We’ve all experienced one time or another, days where we feel down or days where we are not in the best of moods caused by all kinds of reasons that life can throw at us. It’s normal!
Yes, a bad mood can have the power to completely ruin our whole day, but doing a simple activity like the ones listed below can turn a negative mood into a positive one instantly!
Ultimately it is up to us to develop self-awareness and to find ways of pushing through the bad moods when they arise. So to help we’ve come up with 18 natural things to try that will lift your mood instantly!
#1. Music Therapy
There’s nothing like a simple quick fix to lift your spirits by putting on your favorite tunes! Music is known to transform your mood, help with depression and make you sleep better. Seeing a music therapist can also help with emotional behavioural disorders and your overall physical and mental health.
If you don’t want to see a music therapist, just put on your happy music whatever it may be, or even try 432 Hz music for a more calming approach.
#2. An Ocean Swim
Swimming in the ocean water can have some serious benefits. Saltwater is rich with minerals such as magnesium, a natural stress reliever that can promote a good night’s sleep. Even listening to the sounds of the ocean’s waves crashing against the shore has some meditative effects. An ocean swim is definitely one of the best ways to wash off bad moods and will naturally lift your mood!
#3. Use Crystals
The use of crystals dates back in time from the Ancient Sumerians that were known to use certain crystals for spiritual and health benefits. The Ancient Egyptians also believed that the natural world held supernatural powers!
The magical properties of crystals are still widely used to this day, and each crystal can help support an area of your life that needs addressing. Like the Carnelian Crystal which can help with courage and creativity. Or the Amethyst crystal which can help soothe the mind and emotions. Crystals are also used in energy healing, and can make a fabulous piece of jewellery!
#4. Exercise
We all know the benefits of what exercise can do for our physical and mental health. We release those good old happy chemicals called endorphins, that lift our mood no matter what kind of exercise we partake in. So let’s keep our body moving and exor-cise those negative thoughts out of our minds while we’re at it!
#5. Sing!
Singing is known to be a natural anti-depressant and instant mood lifter. Even if you can’t sing, sing anyway or sing in the shower! There were reasons why the Walt Disney characters would always break out into a song, and that was because they were feeling happy! Click here for more reasons why singing has its benefits.
#6. Meditation
Meditation is one of the most popular practices on this list! It’s easy to see why with the great benefits it has on the body and mind.
Research shows that meditation has profound effects on numerous physiological systems that are involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD).
There are different forms of meditation including the widely used Transcendental meditation to Kundalini Yoga which is known to work with awakening the kundalini energy within.
After incorporating meditation into your daily routine, the effects can add value to your life with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and your overall emotional and spiritual wellbeing!
#7. Affirmations
Fight negative thinking and lift your mood by affirming a positive statement about yourself in the present tense. For example, if you feel insecure, you could affirm to yourself “I am confident and in control“.
Repeat these affirmations regularly, as they are helping to reprogramme your thinking while supporting the vision of who we want to be. The words we use have a powerful effect on the way we think, feel and act. You’re more likely to attract negative experiences if you keep thinking negative thoughts. Louise Hay goes into more detail on her website.
#8. Read A Book
There’s nothing like a bit of quiet time and a date with your book. I’m talking about an old-school book that you can touch, feel and smell. The book where you can taste the words coming off the paper as you turn to the next page.
In high school, we were made to read a book silently for 20 minutes each day. And now I know why. The benefits of reading can increase imagination, brainpower, improve memory and expand your vocabulary!
Whether fiction or non-fiction reading is a simple and natural way to lift your mood. My go-to book to read that lifts my mood is “The War Of Art“ by Steven Pressfield. (tell us your favorite book in the comment section below!)
#9. Get Creative
According to Forbes expressing your creative side can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. Even just painting a picture can channel the inner child in you. But being creative doesn’t just mean painting or drawing. If painting isn’t your thing, try to build something or get creative in the kitchen.
#10. Nature Walks
According to studies, nature can play a vital role in our mental health and well-being.
I remember the happiest moments in my childhood were swimming in a river, climbing a tree or making mud pies with my hands. Walking barefoot in nature can also boost your energy and make you feel “grounded.”
Overall surrounding yourself in the organic and magical environment of nature will heighten your frequencies, calm your mind and lift your mood. So go forth and be one with nature; your mind will thank you for it.
#11. Listen To A Motivational Speaker
With youtube and the ever-growing podcasts that are now available to us, it’s never been easier to get your daily fix of motivation from some of the hottest motivational speakers there are. Some include Tony Robbins, Gary Vee, Eckhart Tolle, and Joe Rogan to name a few.
#12. Pamper Yourself
While taking care of our inner spirits is vital, taking pride in our outta appearance also has obvious benefits. Sometimes it’s as simple as making the choice to wear a nice dress instead of putting on those sweat pants! Or show some self-love by spending some time and money on your appearance, whether going to a spa for a therapeutic massage, the hairdressers or buying that cute outfit you’ve always wanted.
Even if you have nowhere to go, you’ll be much more motivated to go somewhere when you’re looking and feeling fabulous!
#13. Do Something For Someone Else
Doing something for someone else is a great way to get out of your own head. Whether it’s helping a neighbour, volunteering at your local soup kitchen or walking an elderly lady across the road. Not only will it help someone else but it will naturally help lift your mood and make you feel good.
#14. Dance!
Dancing incorporates so many amazing benefits on this list! It involves music, exercise and of course, creativity!
Dancing is not only fun, but you’ll be improving your heart health, muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility, and your mental health will thank you for it! Winning!
#15. Watch A Feel-Good Movie
If you’re having a day where you just don’t want to leave the house, then putting on a feel-good movie could be your choice! So grab the popcorn and escape reality for a couple of hours with your favourite go-to movie!
#16. Practice Gratitude
Sometimes we can let the negative things in life overshadow all the little things we do have in life. This includes having a roof over our head, to having someone who loves us, to even waking up breathing! There is so much to be thankful for in life; in some cases, we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it.
Try keeping a gratitude journal and write all the simple things you are grateful for. Either before you go to bed or first thing in the morning. You’ll be surprised at how much you have, and at the same time, you’ll be focusing on what you do have instead of what you don’t have.
#17. Write Down Your Accomplishments
When you feel down, you could be dwelling over a negative situation and we are not fully present in the moment. Lift your mood by writing down 10 accomplishments that you are proud of in your life, whether it was getting a promotion, helping out a friend when they needed you, finishing that book of yours, or finding the courage to end a toxic relationship.
Whatever they are, bring those accomplishments into the light and be proud of the things you have done no matter how insignificant they feel.
#18. Write Down Your Goals
After writing down your accomplishments, lift your mood by writing down your goals!
Dream big and visualize all that you want for yourself in life. Then put them into a sustainable action plan consisting of short and long-term goals. Yes, for some reason goals can be tedious, and they will also change as we change.
We don’t know where we are going if we don’t have goals. (and we want to go somewhere right?) So dream big, get excited and take massive action towards the things you deserve in life!
Love yourself and take action!
No matter what you do to lift your mood, take gratitude in what you have, and love yourself enough to take action in the little things in life whether it’s reaching out to an old friend, taking a walk in nature, listening to the ocean waves or getting out of the house to do something spontaneous!
There we have it! Those were 18 simple and natural ways to lift your mood instantly.
Share this article with your friends and family on social media, and share your favourite things that lift your mood below!
Emmy is the founder and content writer at woopdedo. With a background in the performing arts, she then had a career working on cruise ships, until she decided to return to NZ where she spends most of her time storytelling and freelance writing. You can contact her on the social media links below or visit the work with us page.
