Everybody has one of those days. From the moment you open your eyes, till the end of the day, everything has been going wrong. Maybe it’s the time of year; maybe it’s the weather? We feel heavy, unmotivated, less tolerant or just not ourselves. The danger is when it stretches on for days, weeks even, and we cannot get out of our low mood. This may slip into depression. So what do you do, when your mood is low? Well, you could allow that mood to hang around like some unwelcome visitor or you could outwit it by trying one or more of these simple ideas.
Here are 7 Ways to Pick up a Low Mood, that I find helpful:
Pretty up!
Wash your hair, do your nails.. get out those curling thongs and make your shiny mane look pretty with curls! straighten it, curl it.. do whatever to jazz it up. Doll up with some light make up. Then prepare your super breakfast of salmon (mood enhancer) and bagels or wholegrain bread, salad and a huge glass of fresh fruit juice. Then step outside into the sunshine. Find an excuse to go shopping or something but don’t sit in and mope.
Get out of your Cave
All right, so now you are all dolled up, do not sit at home in the darkness, even if you are surrounded by high tech stuff and gadgets. Staying in your cave with depress you further. Stepping out into natural sunlight actually releases neurotransmitters (happy hormones) that will instantly pick up your mood. If you don’t want to go out shopping, at least sit and read in a park, or find a party to attend. Run, flee.. do not stay indoors!
Hold your head high and walk straight
Hold you head up high and shoulders back. The straighter you walk, the better you will feel about yourself. Do not slouch. You could wait for your mood to improve, or you could sidestep the time that will take and attend to your posture yourself. You’ll find that your mood responds positively to the change because you’re behaving more positively.
Skip, Dance, Jump, Run!
Once you’re in the park, bring along your ipod – find a nice spot to sing/dance/tap your feet to your favourite tunes. Stay away from depressing songs please.. only happy upbeat ones will do! If you’re the sporty sort – go for a walk or jog in the park.. exercise will definitely release endorphin’s into your system and make you feel happier in no time.
Get the Giggles
Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter, establishes a positive emotional climate and is contagious and irresistible. If you have a good friend/a positive influencer, who’s a joker, try to hang around him or her. Laughter reduces stress hormones and increases endorphins, which trigger positive feelings with an effect similar to morphine. Or if your friends are all not free, you could put on a movie you know will make you laugh.
Stay Away from the Booze
Do not be tricked by our old friend, alcohol. If initially you get the giggles and feel happy after a few drinks, know that this is a deceptive trick. Alcohol is a depressant! Don’t even go there hoping to find happiness. And don’t fall for your own bargaining trick when you say, just one drink. No one ever stops at one!
Get enough Zzzzz
If you don’t get enough good quality sleep, you will definitely be in a crappy mood. There’s a strong link between poor sleep and low moods. You should try to get at least 6 – 8 hours of good sleep each night. Difficulty sleeping is also one of the first symptoms of depression, and an even greater risk factor for anxiety. Adequate sleep is important for mood. On average adults require around 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
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