When you’re feeling down, it can affect your productivity and energy levels and lead you to spiral into a slump. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple steps that you can take to lift your spirits on a bad day.
Read on to learn seven of the easiest ways to improve your mood instantly, from treating yourself to something beautiful or indulgent to exercise or other activities that boost your endorphins to give you those warm, happy feelings.
Smile More Often
It might be hard to believe, but the simple act of smiling can sometimes be enough to fight away the blues. Every time you smile, you stimulate the release of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins that help to boost your mood.
The next time you’re feeling less than your best, try putting a smile on your face. Even if you’re faking it at first, before long, you might just find yourself smiling for real. What’s more, your smile can help to boost the mood of those around you, letting you pass on your good vibes.
Enjoy Some Chocolate
If you’re looking for a good excuse to sneak something sweet, try a bite of decadent chocolate to lift your spirits. Studies show that chocolate may help to improve mood while warding off negative emotions, whether through the sweet scent and rich, creamy taste or through compounds found in cocoa that have been linked to positive cognitive effects.
If you’re having a bad day, indulge in some creamy dark chocolate for instantaneous relief. Whether it’s your favorite candy bar or melt-in-your-mouth caramels or nut clusters covered with decadent dark chocolate, you can savor every bite for a few moments of bliss.
Treat Yourself to Flowers
Receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers has been proven to help boost your mood when you feel down. Flower vases around the home or office can help to soothe, relax, and uplift your spirits on bad days.
Don’t be afraid to treat yourself. You can order a bouquet of FruitFlowers® from Edible Arrangements® to enjoy roses, carnations, lilies, and more of your favorite flowers in a gorgeous bouquet paired with some decadent sweet treats – giving you two ways to improve your mood in one.
Spend Time Outside
Reconnecting with nature is a great way to boost your mood both instantly and in the longer term. Spending even just a few minutes a day outside can do wonders for your energy and stress levels.
When you’re feeling down, you can try heading to a nearby park, hiking trail, or even your backyard to restore balance to your life. You can also bring greenery into your home or office so you can appreciate nature all day long.
Listen to Your Favorite Song
Listening to music we like is one way to boost dopamine levels in the brain, improving mood and reducing anxiety. Music may even help us to cope with pain and combat cognitive decline in older adults.
If you’re feeling down, you can try putting on your favorite songs to lift your spirits. For an even greater mood boost, try dancing to get the muscles relaxed and the blood flowing. You’ll feel better both mentally and physically so that you can continue tackling the day ahead.
Get Some Exercise
Staying active can help you keep your spirits up even during tough times. It’s a good long-term strategy for improving mood, but it can also help in the short term.
When you’re feeling down, a quick bout of exercise helps elevate levels of mood-boosting hormones such as serotonin and dopamine.
You don’t necessarily have to head to the gym to get a workout. There are plenty of activities you can do at home or the office that will get your heart pumping. Cleaning, gardening, and mowing the lawn are all fairly strenuous exercises.
Book a Massage
When life gets busy, it can be easy to forget how much human interaction means to our emotional state. People starved for touch can get stressed, depressed, and anxious with time. When you’re feeling sad, something as simple as a hug can quickly lift your spirits.
For a full dose of touch-fueled endorphins, you can book a professional massage at your local health center or beauty parlor. A massage can help to reduce stress levels, decrease anxiety, and boost overall mood for hours or even days afterward.
What’s more, if you have any muscular aches and pains, a professional massage can help you to work out any uncomfortable kinks.
Wrapping Up
The next time that you’re having a bad day, try some of these simple tricks to give your mood a quick boost. Simple actions such as smiling or treating yourself to something beautiful or delicious can make a world of difference when you’re feeling down.
Of course, if you find yourself feeling down, sad, anxious, or depressed often or for a long time, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Talking to your family doctor is a good place to start. Your healthcare provider may be able to prescribe medications that alleviate your symptoms or recommend mental health therapy to get you started on the path to recovery.