We all have those days where nothing seems to go right and our mood is as sour as a lemon. If you find yourself having a ‘bad day’, try some of these easy tricks for turning that frown upside down. J
1. Put on some upbeat music or better yet some worship music. Why not go as far as making a CD of get happy music so that every time you feel blue it’s right at your finger tips. Worship music is also a great idea for improving your mood. It helps us put our focus where it belongs. On His glory and away from our problems.
2. Have a piece of Dark Chocolate. Not only does it taste good, chocolate can also improve your mood. Chocolate contains serotonin and stimulates endorphin production. Serotonin acts as an anti-depressant and a rise in endorphins will give you a feeling of pleasure or love. It has also been proven that eating a small piece of dark chocolate everyday can lower blood pressure and high blood pressure could be the culprit for your bad mood. But beware. Having too much chocolate can have the opposite effect so try to stick to no more than 3.5oz a day of dark chocolate. Can I have milk chocolate, you ask? Sure but it won’t help your mood, maybe even make it worse. Studies have shown no benefits of eating milk or white chocolate other than making you fatter. And I doubt that will put you in a good mood. So stick with a chocolate that has a 65% or higher cocoa content. Over time you will get use to the stronger flavor and maybe even prefer it.
3. Load up on the fiber. Foods rich in soluble fiber can lower blood sugar and lessen mood swings so eat more oats, apples, pears, oranges, beans and carrots. Try switching to brown rice and eating sweet potatoes to increase your soluble fiber. Stay away from fiber supplements if you can. They are a cheap substitute for the real thing.
4. Exercise. We all know that exercise can be good for us and most of us have heard that it can lower the effects of depression but who has the time to exercise. We always have an excuse and we mommies usually have a few really good ones running around the house. So when I put this one on my list I knew I wasn’t going to tell you to get your butt to the gym. This list is for busy moms. So how does a busy mom workout? Well she acts like a kid. Run around the house chasing your kids. Stand up instead of sitting down to watch TV and silly dance to all your kid’s favorite songs. Not only will the exercise improve your mood but you will put a smile on your children’s face. It’s hard to frown when you are making your kids laugh.
5. Kiss your man. Grab your man and give him a big kiss. Then walk away like nothing happen with a big smile on your face. This is a sure way to improve his mood too!!
6. Make a list of 20 things you are grateful for. Sometimes all we need is to be reminded of what really matters. Take this a step farther and keep a journal of things you are grateful for so when you need an attitude check just open and read. Maybe get a pretty jar and bright paper scrapes and every time you feel grateful or maybe hear a great bible verse, write it down and put it in your jar. This way gratitude is at your fingertips and so is a better mood.
7. Help someone else. What better way to feel better then to put your focus on someone else. Help a friend with her housework, volunteer at the soup kitchen, or just rake the leaves for your elderly neighbor. Whatever it is do it for God’s glory and expect nothing in return. Let the knowledge that you are pleasing God brighten your mood.
8. Light a candle. If you want to improve your mood have some Jasmine or lavender candles handy. Or take it a step farther and use lotions or body sprays with these scents. If their smells don’t appeal to you then just go with whatever you like. Just smelling an agreeable scent can lift your mood and make you smile. Check back next week for my post on how to grow your own jasmine and lavender.
9. Have a cup of tea. Look for teas with chamomile, lavender, kava, and lemon balm. All these herbs have great mood boosting effects and can relaxed a frazzled momma. Many stores have special blends for relaxation and mood improvement but if you don’t have any on hand, normal tea will do. Just remember that sugar and even sweeteners can cause mood related problems so if you want your tea sweet try using honey. Next Saturday I will be posting some easy recipes for relaxing teas. Check back then if you’re interested in making your own.
10. Fake It!! When we are in a bad mood we walk around like grumpy old men. Everyone can plainly see it written across our face. “Leave me alone, I’m in a baaaad mood.” This in return has our family running the other way. And I believe it’s true that when mommy is having a bad day, everyone has a bad day. You set the mood for your home and when you have a houseful of kids that are also in a bad mood, things will start going downhill quickly. So fake it! Put a smile on your face, sing a happy song, and act like you are the happiest person on earth. Go for a Grammy! Be Little Miss Sunshine. Studies have shown that when you act happy you will soon become happy. So act like a movie star and ‘pretend’ to be happy. J
11. Pray!!! I saved this one for last not because it should be your last resort. It should be the first and last and everywhere in between. 1-10 are quick fixes but prayer is the cure. So get on your knees and ask the Lord to change you mood. Ask Him to show you why you are in your ‘bad mood’ and lead you in victory over it. Let him show you where and how you need to go about recovering your smile. If could be by using some of these tips or seeking professional help, just don’t let a bad mood get the better of you. You owe it to yourself and your family.
Blessings to you all and I pray that everyone has a GOOD DAY!!!
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