Wouldn’t it be nice if you could always have the best mood? Every day, you’re just coasting through life not thinking that something will go wrong. You have the confidence to achieve your goals, and you know everyone likes you. The reality, however, is we are more anxious than confident, and this makes it easy to feel down and in the dumps.
If you get into this kind of mood, here are some things you can do:
Finish one small task
When you’re writing your checklist for the day, take care not to sabotage your own wellbeing. List your priorities, whether big or small. Don’t just fill your calendar with the big tasks that will change the world. Divide them into smaller chunks that you can easily tick off your list. And when you feel down, look at those “easy pickings” and just do them. You will feel some resistance, but getting something done will give you a shot of confidence, which can help pick up your mood.
Take a break
It is very easy to give up on even basic hygiene activities when you feel down. You don’t feel like bathing or brushing your teeth, or even combing your hair. You may not even feel hungry during mealtimes. On these days, you need to go easy on yourself, but it’s also important to still take care of yourself. Allow yourself to take a break, but set a time limit to it so that the rest of the day does not run away from you.
Get out of your comfortable clothes
There are days when you just feel like sulking, staying in the dark, and binge-watching your favorite shows. You don’t even pay attention to the show, but the familiarity of it brings you comfort. On days like this, one of the easiest ways to get out of a bad mood is by getting out of your comfortable clothes. You’ll face the ordeal of getting changed and even applying that moisturizer for combination skin, but once you’re done with it, you will find it easier to do the rest. Just take that one step forward and keep going.
Be aware of how you’re talking about yourself
Negative self-talk is easy to do when you are having a bad day. You think in absolutes–that you are the worst or that you cannot do anything. This kind of talk is what you should pay attention to and correct. Remind yourself that you can do better, and that you will. Remind yourself that one bad day does not mean you are a bad person or that you can never do anything right. Practice compassion towards yourself.
Call a friend
On days when you just feel like being alone, maybe that’s the last thing you should do. There is good in solitude, but if you need someone to talk to, reach out. This will help you get to the root of why you are feeling the way you’re feeling, and your support system gives you the encouraging words you need to get through the day
Pay attention to what you’re doing when you’re in a bad mood. It’s easy to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, but your future self will thank you if you practice healthier ways of getting out of your funk.
