5 Promising Mood Boosters

Sometimes we have one of those days. You know the ones. Those days that make you plop on your bed and want to forget the world. The days that make you feel drained emotionally, mentally and physically.

Yesterday, I had one of those days. My anxiety kept spiking and I felt like the day would never end. As we all know by experience, there is always some sort of crisis at work. Well yesterday, there were multiple. And by the end of the day, I was ready to just sleep.

I felt like a phone that needed to recharge it's battery. I rested for a short while at home and then blasted my favorite music and it brought me back to life! My husband and I then got some food and watched a movie together and it turned into a great night.

It can be difficult to boost your mood after your energy had been drained from the day. However, it important that we learn how to because it will help us to live more fully.

Here are some of my promising mood boosters!

Having a Clean Home:

I don't know about you, but when I come home to a messy house it stresses me out. It makes me feel bad about myself and breeds for negative self-talk such as "you are a pig," "you are such a slob" etc. The last thing we want to do when we get home is spend two hours cleaning and then another hour cooking.

It can be hard to keep your home clean . However, if you take 30 minutes after you get home to take care of some chores, it can really help! Producing good habits is a must in order to keep your home clean and decluttered as well as your mind.

As many of us know, our home environment can affect our mood:

"Women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.” The researchers also found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol" (The Powerful Psychology Behind Cleanliness).

We don't need the added stress of a messy and cluttered environment. We have enough going on to stress us out. Instead, we need to come home to a space that makes us feel good and relaxed. A space that relieves and revives us from of the day. That in itself is a mood booster.

Sunlight

With work and/or school, we are often inside for most of the day. We don't get enough time to hangout outside and enjoy the sunlight. Especially in the winter. Personally, when I am unable to enjoy the sun (usually in the winter), I get seasonal depression. It seems that there is a link between lack of sunlight and depression:

"There's plenty of evidence that lack of sunlight can drag your mood down. People who live in northern climates are more likely to seek out information about depression online during the winter, one study found" (If Sun Makes You Happier, Think about Your Vitamin D Level).

Thus, enjoy the sun while you can. Go outside and take a walk. Listen to the birds sing and the feel the fresh air around you. It is amazing how it can help you to feel better. If you work inside, take your breaks outside if you can.

When I'm starting to feel drained at work, I take my ten minute break outside and take a walk. I practice mindfulness on my walks by enjoying the sun, the sound of birds singing and the fresh air. In this way, it boosts my mood.

On the weekends take a good book and read outside on the grass. Take out your hammock and rest outside. Take a hike, have a picnic, ride your bike etc. Today is your day to enjoy the world around you.

Music

When I come home from work, I am often drained of my energy and all I want to do is sit on the couch and eat food. Music helps me to boost my mood and helps me to get the energy to do my chores and projects.

I have noticed for myself that music intensifies my mood. For instance, if I'm sad and I listen to sad music, my sadness intensifies. This may not be the case for everyone but it is important to understand our emotional habits in order to know to make ourselves feel better.

I think in most cases, happy and fun music can help us to boost our mood.

"Physiological states brought on by music only intensify as we grow. Happy music, usually featuring a fast tempo and written in a major key, can cause a person to breathe faster, a physical sign of happiness [source: Leutwyler]" (Is there a link between music and happiness?).

Happy music often helps me to get out of that funk that I'm in and to have more energy to enjoy life.

Make a playlist of all the songs that make you happy and when you start to feel drained or "meh," break out this playlist and allow it to boost your mood!

Friends

I believe that we need other people in our life. There is something about human connection that makes us happier. Perhaps it is because by nature we are a social species. We thrive on social interaction.

Maybe the fact that we are social creatures is the reason there was a huge incline of people seeking therapy during quarantine. I certainly needed therapy as well as I was unable to see my family and friends for quite a while.

When we see our friends, they help us to live rather than to just exist. They help us to love life. They help us to get through the bad times and to enjoy the good times. Having them and being able to hangout with them and get the social interaction we need is a mood booster.

Take time for your friends because you need it and they need it.

Living for the Moment

There is a difference between going through the motions and actually putting effort into enjoying each moment. Every minute that passes by is precious. It becomes a memory.

Last night is now a memory. This morning is now a memory. Tonight will become a memory. Life is too short to waste.

As Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda has said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it's called the present."

Right now is the time to enjoy the moment! Go out on the town and do something fun! Go out hiking. Catch a movie. Take a drive. Hang out with friends. It's all up to you!

When I make a conscious effort to enjoy each moment, it really boosts my mood. For instance, when my husband and I have adventures on the weekend, it really makes a difference! It helps me to feel rejuvenated and excited for the moments to come.

Conclusion

My friends, you deserve to feel better! You deserve to enjoy life and indulge in all the good things it has to offer you. The world is for you! Let's not waste our precious moments being in our mental funk. You are worthy of living a great and fulfilling life. Don't trap yourself in your own mental funk. Live your life to the fullest!