100 Tiny Tips To Improve Your Mood

Even the most happy-go-lucky person in the world has a bad mood now and then, but the difference between moving on and having a bad day all depends on what you do about it. There are plenty of ways to shake off a funky mood, and we’ve listed 100 of the best ways to do it here.

Recreation
If you’re feeling unlike yourself, get out there and do something you like to do.

1. Play with a pet: Unless you’ve got a particularly surly animal, playing with a pet is sure to pick up your mood.
2. Cook: Chop up some vegetables or tenderize some meat to take out your frustrations. Do even better by cooking food that’s found to improve your mood.
3. Dance: Loosen up and lose yourself in music and movement to shake off a sour mood.
4. Sing: Sing something upbeat, and you can’t help but feel happy.
5. Play games: Concentrate on a game to get your mind off of whatever’s bringing you down.
6. Watch a movie: Lose yourself in a movie to feel better.
7. Get a massage: Let someone work out the kinks, and you’ll come out with a nicer mood.
8. Get a mani/pedi: Get pampered, and you can’t help but feel good.
9. Garden: Interact with nature and get some sunshine, and you’ll feel better. Check out these tips to find out how you can improve your garden and mood at the same time.
10. Play guitar: Think about chords, and you won’t be able to dwell on your troubles.
11. Read a book: Lose yourself in a fun story for a quick pick-me-up.
12. Create art: Make something beautiful to brighten your day.
13. Fly a kite: It’s hard to not be happy when you’re flying a kite.
14. Karaoke: Make a fool of yourself, and you’ll forget about your troubles. Interactive music like karaoke has been found to be therapeutic.
15. Have sex: Get cozy, and you’ll enjoy a rush of endorphins and some fun recreation time.
17. Enjoy your hobbies: Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, do it, and you’ll get a mood boost.

Exercise

Exercise is a great mood booster, offering a way to concentrate, feel good about yourself, and increase endorphins.

18. Martial arts: Take on martial arts to discipline yourself and get your frustrations out.
19. Breathe: Do breathing exercises to calm down an otherwise foul mood.
20. Stretch: Loosen up, and you’ll feel better.
21. Take a walk: Clear your mind with a quick walk around the block.
22. Do yoga: Concentrate on yoga poses, and you’ll feel better in no time. Try these mood-altering poses to turn your day around.
23. Boxing: Take out your frustrations with boxing.
24. Run: For a quick mood booster, just run away from it all.
25. Swim: Lose yourself in the repetitive motion of swimming.
26. Weight training: Concentrate on building muscles, not whatever’s bothering you.
27. Go hiking: Go hiking for a scenic, peaceful way to feel better.

Food

What you put in your body can have a great effect on how you feel, so make sure you’re eating right for a good mood.

28. Eat chocolate: Chocolate is great for endorphins, and of course, it tastes great.
29. Eat consistently: If you eat every 4 to 5 hours, you’ll have constant blood sugar and be less subject to highs and lows during the day.
30. Avoid refined carbs: Carbohydratess will give you blood sugar swings that can leave you feeling blue.
31. Fish: Eat fatty fish to get omega-3s, which boost seratonin and improve receptiveness to seratonin.
32. Coffee: Drink a cup of coffee, and you’ll get a boost energy, and a kick start to mental pleasure centers.
33. Drink tea: The calming ritual of drinking tea can make you feel better.
34. Turkey: This poultry helps produce dopamine, which elevates your mood and prevents depression.
35. Drink milk: The tryptophan in milk will help you create seratonin.
36. Eat protein: Protein slows absorption of carbs, and it will boost your productivity.
37. Take vitamins: Make sure you’re firing on all cylinders by taking your vitamins.
38. Enjoy whole grains: With complex carbs, you’ll get a slow release of seratonin.
39. Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts offer one of the best sources for selenium, which maintains mood and fights depression.
40. Broccoli: Broccoli offers B-vitamins and folic acid, both of which will help your mood.
41. Eat breakfast: Start your day right, and you’re less likely to feel down later.
42. Anything yummy: By eating anything that tastes good, you’ll spark mood-boosting endorphins.

Mental Power

Put your mind to work on your mood with these simple tips.

