It’s almost the weekend, but are you feeling a bit blah after a hectic week? Could your mood do with a boost to get you in top form for your coming days off?
Every now and then we all feel a little sad over nothing in particular. Maybe something a work puts a dampener on our otherwise sunny outlook on life. Or maybe we’ve had a row with someone. Or maybe, just maybe, we feel stuck in a rut and generally dissatisfied with things.
If you feel like you’re in need of a brighter perspective on things, why not try some of the following simple ways to perk you up and help you feel happier?
10. Let it Go: Every single day, all around the world, millions of people make mistakes. Fact. Making mistakes is a part of human life. If you make a mistake it’s important not to blame yourself. If you say something wrong or forget to do something important, simply accept that you made a mistake a let it go. Blaming yourself will only make you feel worse.
Remember, a mistake is an opportunity to learn so take a breath, see what you can take from the situation and let it go. Beating yourself up about something will only make your mood steadily worse for the rest of the day. It’s better to just accept what happened and move on.
9. Bright Side: If you want to feel happier instantly, it’s always better to look on the bright side of life. Instead of worrying about all the bad things that could happen in a situation, focus on all the great things that might happen. Instead of saying “I can’t” be optimistic and say “I can!”
According to recent studies, people who are more positive about life actually live longer than people who aren’t. If you’re feeling a bit down, allow yourself to see the good in things and watch your outlook change.
8. Relax: Stress can be one of the biggest mood dampeners, therefore it’s important to make sure you have time to relax. Having a bad day? Feel like crying? Take an hour to yourself to just sit down and relax.
Take a few deep breaths and spend some time doing something you love – it’s a guaranteed way to make you feel better and revive an otherwise crappy mood.
Sunshine is the easiest way to get a good-mood fix.
7. Sunshine: What’s the quickest way to change your view on things? Sunshine. Okay granted, we don’t get much of it in Ireland, but on the rare occasions that the sun makes an appearance, get yourself outside for five minutes, turn your face to the sun and soak up some rays.
If you’re planning on staying out longer than five minutes though make sure you’re wearing proper sun protection!
6. Cuddle a Pet: Animals are amazing and they’re fantastic if you’re having a bad day. Honestly, is there anything better than playing catch with a hyperactive puppy?
Spend a few minutes playing with your dog/cat or borrow a friend’s canine companion. Animals can actually reduce stress levels and bring an element of joy into our lives. Make a play date today!
5. Exercise: We all know that it can be a bit of an effort to put on our trainers and hit the gym, but exercise is a fool-proof way to get the endorphins flowing and your mood skyrocketing.
Even if the last thing you feel like doing is getting up and moving around the place, just give it a go – you’ll be feeling so good/smug after fifteen minutes you won’t want to stop.
4. Dream Big: Imagine that you’ve just won the lotto and that money is no longer an obstacle. What would you do? What would you buy? Where would you go?
Spend a while daydreaming about your dream life. Use your big dreams to lift your mood and make you smile.
Chatting with a loved one or friend can get you feeling better instantly.
3. Communicate: One of the easiest ways to get out of a funk is to call your bestie or your boyfriend and have a chat.
Chatting with a loved one can instantly perk up and otherwise not-so-great day and, if your bestie has a penchant for witty puns or stupid jokes, you’re bound to have a laugh or two as well. Buh-bye bad mood!
2. Sing: We recommend that you only try this one when you’re home alone or if you have a voice that could give Adele a run for her money. Simply turn on your favourite song, have a dance and sing at the top of your lungs.
Sure you may feel like an idiot, but we guarantee you’ll be laughing at yourself faster than you can get to the second verse of Destiny Child’s Independent Woman.
1. Fake it: If you want to feel happier, simply act like you’re happy until you start feeling better. The thing with our brains is that they can’t differentiate between actually being happy and faking it.
So, as the old saying goes, fake it until you make it!
