By: Trina Johnson
We all have those days. We’re cranky, we’re tired, we’re stressed, we don’t feel well. We’re just not our happy-go-lucky bubbly selves. When the blues hit, when the doldrums strike, when you just don’t feel like doing anything productive, try one (or more!) of these 10 activities. I guarantee you’ll feel better.
- Take a walk outside. Even a two-minute stroll to the mailbox will help. Always an instant pick-me-up.
- Put on some up-beat music. Radio or Pandora or iPod or even an old-fashioned CD—it doesn’t matter where the music comes from. Just find a beat. Music changes how you feel. If you are really feeling down, find a song you can sing along with. Sing loud and proud. Dance around the living room. Just two minutes of rocking to a fun song can change your mood.
- Meditate or pray. Stop what you are doing and get seated in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and take 10 long, deep breaths. Just making the effort to take deep breaths will change how you feel. Try to sit quietly for at least 10 minutes. Let your thoughts wander, but as soon as a stressing thought makes an appearance, tell it to go away and leave you alone. “Thank you for playing, but you are not welcome right now.” Yes, I’m encouraging you to talk to yourself.
- Call a friend and ask how their day is going. Be happy for them if things are going well. Be supportive if things are not. Focus on THEM, not on yourself. When you hang up, you’ll feel much better.
- Brew some herbal tea and sip it with a piece of chocolate.
- Take a nap. Sometimes you just need to give in and sleep. Your body knows what you need. Give it time and allow it to refresh and re-boot.
- Laugh. Do a Google search for funny dog videos, or best baby belly laughs, or classic Carol Burnett skits. Whatever floats your boat. But laughing releases endorphins, which will make you feel much better.
- Write in a journal or write a letter to yourself or a loved one. The act of writing can be very therapeutic.
- Stretch for five to 10 minutes. It’s amazing how something as simple as stretching can change your mood. Reach for the sky then reach for your toes. Twist to the side and then the other. Stretching has tremendous health benefits as well as being a terrific mood-booster.
- Read or watch something motivational or inspirational for 15 minutes. I personally have a couple Zig Ziglar videos that I can always turn on for a motivational jolt. But anything by Zig or Tony Robbins or Jim Rohn or other motivational speakers will often do the trick.
So the next time you are feeling run-down, pull out the list and give one or two of these ideas a try. A better mood is waiting.