43. Meditate: Try meditation to shift the focus away from your bad mood.
44. Try hypnosis: Hypnosis is a great way to get your mood level.
45. Change your perspective: Consider how your troubles might actually be good.
46. Recite affirmations: Focus on a few simple phrases to remind yourself to be happy. Affirming your goals has a great way of making you look at a more positive future.
47. Imagine your perfect place: Put yourself somwhere else for a moment.
Count your blessings: Remind yourself of all of the good things in your life.
48. Laugh: Find something funny to feel better.
49. Forgive yourself: Don’t dwell on your mistakes.
50. Concentrate: Think about something: anything but what’s causing your bad mood.
51. Look forward to tomorrow: Thinking about tomorrow will remind you that a better day awaits.
52. Smile: Fake yourself into happiness with a smile. With a forced smile, you’ll send a signal to your brain to be happy.
53. Make fun of yourself: Think about how ridiculous you’re being.
54. Set attainable goals: Set goals to think of the future.

Social Aids

You don’t have to fight a bad mood by yourself. Call on friends, family and strangers to help you feel happier.

55. Join a group: Find a way to interact with people for a boost of happiness.
56. Attend a party: Even if you don’t feel like it, attending a party can boost your mood.
57. Call a friend: Share your troubles with a friend to feel better.
58. Go out to lunch: Visit with a friend or loved one, and you’ll lose your troubles for a while.
59. Make friends: Find a new friend for a nice pick-me-up.
60. Participate in a discussion: Get your mind moving to pull yourself out of a funk.

On the Outside

Step outside of yourself to improve your mood.

61. Volunteer: Do something altruistic for others and you’ll feel better about yourself.
62. Act happy: Trick yourself out of your bad mood.
63. Take action towards a goal: Even if it’s a small step, taking action towards an attainable goal feels good.
64. Finish your to-do list: Although it’s easier said than done, closing out your to do list is sure to make you feel better.
65. Wear blue: The color blue offers relaxation, and color therapy has been found to be very effective.
66. Forgive someone: Make someone else feel better, and you will too.
67. Dress well: If you look good on the outside, you’ll feel better about yourself.
68. Make plans: Give yourself something to look forward to.
69. Go to bed at a regular time: Get your Circadian rhythm in order for a better day.
70. Random act of kindness: Practice a random act of kindness to give yourself a boost.
71. Practice deep breathing: Use deep breathing to calm yourself.
72. Visualize: Use your mind’s eye to see a better day.
73. Stay busy: Keep yourself busy, and you won’t have time to think about troubles.
74. Learn something new: Expand your horizons for a nicer mood.
75. Leave your house/work/etc.: Sometimes you just need to get away, so get out and do something to feel better.
76. Mentor: Teach someone else how to follow in your footsteps for an ego boost that will help your mood.
77. Donate: Do something nice with your money, and you’ll feel good about yourself.
78. Blow off steam: So do something enjoyable for a pick-me-up.
79. Return a favor: Have you asked someone for help in the past? Now’s a good time to return the favor.
80. Take a bath or shower: Wash away your troubles.
81. Write it out: Get your bad mood out on paper and let it go.
82. Indulge yourself: Whether it’s chocolate, or just reading the paper, do something you like, if only for a moment.
83. Play with a baby or small child: Pick up the carefree fun of a child.
84. Give someone a compliment: Make someone feel good, and you will too.
85. Check out stupid videos online: Take a mini-break to smile and laugh for a while.
86. Cry: If you’re troubled, let it out to feel better.
87. Pet your dog or cat: The act of petting is enough to calm most people down.

Environment

Change what’s around you to improve your mood.

88. Get a burst of morning light: Morning light will reset your inner clock and boost your spirits.
89. Get away from negative people: Remove yourself from the people who are bringing you down.
90. Minimalize your decorations: Create a clean, simple environment for clarity of mood.
91. Practice aromatherapy: Use aromatherapy to lighten your mood. Try mood-boosting scents, like eucalyptus and ylang ylang.
92. Redecorate: Change whatever it is that you don’t like to feel better.
93. Organize: Get rid of clutter, and bring order to your environment.
94. Listen to music: Play music to keep things flowing and relaxed.
95. Get in the sun: Get natural light for a mood boost.
96. Take a nap: If lack of sleep is what’s causing your foul mood, catch up on your sleep.
97. Fresh flowers: Bring something beautiful into your environment for a mood boost.
98. Use a water feature: Even if it’s just a tabletop fountain, water can have a calming effect.
99. Full-spectrum light: Beat winter blues with light therapy.
100. Color therapy: Get relaxed with blues and softer hues to feel better.

By Jessica Hupp from Bootstrapper