Thirty Ways To Improve Your Mood When You Are Having A Bad Day
Everyone is entitled to a bad day. I mean, life happens to the best of us, right?
Even the happiest of people have bad days here and there, and that’s OK. But sometimes we have a tendency to want to wallow in self-pity when negative situations arise.
Often, one of our first instincts is to over-indulge in ALL of the comfort foods and shut ourselves up from the rest of the world (speaking from experience here).
I think it’s important that we give ourselves permission to not always be happy, while also realizing that there are several things that we can do that will help to improve our mood when we’re feeling down.
Instead of letting those negative feelings fester, or overdosing on chocolate, here are 30 simple things that you can do when you’re having a bad day.
How To Improve Your Mood
Spend some time outdoors. Breathing in the fresh air, and letting the sun shine on your face will do wonders for your mood.
Pray. Spend some time in prayer talking to God about your problems. You’ll feel better instantly!
Enjoy some aromatherapy. Light up your favorite scented candle, or throw some essential oils into the diffuser. Certain scents like jasmine, sandalwood, and bergamot are known to boost your mood.
Unplug from technology for the day. Sometimes we can become overloaded with technology. Whether it’s sitting in front of a computer at work all day, or the endless scrolling we do on social media. Take a much needed break from your devices.
Enjoy some time with your kids. Children know how to have fun. Spend the day playing games and eating junk with the kids.
Take a long, hot bath. Turn your bathroom into a spa. Gather your favorite bath products and beverage of choice and enjoy a nice, long soak.
Listen to a comedy podcast. Laughter is the best medicine, so listen to a comedy podcast and get your laugh on!
Go for a walk with your dog. Grab your furry friend and enjoy the outdoors together.
Read a book. Grab one of your favorite books off of the shelf, or if you prefer an audiobook, you can listen on Audible.
Cry. Sometimes you just need a good cry. Tears can be healing. So, let your emotions flow. And if necessary, you can even yell while you’re crying.
Call up a loved one and vent. Whether it’s your mom, sister or best friend, call them up and vent your feelings. Sometimes you just need a listening ear, and for someone to let you know that your feelings are validated.
Write in your journal. If you don’t have a person that you can really talk to, write your feelings down on paper. Journaling is great for your mental health. Instead of keeping things pinned up inside, letting your emotions flow out onto the paper. You’ll feel so much better afterwards.
Buy yourself some flowers. Flowers can be an instant mood booster. They’re just so pretty to look at that you can’t help but feel better.
Enjoy a bowl of ice cream. Fix yourself the biggest bowl of ice cream with all of your favorite toppings, and dive in. It feels so good to indulge every now and then.
Listen to music. Even if you don’t consider yourself a good dancer, crank up your favorite music and dance.
Try retail therapy. Who doesn’t love shopping? Hey, I’m just saying. Head out to your favorite retailer and buy yourself something nice. Or you could do a little online shopping – just don’t overspend.
Exercise. Exercise is good for the body and mind.
Bake your favorite sweet treat. Head to the kitchen, and whip up a batch of your favorite cookies. Or break out grandma’s recipe for a delicious cake.
Netflix anyone? Watch a few sitcoms and have yourself a good laugh.
Color in an adult coloring book. Grab some coloring pencils or markers and relive one of your favorite childhood pastimes.
Recite a few motivational quotes to help lift your spirits.
Do something nice for someone else. Shift your focus to a person in need and see how you can help them. By doing something nice for someone else, it will in turn help you to feel better.
Take some deep breaths. Deep breathing is naturally therapeutic, and can ground you and help you reconnect.
Take a much-needed nap. Sometimes you just need to re-set. Getting a couple of hours of shut-eye can do wonders for your mood.
Rearrange the furniture. This may sound strange, but rearranging the furniture can not only give the room a fresh look, but can give you a fresh perspective, and help to bring you out of a funk.
Spend time with your bestie. Spend the day hanging out with your best friend.
Go for a leisurely drive. Ease your pensive mood by going for a drive. Take the scenic route!
Visit a nice restaurant and enjoy your favorite comfort meal.
Start a gratitude list. Instead of focusing on the negatives, write down a list of things that you are grateful for.
Have some chocolate. Eating chocolate actually releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, into particular regions of the brain. So, go ahead and enjoy a few pieces.
The good news my friend is those bad days won’t last forever. Give yourself a little time and you are sure to feel better.
What are some of the things that you do to help improve your mood?
25 Comments
hollysbirdnest.com
What a wonderful post! I love all 30 ideas! We all could use a little “me” time when things get tough!❤
Lisa
Thank you, Lasonia, for the great ideas! The ones I use most are 2, 6, 9 and 30, but I also throw in a Hallmark Channel movie if I have the time. Actually, I indulge in them even when I’m not having a bad day. The ideas you shared can make any day better, even if your day is not going badly!=) Thanks for the post!
Lasonia
Thank you for reading Lisa! Those are some of my favorites as well.
Sarah Emery
What great tips to improve a bad day. Having chocolate (number 30#) always lightens my mood 🙂
Krysten (@WeirdGirlBlog)
I do so many of these when I’m in a bad mood. Right now my mood is great, but I just found out I have to work 8 days in a row after my birthday trip which I’m not happy about. Looks like I’ll need to try some of these.
faecelinee
These ideas are great. I always write in my journal when I am not feeling great and it really makes me feel better. I also love listening to music and read some books
Joanna
I do like to go for a drive when I don’t feel great, or when I am having a bad day. I like to drive a scenic road nearby, stop at the gas station at the top for a coffee and then come back home.
Sondra Barker
I recently started journaling when I am feeling sad or stressed and I can attest to how well it works.
Kuntala Banerjee Bhattacharya
Lovely ideas dear. So much thanks to you for the suggestions. I do really need them. Sometimes the office work and responsibilities at home turns me off. Thank you.
kidneyfornikki
These are all great ideas! But the chocolate one — that’s key. I do that most of the time if I have some chocolate around the house!
amayszingblogs
I love this! having a bad mood is worse but having this list would make to save your day!
Kiwi
#24 is what I do anytime my life is a little unbalance. A nap can help you reset.
Lasonia
Yes! A good nap is always in order.
toastycritic
All of these things are good when it comes to improving mood. But the biggest for me would be that scoop of cookies and cream ice cream. Ha ha! Actually for me it would be spending time with my daughter.
Olya Amanova
This is a skillful enumeration. You’ve managed to put together the easiest and most efficient ways to uplift spirits – and I found a few that for sure will work for me.
Sundeep
Music always do wonders for me if I am not in a good mood.
Pink Frenzy/Öku Möku (@Pink_Frenzy)
I love these tips. I’m always up for some chocolate and shopping 😀
Laura
Mudpiefridays
Thanks for sharing this. Pausing to take stock and think about our motivation for doing things is so important. This was a great read, thanks
The Beauty Wonk
This is so helpful! I always get ready and go to a silent, less crowded cafe. It’s so therapeutic. 🙂
Steph S
I needed to read this today! Thank you for so many ways to improve a bad day:)
Bree L.
I love that you included do something nice for someone else. I found that out for myself one day when I was really having a hard time, I did something nice for a friend and just felt better after that!
Lasonia
Thats one that really helps me too.
Valerie Durias
Things have been pretty heavy lately, and I’m glad I came across this list to remind myself that there are so many things I can do to turn my days around. Thank you for this!
mommysup
Cry. Or even yell while you’re crying. That’s a good one. We all need it sometimes, but nobody encourages us to!
Angela Sherman (@ASherman313)
Exercise usually helps me! And chocolate 😉