Bad days are part of a good life. But it doesn’t mean you have to sit in the brood! The hardest part of feeling down is picking yourself back up, and thankfully, these mood-boosting tips make it a whole lot easier. Give them a go!
And if you feel like it, let some happiness flow.
Life’s Not All Sunshine & Rainbows, But You Can Still Use These 5 Things to Boost Your Happiness
#1 Practice Acknowledgment
Most people don’t get acknowledged enough, from your partner, sibling, parent to the mailman, and server at your favorite restaurant. We’re so focused on the every day that we forget to stop and appreciate the finer things in life: the people around you.
What does this have to do with happiness you ask?
Well, think of five people who’ve done something really well recently. Now, imagine walking up to one of them and appreciating them for whatever they did, no matter how big or small.
When you think of appreciating this person, how do you feel?
Most respond with positive feelings, like happy chills, joy, or a warm sensation in your heart. There’s a saying– you get fuller by feeding others. And this has never been more true with appreciation. The more you give, the more nourished you and everyone around you will feel.
So go back to those five people. And give them a lil’ acknowledgment, whether it’s a simple note, a heartfelt phone call, or a fun coffee date. Hello, happiness!
#2 Try Something New
Psychology Today mentions hedonic adaptation, “our tendency to get used to things when we’re exposed to them over and over.” So even if you have a positive task you do every week, over time, it becomes less effective at making you happy.
But don’t throw away your boujee Netflix night yet!
This just means it’s important to throw in some fresh activities to the mix. It adds more spontaneity and variety, which keeps you both happier and on your toes.
Yes, please!
Some new, mood-boosting tips:
- Try a new meal/cuisine
- Take an exercise class you’ve never done
- Take a class on a subject you’ve always wanted to learn
- Learn a new language
- Visit a suburb in your city you’ve never been to
- Visit your local library and borrow some new books
- Say hello to a neighbor you don’t usually talk to
#3 Let Your Rebel Out
Here’s the deal — most of us don’t like to be told what to do, so we have our own rebellious outlets in place. Unfortunately, those outlets usually involve self-destructive behaviors.
Prime example — when you’re told you can’t have a certain food and you automatically want in more.
Sound familiar?
That’s your rebellious inner child coming out, and sometimes it needs to let loose. As an adult, we can upgrade those self-destructive behaviors to healthy ones that we still feel a little crazy doing. And that make us happy!
Here are some ideas:
- Rake a pile of leaves then jump in them.
- Prank call your mom.
- Play hooky with everything for a day.
- Make up a personality and introduce yourself to a stranger without breaking character.
- Draw a mustache on a poster.
- Let loose by dancing around your house like no one is watching.
- Buy a goldfish for a pet without telling your spouse.
- Do a photoshoot solely devoted to taking goofy pictures.
Feel free to create your own healthy rebel list. So whenever you’re feeling down and out, you can boost your happiness by connecting to your inner child. Have fun!
#4 Make Self-Care a Happiness Habit
It’s easy to get stuck in a negative cycle of always giving to others before you give to yourself. But you’re actually setting yourself up for irritability, resentment, and overwhelm this way — not to mention feeling totally flat.
So, fill up your cup daily with some good ‘ole self-care.
Of course, making self-care a habit is a great health & happiness strategy for the long-run. But if it’s not a habit yet, no worries!
Just set aside 30 minutes today to re-energize yourself. Don’t know what self-care to do? Read Self-Care is Different for Everyone: Here’s How to Find What Works Best for You or try one of these FitOn sessions:
- Letting Go Meditation with Elise Joan
- Simple Meditation with Vytas
- Taste of ZUMBA: Shake It
- Peaceful Seated Yoga with Sydney Benner
- Sweet Stretch with Vytas
#5 Do Nothing
The go-getter conundrum: never being happy with where you are in life. There’s always something bigger and better to strive for, and while, of course, achieving goals isn’t a bad thing, we’re often met with disappointment.
We think that once we have that big house, fancy car, or luxury bag, THEN we’ll feel happy. More often than not, those items don’t fill us up; instead, they leave us feeling empty. So why not embrace where you are now? Learn to accept your situation and status, and let go a little.
Do nothing.
And see how it feels to wholeheartedly embrace your current life. You might be surprised at how easily happiness floods in.
Get Out of Your Head & Into These Mood-Boosting Tips
Sometimes we overthink the happy game. We focus so hard at trying to be happy that we end up feeling miserable, so try not to overthink it.
Use these tips when you’re feeling blue, but if nothing works, don’t worry! It might be just one of those days.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
