Sometimes, whatever you do, you feel low and grumpy and struggle to cheer yourself up. By contrast, at other times, you may be only a few activities away from feeling great. As such, the next time that you are feeling down in the dumps and are finding it difficult to shake off your bad mood, here is what you should do.
1. Treat Yourself
Although it can make you feel even better when you give gifts to other people, there is no reason why you should not make sure you treat yourself every so often. Treating yourself can help to give you a rush of endorphins and can make you forget about your troubles for a short time. You should think carefully about the treats that you give yourself, though, as some can be more effective than others. For instance, bath products can help you to have a relaxing bath where you can completely unwind, while athleisure wear can encourage you to get active. Not only this, but cuddly toys can help to stave off loneliness and provide you with the comfort that you might be searching for. However, you should be wary of becoming addicted to the rush of shopping and buying too much, as this can often lead to a reverse in your mood, especially if you cannot afford it or if these treats are making your room messy.
2. Go for a Walk
All that said, improving your mood can often be as simple as getting out of the house or the office and going for a walk. This can help you to step away from the issues that are plaguing you and allow you to return to them refreshed and ready to sort them out. Not only this, but going for a walk can help you to put your troubles into perspective and can allow you to destress. This is especially the case if you go for a walk somewhere where you will be surrounded by nature, as interacting with nature boosts your serotonin and dopamine levels. As such, you should try to make time for a walk every day, even if this is just around your local town or on your way to or from work. If you struggle to get the motivation to go for a walk, you might consider joining a walking group or getting a dog, as this will help to make walking part of your routine.
3. Eat the Right Foods
Many people head straight for their snack cupboard when they want to boost their mood. Many experts recommend not snacking when you are feeling down, though, as this can worsen your mood and health. This is especially the case when it comes to fast food and sugary treats, which are most people’s go-to when they are feeling under the weather. However, some foods can naturally boost your mood and energy levels. For instance, eggs, artichoke, bananas, and avocadoes are all foods that can help to fight stress, and even a little bit of dark chocolate can help you to keep your low mood away.
4. Call a Friend
Another quick way to boost your mood and improve your stress levels is to call a friend. Calling a friend can be a great solution to your problems with mood, as they can help you to take your mind off of your problems or talk through the issues that are distressing you. As well as helping you to avoid loneliness and releasing serotonin around the body, calling a friend might also help you to stave off boredom, which can often lead to struggling with spiraling thoughts and low mood. If you do not have time to call them or do not like using the phone, a quick text may be the answer, as they can then reply to this whenever they have the time.
5. Look at Photos
Often, the best way to improve your mood is to remember the times when you were happier. To prompt these memories, you might decide to look at old photographs. Rather than simply scrolling through these on your phone, you should look at any physical copies that you have. You might even consider printing some photos off and pinning these up around your home so that you can constantly be reminded of better times.
6. Get Off Your Phone
Although your phone might feel like it boosts your mood, these quick dopamine hits can leave you crashing to rock bottom a few minutes later, and you might spend a long time watching other people make connections or have fun. As such, to boost your mood for longer, you should find the power button on your phone and turn it off. This can also prevent you from becoming addicted to your phone by limiting your screen time.
