It’s not uncommon for people to be in a bad mood from time to time, but unfortunately, it appears that the majority of people in the world are in a perpetually bad mood for the past several months. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, because we’re living in turbulent times, and things that are happening in the world right now are affecting us all, even if they’re happening far away. If you’ve noticed that you’re feeling ‘down’ or bad for prolonged periods of time, and would like to find a natural way to change that, we’re here to help.
Come to terms with your bad mood
It doesn’t matter if you’re struggling with real depression or you’re just feeling under the weather, the first step in overcoming this obstacle is admitting there is an obstacle in the first place. As simple as it might seem to you, many people go about their days without ever acknowledging the fact that they’re feeling bad. If you’re hoping to get better and beat the foul mood, you need to admit that you’re not feeling good at this present moment. Once you take time to notice this fact and come to terms with it, the path before you will become a tad easier. Managing the symptoms of a bad mood needs gentleness and patience, and the first step is looking at the problem objectively.
Try breathing meditation
Meditation is a journey, not a destination. When you’re meditating, you’re actually looking for ways to focus on something and anchor your thoughts. There are different meditation techniques that are designed to take you on different kinds of journeys, but one of the simplest ones we recommend is breathing meditation. It’s one of the best “weapons” in a battle against anxiety and bad mood because it allows you to stay focused and present at the moment, thinking of nothing other than your deep breaths and the air that’s filling your lungs. Breathing meditation will also help you relax and fall asleep more easily, so try to practice taking deep, deliberate breaths while you’re in bed.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness one of those basic human abilities we all have – the ability to be present at the moment and being fully aware of your surroundings and our actions, or our emotions. When we’re feeling down (or downright anxious), functioning “normally” can be challenging or even impossible. To overcome this, you can try the 5-4-3-2-1 mindfulness tool. It’s simple: all you need to do is to focus your attention to the 5 things you can see around you at the moment, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel (use your sense of touch – focus on the shoes on your feet or the ring on your finger), 2 things you can smell, and a single thing you can taste (even if it’s only your tongue).
Start walking
The harsh truth is that many people feel bad or even depressed during colder winter months simply because they can’t spend as much time outside as they used to do. The sad thing about this pandemic is that we have to spend a lot of time indoors and keep a social distance. Physical activity is the best way to boost your mood, stay healthy, and get plenty of sunshine, and the best thing is – you can still keep a social distance even if you choose to walk with someone else. Spending time outside in the fresh air is one of the best ways to get your daily dose of sunlight and improve your mood, but even if the weather is bad and it looks like it’s going to rain, a short walk will help you feel much better, and it will even give your immune system a boost.
Hop on your bike
If you’d rather not walk and get too close to others, but would like to social distance and keep it that way, getting plenty of exercise doesn’t seem like a possibility at first. Luckily, if you hop on your bike, you can get your blood moving, breathe in some fresh air, and still stay safe in the time of the pandemic. It’s time to get that old bike out of your garage, dust it off, order bicycle parts online if there’s anything to be fixed, and get going. Bonus points to you if you manage to find a trail that will take you to a place with an awesome view, because great views can really make you feel good, especially after you’ve been cycling for a long time. Spending time outside is a great way to reconnect with Mother Nature, and you will feel like someone had pressed the reset button in your mind when you get home.
Treat yourself with good food
Another great way to improve your mood is to change your diet. Everyone loves snacks, but we don’t really notice when chips and chocolate bars start taking over our diet. So, do your mood and your body a favor and treat yourself not with a triple chocolate brownie, but rather have a bowl of fresh fruit with some raw honey on top. It’s equally sweet but much healthier. Fruits and nuts are always a great choice, so get your hands on some bananas, kiwis, pineapples, walnuts, and hazelnuts, and good old apples and stock your pantry and your fridge with these beauties. There are many fruits that are considered “superfoods,” and a handful of nuts will boost your energy levels and keep you full.
Listen to music
It’s no lie that music is good for your health; in fact, the health benefits of listening to music are more than studied and certainly well documented. There is a reason so many teenagers state that they can’t live without music – music is able to move both your heart and your body in an instant. What is more, music is able to take you back to a different place and time, which is particularly important when you feel like the reality we live in is just “too much” for you to handle at the moment. Music can touch your heart like nothing else can, so it might be a good idea for you to take time and put together a playlist, put on your headphones, and listen to something that will cheer you up instantly.
Express yourself creatively
Art has been around for as long as we have, and people have been using art as a way to express themselves and come to terms with their own emotions, but also to escape the world they live in and the bad things they are feeling. You might not be the best at drawing, painting, or building things, but that’s not a reason to never try it. Feel free to express yourself creatively: take a camera and record and edit videos, take up photography, write a journal, try different techniques and paint a picture or draw a comic, or just start blogging. While many think that starting a YouTube channel or a blog is just a way to earn money, you can also do these things simply to help calm yourself down or cheer yourself up. If you want, you can keep your art private or choose to share it with your friends and the world, it’s completely up to you, but it will certainly make you feel better.
Reach out to people
The sad truth is that many people who are feeling bad don’t want to bother others, which is why they choose to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves, ultimately making things more difficult. Think about your friends and family – you would want to know if any of them were feeling down, wouldn’t you? You probably have non-judgmental people in your vicinity, so try reaching out to someone who will be there to listen to you. While the pandemic might have made us dream of cuddles and kisses with those we feel the closest to, you can still have video chats with your friends and family, you can even play games online and discuss movies and TV shows.
Declutter your home
Your mom probably made you clean and organize your room occasionally, and while cleaning and decluttering your living space is not something many of us enjoy doing, it’s an activity that can greatly help people feel much better. When you successfully clean your home, you see it as an accomplishment and instantly see yourself as capable. Seeing the results of your hard work instantly can greatly lift your spirits and brighten you up. When faced with clutter and mess, you can feel demotivated, but cleaning means making a series of quick decisions and solving many small problems, which is sometimes necessary to brighten you up and get you in the mood to keep going and doing other energizing things.
Spend time with pets
You’ve heard people refer to their pets as furry members of their families. The reason is that you and your pets really become attached to each other, you provide each other comfort and become the source of joy for each other. Even if you don’t have a pet at the moment, your friends and neighbors probably do – ask them if you can join them for a walk or if you can take the pet for a walk. Volunteering at an animal shelter is also a great idea – they always need another set of hands, and animals love socializing and spending time with people. Owning a pet is an effective way to lower your stress and anxiety levels, and it can even help people who are depressed. If you have a dog, taking them for a walk is also a chance for you to get out of the house and spend time in the fresh air, which is great.
As natural as it is to feel bad and sad every now and then, you shouldn’t get accustomed to this mood. Getting out of a bad mood and a bad mindset can be difficult if you’ve been stuck in one for a long time, so try to ‘snap out’ if you’ve been stuck for too long. There is nothing wrong with asking for help; on the contrary, talking to a professional will greatly improve both your mindset and your life, but if you would rather try something natural, the things we suggested here in this article might help. Stay safe!