headspace | six ways to better your mood

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I woke up yesterday feeling a little grumpy and down for no particular reason. But I was determined to not let it ruin my entire day. With this in mind, I turned to one of my favorite things ever – a list – and wrote down a few things that could help me snap out of it. I’m sharing 6 ways to better your mood to bring back a little happiness into your life when you’re not feeling your best.

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Make yourself a treat// Let’s start with food. When I’m feeling down, or even if I feel like I’m spending too much time in front of the screen, I always enjoy taking some time to make something delicious for myself – especially a sweet treat. Baking always gives my mind something to focus on and making something from scratch always makes me feel good about myself. Plus, it’s a way of treating yourself with something delicious! How cute are these cookies I made?!

 

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Journal your feelings// I don’t do this very often but when I’m feeling down, journaling my feelings always makes me feel better. Putting your thoughts and feelings into paper takes some weight off your shoulders and helps you clarify what’s truly bothering you. But for this to happen, you have to dig deep into how you’re feeling and write it all down – without feelings of judgment towards yourself. When you’re done (or a couple of days later) you can go back to it with a new pair of eyes and analyze what triggered the bad mood so that you can work on it.

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Go for a walk// If it’s a good day out, go for a walk. Walking lifts your mood, gives you energy and gets the endorphins moving which can reduce stress hormones. As much as my mind tells me to stay inside because “I’m too tired”, I always feel better after a walk at the end of the day. This is also a great opportunity for practicing a mindful walk. Without the need of getting anywhere, observe your breath and your surroundings. Be present in the moment and notice things you don’t normally do as you rush from one place to the other.

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Chat with someone// Chat with someone close to you about how you’re feeling or simply make plans with them to help you get out of that bad mood. Just like journaling, chatting with a friend or family member will help you release negative emotions and get clear on why you’re feeling this way.

 

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Art from Pinterest.

 

Get some exercise done// Just like going for a walk, exercise releases endorphins which will help you feel better. And it can be any form of exercise, just pick something that you enjoy and do it for as long as you want. For me, it has been pilates. I’ve been following Blogilates’ 30-Day Challenge and it has helped me relax, focus on the present moment and get some exercise done while I’m at it.

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Practice gratitude// One of the reasons why you might not be feeling your best is because your mind is too clouded and busy. Gratitude is about taking time from your busy life to appreciate what you have. And when you count your blessings, you realize that your life is actually full of things to be grateful for. Read here to see how I do my gratitude list. It’s super easy, and cost nothing!

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Thank you so much for reading! I hope you’ve found any of these ways to improve your mood helpful.

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What are your feel-good activities for when you’re not feeling your best?

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