How to Boost Your Mood in Minutes
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed, feeling down in the dumps—whatever the case may be, we’ve all been there. And once you find yourself in that lower than low mood, it can be really hard to snap out of it. The good news is with the right tricks up your sleeve, you can turn things around in a matter of minutes.
The next time you find yourself feeling down, use these mood-boosting tips. From meditating to taking a walk out in nature, it won’t be long before you beat the blues and feel like yourself again.
How to Boost Your Mood in Minutes
1. Do a Quick Workout
Yeah, yeah… the last thing you want to do when you’re in a bad mood is a workout. But even spending as little as 10 or 15 minutes moving your body in any way you want has been shown to improve your mood. You can even take a live workout class with Intuition, or access one at any time on-demand.
2. Cuddle Your Pet
Pets don’t just bring you calmness and help with anxiety—petting or cuddling your cat or dog can also elevate your mood, says the Cleveland Clinic. If you don’t have a pup to love up on, consider adopting. There’s no better time to train a new pet than when you’re working from home.
3. Meditate
Being that it’s Meditation Month, now is the time to start your journey—especially since it’s been proven to help boost your mood. You can do both live and on-demand meditations led by instructors through Intuition, or you can find a YouTube video or app to follow along with. The Mayo Clinic recommends loving-kindness meditations in particular, which involve sitting quietly and thinking warm, loving thoughts—something that has been shown to make people feel happier over time.
4. Go Outside for a Walk
While any sort of physical activity will help elevate your mood, a 2016 study published in the journal Emotion found walking outside can do wonders for your happiness levels. So go get some fresh air. Even a 10-minute walk around the block will make you feel a little better. If you have extra time, you can even go hiking on a trail, as research has shown being out in nature versus a city environment can benefit your mood even more.
5. Listen to Sad Music
Listening to sad music to boost your mood when you’re feeling down sounds odd, but it works. A 2014 study in PLOS One found that doing so allowed participants to regulate negative emotion and mood. In the end, they found themselves happier than before they turned on those tunes. It can also be very therapeutic, relaxing, and nostalgic.
