It can be difficult to be cheerful and upbeat on some days. It’s no surprise that bad moods can strike at any time. A bad mood can be caused by anything from guilt over forgetting someone’s birthday to unfinished tasks on our to-do list to not getting enough likes on a personal or important Facebook share, according to psychologist Guy Winch, author of Emotional First Aid: Healing Rejection, Guilt, Failure, and Other Everyday Hurts. Humans are sensitive beings by nature, and it’s not odd or even unusual for them to be so. If you’re in a terrible mood, here are some ways you can do in less than ten minutes to boost your mood.
Ways to boost your mood
1-Minute Fixes
Smile. It’s clichéd, but it appears to be true: smiling can turn a frown upside down.
Jump about a bit. Jump jacks, jump rope, or also random flailing around will quickly get your happy-making endorphins pumping (hey, no judgment here).
Smell a few different smells. Inhaling the scents of orange (or essential orange oil) or lavender can also help to calm you down and lift your spirits.
Gum chewing regularly can likewise help you relax and reduce tension and stress.
Take a look at (or buy) some flowers. Flowers, according to studies, deliver an instantaneous and long-lasting mood boost. They can also help us be more productive.
Consume some chocolate. As if we needed another justification than the fact that it’s delicious and it makes us happy.
Visualize yourself in your best light. Let’s face it: none of us are always the person we aspire to be. However, envisioning our “ideal” selves—calm, confident, and moving like Mick Jagger—can help us feel better, even if we still have a long way to go.
Light a candle. At Greatist HQ, we discovered firsthand that flickering flames (as long as they’re controlled!) can burn away stress and make us feel better all over.
5-Minute Fixes
Make a list of your blessings. Consider or write down what you are grateful for. Even if you don’t have time to write everything down, expressing appreciation instantly improves your mood.
Snuggle up with a good book. Climbing under a comfortable blanket for a few minutes may help us relax and be more adaptable. Researchers also discovered that coming into contact with soft objects makes us feel better.
Make a good gesture for someone else. Being pleasant can indeed make us feel better. Small gestures, such as holding the door for the person in front of you, sending a quick love text, or donating ten dollars, add up, so there’s no excuse not to be nice.
Play a cheerful song. It’s simple and quick to do, and it instantly improves your mood. Sing along with us.
Go somewhere where it’s peaceful. Taking a few minutes to relax in a quiet location with no external stimuli, even if it’s just the office bathroom, can do wonders for a foul mood.
Spend time with a pet. We can feel happier and less stressed by cuddling, playing, or just chilling with Fido.
Set a goal for yourself. Even minor victories can have a significant impact on one’s mood. You’ll be basking in the joy of victory in moments if you toss a crumpled ball of paper into the trash can Michael Jordan style, win a game of Solitaire, or pick up a pencil from the floor with only your toes.
Giving yourself a massage is a good idea. A brief rubdown (concentrating on the neck, shoulders, lower back, and also feet) can help to lift your spirits and relieve stress.
Meditate. Meditation is a simple, effective approach to relax and enhance our mood, and it may even boost our intelligence. Sit silently for a few minutes, focus on your breath.
Laugh. Laughter may make us feel better and reduce worry, and the best part is that it doesn’t have to be “real.” So, even if it appears like there’s nothing funny in the world, letting out a big guffaw can just convince you otherwise.
Try something different. The good news is that even tiny changes to a daily routine can make a difference. If you regularly drink coffee, get chai, then take a new route to work.
Put on some makeup. Buying new clothes can improve one’s mood, but one doesn’t have to spend money to gain the benefits of clothing. Wearing red might help you feel more confident and self-assured.
Take note of small marvels. A happy mindset can be developed by cultivating positivism and a sense of wonder. Are you feeling stuck? Look for minor miracles (a butterfly, an act of kindness, something lovely) or visit sites like Happy News, Good News Network, and Daily Good for a more positive outlook on life.