Slipped into the doldrums?
Feeling sad and low and lonely?
We all feel this way from time to time. Often, all we need is a good distraction to shake us out of the funk.
Here are 45 quick and easy mood lifters that you can use right now:
1.Tell a good joke – or ask people nearby to tell
you their favorites. I just read this one, in the intro to Tina Fey’s
book Bossypants. “Two peanuts walked down the road. One was a salted
(peanut.)” And a personal favorite: “What do you call cheese that isn’t
yours? Nacho cheese.”
2. Follow funny people on twitter. I am partial to
goofy humor and silly puns, so SKA always gets a giggle from
me @GoldenWords_UK. Conduct a search on twitter to see if any of your
favorite knowledgeable tweet.
3. Spend a few minutes watching babies giggle on YouTube.
Or check out this little girl and her vigorous affirmations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg I’ve watched this dozens of
times with my kids, and it never fails to brighten our world a bit.
4. Keep a list of inspiring quotes. Reflect on your favorites.
5. Visualize what life would look like if things were going just the way you want them to be.
Now, for the next few minutes, imagine you are acting a part in a
play. Speak and walk and behave as your ideal self living your ideal
life.
6. Drink 16 ounces of water. See if you don’t feel more energized and refreshed when you rehydrate.
7. Call your best friend.
8. Invite a few people over for dinner on Saturday night. Then plan the menu. (Another great creative distraction.)
9. Look at photographs and scrapbooks. Research shows that this activity can quickly heighten your mood.
10. Write for 10 minutes about anything at all this is bothering you. Don’t think too much about what you’re writing. Just get it all on the page. No need to read it over.
11. Spend a little time in nature, even if it’s raining or snowing.
Go outside and breathe. Walk around the block. Nature has wonderfully
restorative properties. And the vitamin D from sunshine will give you
another mood boost.
12. Run around the block, or do 30 jumping jacks. Get your body moving and your heart pumping for a few minutes.
13. Write down 20 things you are grateful for in your life, right now.
Don’t stop until you get to twenty, even if you end up with something
like “I’m thankful for the shape of my right pinkie toe” or “I’m
thankful for spicy hummus and pita chips.” Some days, it’s the simplest
of pleasures that bring the greatest contentment.
14. What are you good at making? Make it. Spend a few moments in creative bliss.
15. Bake a dozen cookies for your neighbors.
16. Find something to give away and give it.
17. Donate $10 to a charity. Spend a few minutes
online researching various charities. Then send a small check in the
mail (or make on online donation via paypal.)
18. Write down 20 things you’ve accomplished in your life. What are you most proud of?
19. Savor a piece of fresh fruit.
20. Spend a few minutes reading your favorite motivational blog.
21. Make a very detailed list of things you want to accomplish today.
For maximum effect, include a number of things you have already done.
Cross all those things off the list. Look how productive you’ve been!
22. Put on some music with a fast beat. Get up and hop around a bit.
23. Clean or declutter something. Does your car
smell like French fries? Is the inside of your microwave sporting some
soup splatters? Find something that’s been irritating you and clean it
really well. Each time you see it, you’ll feel a little lift.
24. Set a new goal for yourself.
25. Go to the library and find a new novel to read.
26. Take an omega- 3 supplement or multivitamin.
Experts say that certain vitamins and supplements can have a profound
effect on your daily mood. Talk to your doctor about increasing B-12 and
folate, as well as omega 3 supplements.
27. Take a nap.
28. Spend 5 or 10 minutes in meditation. Sit and
listen to the flow of your breath. When your mind begins to wander,
gently pull your awareness back to your slow, deep breathing.
29. Open the blinds and, if temperatures permit, slide up the window. Blast the room with sunlight. Sunlight helps to boost your mood as well as your energy levels.
30. Eat a bit of lean protein for a snack. You might be mistaking the blues for a dip in blood sugar.
31. Stretch. Do some yoga moves. Feel your body working and stretching.
32. Buy yourself some scented flowers.
33. Lift your mood with aromatherapy. You can find
“mood lifting” essential oil concoctions, which may contain anything
from rose to black pepper. Peppermint is a particularly invigorating
scent on its own. So is any citrus oil (such as orange, lemon,
grapefruit, and mandarin).
34. Read uplifting poetry. Reading a poem or two
from Mary Oliver or Rumi always helps me to slow down and put problems
in perspective. For a longer lasting distraction, try to commit a short
verse or poem to memory.
35. Send five friends an email to tell them three things you adore or appreciate about them.
36. Dress up. Put on a nice outfit and your best shoes.
37. Browse Etsy. It’s fun to lurk in the midst of other people’s creativity. Find one small item to buy for someone you love.
38. Take your dog for a walk. If you don’t have a
dog, walk someone else’s dog. This will get you outside and moving.
Plus, it’s hard to stay sad when you see how happy you’re making the
little beast at the end of the leash
39. Start planning your next vacation. Get online and look at hotels and attractions.
40. Take a virtual vacation. Look up a place you’ve always wanted to go on Google Earth. Check it out from above and from the street view.
41. Still on Google Earth, look up the address of your childhood home. Have an imaginary conversation with the kid who used to live there. Offer some advice.
42. Browse gourmet cooking websites for new recipes. Print a few.
43. Play a game. Whether it’s on a traditional board
or on your Wii or iPod, a 10 minute competition may be all you need to
get out of your own head. Play against yourself or someone else.
44. If you can’t shake the blues, read a few selections or quotes from Pema Chodron. She’s great at helping you sink into whatever you’re feeling right now and embracing it, just as it is.
45. Understand that it’s okay to feel down every now and then. Take it as a sign that you simply need to give yourself some rest. Trust yourself to restore a better mood in time.
Please note, the ideas in this article are meant only to distract you
from daily doldrums that affect us all from time to time. They are not
meant to treat any kind of serious depression. If you ever feel like
depression or sadness is taking over, don’t hesitate to call a
professional.
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