How I (attempt to) cure a bad mood.

Guys, I have to confess, I’ve been in a rather shit mood the past day or so.

I’m not sure if it’s the cloudy/rainy weather, the fact that I have a weekend-hangover (you know, the kind that happens when a weekend is great and then you come back to reality and realize you still have to go to work on Monday) or whether some other people’s negativity is managing to rub off on me.

It could be all of those things and then some.

But I’m determined to kick this bad mood to the curb! (Easier said than done though, right?)

Here are my personal favorite ways to snap out of a bad mood:

Go on a run. Go to CrossFit. Exercise. If nothing else, if I get out of the house and just walk the little Monster, usually that puts me in a better mood. Unless he acts crazy and leash aggressive, then that will undoubtedly put me in a worse mood. Yep, given the risk factors I think CrossFit is usually the best bet, for me.

Apologize. I absolutely hate it when my bad mood causes me to be rude or a little sharp with someone else. I find that the best way to combat a bit of a temper is to quickly apologize, even if I don’t want to. That way I feel better. they (hopefully) feel better, and I’m that much closer to feeling like a more kind human being.

Start a project. I can get lost in projects for HOURS. If I’m in a bad mood and don’t feel like I can be around other people (and act nicely towards them!) I try to start a project so that my brain can stay engaged in something, I can feel productive, and I don’t have to worry about dealing with other people for a while.

Listen to upbeat or inspirational music. To turn my sour mood around, I either listen to a top 40 pop song playlist or some Christian music, depending on what I’m feeling like at the time. Currently I’m listening to this playlist on Songza.

Pray. Praying makes absolutely any situation better, but when I’m in a bad mood I can easily forget the power of prayer in my life. It’s at these times when I need prayer the most, so I try to remember to set aside some time to really pray and to read some passages in my Bible.

Talk to a friend who makes me happy. (It’s definitely a bonus if this conversation can happen while drinking wine.)

Get shit done. Sometimes just thinking about my ‘to-do’ list can dampen my mood. Well, the only way to solve that problem is to check things of the list! Whether it’s cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, or buying a gift for an upcoming wedding/baby shower, I try to do at least one small task so that I feel more in control of my life and have less to think about for the rest of the day/week/month/etc.

Eat something healthy. Or cookies. Or maybe a doughnut. I am absolutely not a health nut. But when do I feel my best? When I’m eating healthy foods, of course! Even if this means drinking a smoothie in the morning or eating a salad at lunch, if I’m in a crap mood I try to focus on what I’m eating. Unless my bad mood is telling me I need chocolate, in which case I give in and find chocolate immediately. There’s no point in fighting a craving when you’re convinced a cookie is all you need to turn your day around!

Write a (mental or physical) love note. I’ve found that saying (or even thinking!) something kind about someone else really helps to lift my mood. Sometimes I even write mental love notes to myself if I’m being especially self-critical.

Pet a dog. Loving on a pet is the best form of medicine for just about everything! Before I had a little Monster of my own, I would frequent the dog beach so I could watch other mutts running around and playing to their hearts’ content. It’s pretty much impossible to be in a bad mood while petting/cuddling a dog!

…What are your tips for getting in a better mood?! Share them with me, I need all that help I can get this week….

Cheers!

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