7 Ways to Get out of a Bad Mood NOW

Do you try to stay in a good mood as much as you can? What I’ve noticed is that first you’ve got to catch yourself in a bad mood and then you have to want to get out of it. Sometimes it’s just plain fun to wallow. But wallowing never helps the reason for the wallow in the first place. Sooner or later, like the line in that old song says, you've gotta, “Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.”

Would you agree that happy thoughts run at a higher frequency than say guilty or angry thoughts do? Have you ever noticed when you’re happy you’re kinder to others, more compassionate and understanding and you have way more energy?

Staying in a good mood takes watching how you feel and being selfish about how you feel. So here are 7 ways to get out of that bad mood as soon as you find yourself in one.

1. Pick out a happy feeling and feel it

When you’re in a really bad mood, take a minute and think of a happy time. You have many to choose from, so just pick one. Once you’ve picked one, dig it up. Remember the people and the circumstance. Hear the laughter and feel the love. We SHEs have such a grand ability to pull into our mind’s eye any occasion we wish to re-experience. 

2. Smile all the time

 I read a delightful article about Lisa Kudrow the zany Phoebe on the television sitcom, Friends and who is now in a new Internet television series The Comeback. In the article she told the interviewer that she has been challenged by people for always having a smile on her face and she responds, “If I let my face go, I look pissed off!”

At 50, Lisa has discovered that as we age, gravity has its way with our normal, neutral face and we can look sad or mad when we’re not. A chronic smile counteracts gravity and there really is substantial evidence that a smile, even if it’s pretend lifts your energy.

3. Stop the ripple

Everything you do when you’re in a bad mood perpetuates that negative energy and sends out negative ripples. I read some good advice from one of you the other day. “When you’re not happy, keep your mouth shut. Wait until you can get your happy self back before you speak.” That goes for posting on Face Book, sending emails, texting and phoning negative thoughts when you’re in wallow mode.

4. Get around positive people and stay away from the negative ones

If you have to be around negative people, like maybe you’re married to one or your boss is one, simply ignore the negativity as best you can. But when you are in a bad mood yourself, stay away from them and seek out those who always are positive. Once you’re back to the real you (which is happy) it’s easy to be nonresponsive to the negativity in others.

5. Eat fat and drink water

If you’re not getting enough fat in your diet because you’ve been scared off by those who have erroneously told you how horrible fat is for you and you’re into eating low-fat this and low-fat that, I’m here to tell you that your brain needs fat and your whole body needs water. A quick mood fix should never be a doughnut or a Snickers bar, but instead a tablespoon of coconut oil, mayonnaise or peanut butter and a big glass of water.

     6.  Take a walk

Our bodies need movement and walking is the best exercise especially when you’re dealing with a bad mood. Just 15 minutes out in the fresh air can pop you right back into happy you.

7. Take a nap

 Mexico has it right! I wish we here in America honored and celebrated the nap like Mexicans do. I take a nap almost every day and when I wake up I feel as though I’ve been given another day!

If you were in a bad mood when you started reading this, I hope it’s changed your mood. Please remember, you were created to be happy, you deserve to be happy, so be it.

Love,

P.S. If you want to get out of bad moods and keep them away, you might be interested in my book, The Joy of Being Disorganized. It's all about achieving peace and joy at home.