7 Easy Ways To Kick The Bad Mood You’re In, According to Science

Once you get into a bad mood, it can be hard to get out of it. Whether you’re having a bad day, you got in a fight with your significant other, or maybe you just didn’t get enough sleep the night before, nothing is worse than waking up on the wrong side of the bed and not being able to shake that uncomfortable feeling.

Everyone has their different ways to deal with being unhappy, but there are actions you can take that have been scientifically proven to improve your mood. If you’re feeling grumpy and need a quick fix, try these seven easy ways to kick a bad mood.

1. Focus On The Task At Hand

One study from Harvard University found that people are most likely to be in bad moods when their mind was wandering, while they felt their best when they were fully focused on the task at hand. I

mmerse yourself in productive activities to help turn around your mood, and stop yourself from letting your mind drift off too far.

2. Write About It

If you’ve got something on your mind, consider writing it down in a journal. A study from UCLA found that writing down your feelings helps alleviate feelings of sadness, anger, and pain.

Putting your emotions into words helps reduce your brain’s response in the amygdala, which helps reduce your emotional response.

3. Relax Yourself

If your mood seems to be unrelated to something you can pinpoint, try to relax yourself physiologically.

Whether it’s aromatherapy, exposing yourself to bright light, or even forcing a smile, you can change your mood by encouraging it physically.

4. Take A Walk Outside

Taking a walk will not only help remove you from whatever environment is making you feel down, but the low-impact exercise along with the natural light can help improve your mood and minimize feelings of stress, according to research in the journal Ecopsychology.

Walking in green spaces can help lure your mind into feelings of meditation, which can help relax you.

5. Make A Plan

If everything on your to-do list feels like it’s looming over you and dampening your mood, come up with a plan to tackle the tasks at hand. Studies show that coming up with a plan can help eliminate your mental nagging and improve your mood.

6. Meet Up With A Friend

Even if socializing is the last thing on your mind, you may want to meet a friend for coffee or visit a respected coworker at their desk.

Studies show that even a brief social interaction with an acquaintance can help improve your mood, even if it’s just with a friendly barista at the local coffee shop.

7. Put On Some Music

If all else fails, whip out the headphones. Studies show that listening to music for just 10 minutes can not only improve your mood, but it can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and the stress hormone cortisol.

What do you do to help improve your mood when you’re in a funk? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page.

Photo by Moyan_Brenn