In A Bad Mood? Bust Yourself Out Of It

Cranky.

Irritated.

Annoyed.

Frustrated.

Ornery.

Fed up.

Angry.

All are words that can describe just one side of a bad mood.  There are plenty of more colorful words that could probably describe a bad mood better, but I’m sure you get the point.

You and I both know that being in a bad mood does not make you good company. And being in a bad mood does not help when you’re being pulled in many different directions by your job, by your significant other, by your kids, by your parents or by your friends.

Let’s face it, after you’re done sulking and thoroughly enjoying your bad mood, it’s time to get rid of it and get rid of it ASAP.

As much as a day off from work or an hour or two without any responsibilities might help cure a bad mood, it’s not always possible.

In fact, breaking yourself out of a bad mood might need to happen in 20 minutes or less- less time usually being the most desirable way when you have other things to do.

So how do we do it?

Here are a few Bad Mood Busting Strategies for you to try out:

1. Get some Fresh Air– the benefits of fresh air are immediate when you’ve been stuck inside and feel like climbing the walls.  Just breathing in different air can sometimes be enough to shift your perspective so that you can shake yourself out of whatever mood you’re in.  I highly suggest heading somewhere outside, preferably with plenty of trees- regardless of the season.  At least allow yourself to be within the eyesight of something green while you give yourself fresh air.  Main caveat is this, you need to get out of wherever you currently sitting.

2. Get some Sunshine– this usually goes hand in hand with getting fresh air, but not always. There are numerous benefits to getting some sun.  My personal favorite is the infusion of some extra Vitamin D.  As a general rule, Vitamin D is helpful for bone growth and maintenance but also in helping to guard against seasonal affective disorders or put more simply, the wintertime blahs.  Sunshine can help keep people happy so if you can get yourself out in it, even for just 5-10 minutes, you are doing something good to help your bad mood.

3. Get yourself Moving– movement can mean exercise.  If you can get yourself off for a workout, then you will most definitely blow off some steam and release some tension.  However, if you can’t spare the time, just jumping around, running around, doing anything physical outside of your normal routine can be enough to shake things up and help you let go of your bad mood.  A brisk walk around the block can be the cure you’re looking for.

4. Be Bad and Treat Yourself– bad moods are sometimes perfect justification for sneaking in that extra sweet treat.  While it’s not always the best solution, sometimes feeling like you’re being totally bad is enough to bring a smile to your face.  But the point here is that whatever you choose to indulge in needs to be done without guilt or remorse.  Do it, savor it and let your bad mood go.

5. Find something to Laugh at– laughter helps release those feel good hormones called endorphins that we could all use more of.  Usually described as a runner’s high, that same feeling can be mimicked by pure laughter and enjoyment.  Call a funny friend, watch silly videos online or keep a stash of jokes, pictures or letters that make you really laugh and let yourself go.  Laughter is great at breaking tension, so just go do it!

6. Call a Friend– find a friend to make an agreement with when it comes to bad moods.  If you need 5 minutes to rant, then call up your go-to person, rant away knowing that they’re listening and then let it go.  Give them space to do the same for you.  Sometimes it helps to just let it all out to an uninvolved third party, knowing that they are there for you and you them.  This can be a great release valve for stress and also for your bad moods.

7. Get some Nookie– while I will not go into specifics on this one, this is a prime stress relieving practice and helps to release those feel-good endorphins.

8. Cry It Out– sometimes you just need a good cry to break yourself out of a funk.  My suggestions- find someplace private where you know you won’t be disturbed and just let it all out. Bring tissues and some water.  Just let yourself relax and wallow for a few moments but no more than that.  Break through your stress and then find something or someone to make you laugh.

There are many ways to break out of your bad moods.  You just need to know what works for you.  While crying at work isn’t always a good idea, in the privacy of your own home, it could be the perfect fit.  However when you’re at work, it might just be the thing to call up a friend and vent for a few minutes.

The trick to breaking yourself out of a bad mood is simple, do whatever works and do whatever will work the quickest for you.  Be creative.  Be open to experimenting.  And just allow yourself to break free and then go out and be your regular happy everyday self.

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