If you’re feeling a bit blue, you might be surprised to hear that are
lots of ways to lift your mood in less than a minute. Skeptical? Try these and
see!
1. Put some drops of lavender
and orange essential oils in a diffuser. These oils have been shown to help
with anxiety and to promote calmness and positivity.
2. Have a snack. A handful of
nuts or a square of dark chocolate will send endorphins flooding into your
brain and lift your mood fast.
3. Get some sunshine. Go
outside and get some fresh air and some sunshine. Exposure to sunlight triggers the brain to release Serotonin. Serotonin helps to regulate mood and anxiety. Studies have shown that people
who have significant exposure to light have less depression, fewer sleep
problems, and are even more productive. If you can't make it outside, go and
look out of a window.
4. Go for a walk. Even
walking around the block will help to lift your mood, heart rate, and energy levels.
5. Close your eyes and focus
on your breath. Breathe in and out deeply three times. Focused breathing lowers
your blood pressure and calms the mind. Deep breathing can help reduce stress levels instantly.
6. Lift your shoulders up to
your ears and then let them drop. Do this three times and feel the tension ebb
away. It’s easy to hold onto a lot of tension and stress without realizing it.
7. If you’re feeling nervous
before an interview or presentation, go into the stairwell or the restroom.
Breathing in, open your arms wide, breathing out give yourself a big hug. It’s
almost impossible to do this without smiling.
8. Smile! Smile and make eye contact with a colleague or the guy in the coffee shop or the person serving you at the deli. The physical act of using your smile muscles can genuinely make you feel happy. And it's contagious. Chances are you'll make them smile too and improve their day.
9. Stand up straight, lift
your head, and throw your shoulders back. Adopt a Wonder Woman or Superman pose
and feel the change in your energy.
10. A cup of tea or coffee
will instantly lift your mood. You probably know that caffeine is a stimulant,
but even low or no caffeine hot drinks will give you a boost or calm you down
whether it’s chamomile or green tea, a chai latte or hot water, and lemon.
11. Listen to music that you
love. You can choose custom mood music, or play your old favorites. Music has
been shown to have a powerful effect on mood.
12. Ask for a hug. Probably
not from your boss, but a family member or friend would love to give you the
instant comfort of an embrace.
