Push Your Way Past a Bad Mood.

The Grumpiest Cat Alive by jonnykeelty

We’ve all been there, those times when nothing is going right and troubles and misery keep adding up day after day. Bills are piling up, work is a chore, your daily schedule is overflowing and your dog just died. These are the times when a bad mood begins to progress into depression if you don’t take action.

So what do you do? The regular routines don’t work. You find your gardening dull, TV a bore, reading is an effort and everyday activities seem to take more work than their worth.

Now is the time to push yourself. You have to get moving even when you don’t feel like it. Sitting around thinking about your difficulties only focuses your mind on the problem, not the solution. In order to get out of this funk and start enjoying life again, you have to take action.

The good news is you don’t have to actually tackle your problem right now. You don’t have to finish every to-do item, or complete all your tasks at work, or pay off your entire credit card debt. Instead you need to do something productive, that you can control and that makes you feel happier and more energetic.

Here are a few ideas:

• Exercise.Don’t feel like exercising?Do it anyway.Even moving around for 10-15 minutes will get your heart pumping and send those all-important endorphins to your brain.Take a walk, dance, kick the soccer ball around or hit a punching bag.Just get moving.

• Talk it out.Tell a friend or coworker that you’re not feeling yourself lately.Talk about books, movies, or TV shows you have in common.Just communicating, even if it’s about nothing at all will help you feel more connected to people and ease your loneliness.

• Do something nice.For some reason when you share a smile they tend to multiply.Bring in donuts for the office, or buy a funny card for a friend.Compliment someone’s outfit, help out with a problem, or post a joke on the bulletin board.Doing good feels good and will boost your happiness by at least one level.

• Speak positively.Sometimes we feel bad because our talk is negative.We talk about our problems, our dislikes, our annoyances and irritations.These constant reminders of our difficulties only serve to reinforce them.Instead switch to talk about something good.A friend’s new baby, a movie you want to see, the warm weather this week, or a funny thing your child did.Build yourself a foundation of good thoughts to help you see that life is generally good.

• Music.No idea why it works, but music is like wine for the soul.Match the music to your mood, hard rock to pump up your fighting spirit, pop for an peppy beat, comedy and soundtracks for a quick laugh, or classical for a soothing symphony.If it makes you want to dance, that’s just an added bonus.

• Take lots of breaks.When we aren’t feeling good and our mood and energy are low, it is helpful to take lots of frequent breaks.5 minutes every hour you can read a positive quote, stand in the sunshine, take some deep breaths, close your eyes and rest in silence, or do some simple stretches.Pick your favorite technique or mix and match them for the best effect.

• Take action.One thing is for sure, if you do nothing, nothing will happen.The only way to get rid of a bad mood is do something about it.There is no secret cure for the blues.(How we all wish there was).Instead, try doing something you usually enjoy and see if it lifts your spirits.Go out to eat, see a movie, visit the park, go shopping, call a friend, meditate, nap, play kick ball, or ride a bike.Anything and everything.I have found that sitting around thinking about your problems is one of the biggest contributors to making you feel worse.Put your attention on something better instead.

• Repeat often.All too often even I fall prey to this mistake.I do the exercise, fun, or relaxing activity, but I only do it once a week, or for an hour a day.When you’re feeling down, you need to do things that bring you happiness more often than usual.Here’s where your Joy List or Funny File comes in handy.Find things that put a smile on your face – and repeat frequently.The more you do things that make you feel good, the sooner you’ll feel better.The consistent focus on good things will help you see the world in a positive light again.

When life has kicked you around a bit too hard, it may be tough to get up off the ground and start over. When your fear, anger, and frustration come from a variety of different situations, it can be extremely difficult to find a solution. The old tricks and quick pick-me-ups may not work. Don’t let yourself be discouraged. Keep at it, and things will improve. Sometimes just when you think the sun will never shine again, it comes out bright and gleaming. Keep at it, and never give up.

For some really Zany Fun and a great pick-me-up check out this article over at Brighter Days for You and Me!