Mental Health Boosters: How To Improve Your Mood
It is hard to stay motivated when so much is going on in our world. Protests, conflicts between friends and family, and the threat of global peace and security. The winter months seem to drag on, and it is difficult to connect with others when relationships are strained. The most important thing to remember is that your level of contentment starts within. You cannot control what is going on in the world, nor others’ reactions to it. You need to keep going, to avoid getting stuck in a rut of depression and apathy. Here are some ways that you can improve your mood in spite of the people or environment around you.
Improve Your Mood: Practice Regular Self-Care
When the world seems heavy, the best way to stay positive is to focus on your self-care. This will better equip you to manage your reactions and be there for others. Start with daily walking, and get outside. Even in our freezing Canadian winters, you can bundle up, and get moving. Even if it’s only a 20-minute walk, it will feel so good to experience the fresh air and get your heart rate moving. If you work out, schedule a weight lifting or cardio session to help you feel content and calmer. There are many at-home workouts online. Eat properly and avoid falling prey to sitting on the couch eating junk food. Plan the good stuff that you will eat each meal. Take your vitamins. Drink lots of water. Spend time under a hot shower or bubble bath.
Read a book or watch an inspiring documentary. Meditate or write in a journal. Completing a brain dump of everything on your mind helps to clear it. Send a text to a friend and make a plan. Avoid spending excessive time on social media and the news as this is often a source of depression and frustration. I have fallen into this trap too many times, and it makes me feel even worse about myself. Use Mel Robbin’s 5-4-3-2-1 rule, (https://daringtolivefully.com/the-5-second-rule) and get up and do something you planned to do. See The Self-Care Craze for more ideas. Self-care is not selfish. It is essential to feel like a decent human being who has the mindset to handle the other demands of the day.
Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People
It is important to recognize when certain friendships have run their course. (See How To Tell When a Friendship Has Run Its Course). If you find yourself feeling tense and on edge every time you talk to someone, this is not okay. You are not obligated to continue making time for people who bring your mood down. Maybe they share different views than you or find ways to subtly criticize you. They play mind games by not responding to your messages. Life is short, and there is no time for this. Friendship should be easy, not difficult. This does not mean you shouldn’t help a friend who is going through a hard time. What it means is when you feel uncomfortable in someone’s presence because of how they talk, or the opinions they hold, you should not feel bad for not giving them your time.
It is best to seek out like-minded people. Those you connect with at work could play a bigger role in your life. Invite people to do things, and see how that goes. Be responsive to the friends that support you and are there for you. Spend time with them, even when it seems like your life may be too busy. You will never regret making time for someone who lifts you up. You always leave them feeling happier and fulfilled. It is healthy and necessary to vent together about similar topics. It feels safe to share your concerns without fear of judgment, and you can share much-needed laughs together. There are always times when we don’t feel like seeing people, but we need to push past this. We need to be the initiator too. It is important to show our friends what they mean to us.
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
One of the things that can really bring us down as we struggle through pandemic restrictions and an uncertain future, is the lack of anything to look forward to. To improve your mood, it is crucial to plan things. Even if you aren’t comfortable booking a full vacation right now, you can look at doing something locally. You can make a plan with friends or family. There is no reason to think you can’t get out and do things, while still being safe. Look at renting a cottage, going camping, visiting local attractions, or even planning your own event.
I have several things I’m looking forward to as we head into the spring and summer months. I have a hot tub coming that I ordered a while ago, as something we can enjoy as a family, and the kids can enjoy with their friends as well. We have some family dinners planned to celebrate milestone birthdays, and a getaway just to a hotel with a waterpark for the spring break with our cousins. My husband and daughter are going to a hockey game. I am purchasing a kayak to enjoy outdoor time on the water this summer with friends or by myself. My friend and I are looking at a shorter vacation for a few days. We have multiple soccer tournaments that will serve as mini-getaways for our family.
Improve Your Mood to Manage Your Reactions
Planning something to look forward to will look different for everyone. Think about a place you want to visit or an activity you have always wanted to try. Maybe there is something you wanted to purchase for your family to enjoy. This is your one life, and regardless of what is going on in the world or with other people, you need to plan some things that you and your family can look forward to.
The anticipation of doing this will be the mental health boost that you need to get through the mundane routine of the everyday. Don’t think these plans need to be elaborate or expensive. You will be surprised at how many little things you can plan to look forward to, even on a smaller scale. The goal is to improve your mood now so that you can best handle your reactions to everything the world is throwing at us these days. You can be your best self, and have a positive impact on those around you.
