Almost everyone wants to wake up in a cheery, bright mood and stay that way day to day. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most of us. Life comes with stressors and deadlines, loaded to-do lists, health issues and other difficulties that can make it hard to feel completely fulfilled and genuinely happy all the time. Countless factors also play a role in our moods including diet, weather, sleep, physical activity, overall health, social health, news and much more.
Here are five tips to elevate your mood today:
Write in your journal.
One of the best ways to elevate your mood right when you wake up is to journal. Journaling helps get out any negative thoughts or feelings you may be experiencing. When you journal, it allows you to see and read your thoughts rather than keeping them bottled up in your head. You can journal a variety of things to help boost your mood such as what you are feeling, what you want to accomplish that day, or a problem that has been bothering you. If you are not sure what to write about, you can look up different journal prompts in order to get your thoughts flowing. Journaling each day and night is a great routine to get into and will help to elevate your mood!
Go for a walk.
Going for a walk as soon as you wake up can be a great way to clear your mind and elevate your mood. It can be difficult to change your mood during the day, but going for a walk is a quick and simple way to get some fresh air and refresh. It can also be peaceful and therapeutic to be surrounded by nature and fresh air.
Meditate
Starting your day with meditation can influence the rest of your day. It can be a great way to clear your mind and start the day feeling refreshed. Meditation can help to change your thinking patterns and let go of any negative thoughts. You can even do a focused meditation depending on what is needed.
If you are feeling disconnected from your body, you can do a body scan meditation to reconnect: close your eyes and try to think of each body part, one at a time, inhaling and exhaling as you sit deeper in the meditation and let go of outside thoughts.
You can use gratitude meditation by reflecting on things we’re grateful for in our lives, to experience positive emotions which will stick with you for the rest of your day.
Engage in your favorite activity
It is important to take breaks throughout the day in order to care for yourself. One thing you can do to instantly improve your mood is to participate in your favorite activity or hobby. This could mean going for a quick ride on your bike, trying a craft, or even cooking. It can also be helpful to set aside time to do this activity to ensure you get to do it and have something to look forward to in the day.
Unwind
This may seem like something we do on a regular basis, but it can be easy to forget to relax and recharge throughout the day. As a society, we are programmed to believe that we must work constantly in order to be productive, however this is not the case. If you do not set out time for yourself to unwind and implement self-care it can lead to burn out. Setting up different activities to unwind throughout the day can be helpful to keep your mood positive, stay motivated, and avoid burnout. Examples of ways to unwind throughout the day can be going outside for a bit, reading a book, or even just laying down in order to recharge.
Try to make small changes like these to your day and see if it might help boost your mood. If your mood continues to be low throughout the day on a regular basis, it might be time to make an appointment with your doctor or mental health professional to explore any underlying causes or if you might be dealing with depression.
Remember to make yourself a priority and check in with your mood regularly!
