bad mood, why not offer to help a fellow co-worker with something? Even if it is a small gesture, it can greatly improve your mood and make your day a bit better.
3. Listen To Music.
There is a saying that goes like, “Music is the shorthand of emotion. Listening to music has been shown to have a significant effect on mood. Music can evoke all kinds of emotions within humans, including joy. Therefore, sometimes all you need to do to settle into a better mood is to listen to a few good and upbeat songs.
4. Take A Walk.
Taking a walk to clear your head is a simple method of improving your mood that is often grossly underestimated. Very often all that is needed to change a bad mood into a better mood is for you to take some time out and take a stroll around the block. Not only will walking allow you to get some fresh air and your daily dose of vitamin D, but it can also boost your mood.
5. Laughter is the best medicine.
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. Laughter is one of the most important tools that you have to change a bad mood into a good one. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, which are the chemicals that are responsible for promoting a positive mood. Therefore, laughter can help to ease tension, reduce anxiety, and help to improve your overall mood.
6. Pinpoint The Problem.
The earlier you catch your bad mood, the easier it will be to do something about it. It’s very important to pinpoint and name what’s going on. It’s better to say, “I’m upset because I’m behind on an important project and traffic was terrible today,” rather than the over-simplified, “I feel awful. Having a concrete reason for your unhappiness gives you something to work on.
7. Take A moment To Be Grateful.
One of the simplest ways to focus on the positive is to think about what you’re grateful for, whether it’s your job, your kids, or the clothes on your back. There are neuroimaging studies that show it’s almost impossible to be in a depressed state and grateful at the same time. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to the urgent feeling of stress and lack of control.
8. Change Your Routine.
If you’re feeling miserable, don’t hunker down at your desk for the rest of the day. A change of scenery often helps signal to your brain that the current mood doesn’t need to be sustained. Drive around, take a walk, or just go to a different floor. The key is to put yourself in a different physical location, and once you’re there, take a few deep breaths.
9. Take Action.
Another way to stop yourself from trending negative is to take a single concrete action. Send that email that you’ve been meaning to get to or make a phone call you’ve been dreading. Even choosing a healthier snack, a piece of fruit over a candy bar, can create a positive mental avalanche for the rest of the day.
10. Learn From Your Bad Days To Prevent Future Ones.
When you do have a bad day, it’s important to reflect on them before you put them behind you. By taking note of what went wrong and then right you can learn what your triggers are so you stay away from those particular stimuli or at least know how you’re likely to react if you’re triggered.