How are you feeling right now? Maybe you are not feeling great is that the reason why you came to this article. But don’t worry, I will give you 11 ways to get in a better mood and shopping is not one of them. I am talking about real things that you can do immediately and cost nothing. Are you ready to get in a better mood?
The reason why I am doing this is that I am one of those people who is also trying to get in a better mood daily. Yes, it is something you have to work for every single day but it will be worth it. But because I had a burn-out, depression and panic attacks a few years ago, I was in a negative spiral for such a long time. After that, it is harder to get out of this negative spiral. But I know when I put in the effort, it will get easier and eventually I will be in a better mood most of the time.
11 ways to get in a better mood
Start your day right
The way you start the day sets the tone for the rest of the day. Meaning, if you have a shitty start to your day, the rest of the day won’t be easy unless you can turn it around. But it is better to start your day great. Don’t wake up too late, you don’t want to be in a hurry. You want to have a relaxed morning routine. Do something that makes you feel better in the morning. For one that is reading, the other likes to exercise in the morning and someone else wants to meditate. The main goal is to feel better when you are ready for the rest of the day.
Wear your favourite outfit
I know that true happiness comes from within and you are the only one in control of your happiness, but I can also agree that wearing your favourite outfit can make you feel amazing and powerful. When I wear something comfy and oversized, I feel less sexy and confident than when I wear a dress or jeans with something cute.
Eat healthily
Recently I started to eat more healthy and was careful with how much sugar I ate. The first few days were rough, because I had to detox from all of the sugar. But in the long run, it is so much better for your health. Eventually, you get more energy during the day and you will feel more alive. Pizza is my favourite dish, but it makes me feel terrible afterwards. That is probably because of the sugar crash. But when I eat healthy and more salads, I feel so much better. So it makes sense to eat healthy if you want to be in a better mood. Sure, that bar of chocolate is tempting but in the long run, an apple or a banana will give you more energy.
Laugh
Laughter is the best medicine and it puts you in a great mood. Have fun at your work with your colleagues. Make time to laugh and have fun. When you are having fun and you are laughing, you will feel better. Scientists even claim that a fake smile can make you feel happier. It can not hurt to try, right?
Exercise
Exercising releases feel-good hormones. And this does not mean you have to work out an hour in the gym every single day. Even going out for a walk will release those feel-good hormones. Or you can do Yoga. It does not matter as long it makes you feel better and puts you in a better mood. That is why you should do it, it should not be another thing you have to do because everyone else is doing it too.
Listen to music
Listening to my favourite music puts me in a better mood and it can lift my mood. Even on a day when I am not feeling great, music can change my whole mood and make me feel better. So make a Spotify playlist with the songs that make you feel good.
Watch or read something funny or romantic
Horror movies and books are fine, don’t get me wrong. But there is a difference in my mood when I watch something that is scary or when I watch something that makes me feel good. Most of the time the movies that make me feel good are comedies and romance movies. That is also the reason why I prefer to read romance books. These days I am pickier with the things I want to read or watch. That is also a reason why I stopped watching regular tv and don’t read the news that often anymore. Everything can influence your mood. Imagine one person who loves kittens gets to watch a dozen videos of cute kittens and another person who gets to watch videos of people who got murdered. You can understand that the first person will be in a better mood unless the second one has a very strong mindset.
Spend time with people you love
When you are around very negative people, you can feel that. And sometimes it can influence your mood too. So find people who are nice to be around. Make new friends when your older friends are toxic to you. Sure, sometimes people can be in a negative mood and you don’t have to dump them right away. But when they have been negative for months or even years, maybe it is time to find more positive people if you want to be in a better mood.
Play with your pet
If you are lucky and you have a pet, play with them. Pets can bring out the best of you. You feel the love you have for your dog or cat or whatever pet you have. It also can distract you for a moment when you are having a bad day. If you don’t have a pet, maybe ask your friends if you can walk their dog or find some cats on the streets and cuddle them. That is what I do and it works!
Help someone or give someone a compliment
The other day I helped a stranger and the rest of the day I was feeling good. But even giving a compliment to someone can lift your mood. It sounds weird because you would think that you would be in a better mood when you receive a compliment. But giving a compliment and knowing that you made someone’s day is a great feeling too. Helping someone who needed a little bit of help, can lift your mood too. Especially when you expect nothing in return.
Spend more time in the present moment
When you are worrying, you are mostly focused on the past or the future. But guess what? You can’t change the past anymore. You can influence the future but if you are worried then you shouldn’t expect miracles. That is why a lot of people say you should live in the present moment. I agree. The moments when I felt the most alive were the moments I was completely focused on the present moment. I am an overthinker but I am working on this.
Photo by Vinicius Wiesehofer on Unsplash