Here are 100 ways to instantly boost your mood.
- Take a shower.
- Run a nice long scented bubble bath.
- Sing your favorite song out loud.
- Create a playlist of all your favorite songs or worship and blast it.
- Take a walk around the block.
- Take a nature walk.
- Get some sunshine.
- Getting a good amount of sunlight can be very beneficial, especially if you’re mostly inside. Sunlight triggers a release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that is known for stabilizing mood balance.
- Exercise or go for a run.
- Exercise releases endorphins in the brain which have proven to biologically help really boost your mood!
- Journal 10 things you’re grateful for.
- Say a prayer & completely give God your worries.
- Feed your faith. Decide to shift the way you’re looking at life and focus on the positives.
- Call someone you love and break out of isolation.
- Making connection at the peak of your blues is vital to emotional recovery.
- Watch THIS Ted Talk on The Surprising Science of Happiness
- Open the windows, let light and air into the room.
- Scroll through your humor board on Pinterest.
- Have a cup of coffee.
- Coffee increases the production of dopamine in our brains and boosts our adrenaline. While it’s only temporary it does help get us moving, staying focused and a boost of energy.
- Have a cup of tea if you’re not a fan of coffee.
- Have a dance party in your room.
- Like no one is watching.
- Meditate on THESE promises from God.
- Read this article I wrote if you’re feeling “Sick and tired”.
- Practice a random act of kindness, HERE are 50.
- Volunteer or get involved with a volunteer group in your church/community.
- The Bible says that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25). Giving back and shifting your mindset to meeting the needs of others makes the world a little bit bigger than your problems. And it feels great.
- Buy a really great book and get lost in it.
- Ask a loved one for a hug.
- Get your favorite scented candle and let the aroma fill your room.
- Smells become closely connected and associated with moods in the limbic system of your brain, which processes emotions.
- Bump your favorite music and de-clutter your desk or room.
- You’ll feel great afterward when all the clutter is gone, your mind will be at peace and you’ll feel productive.
- Take a power nap.
- Sleep deprivation can be a major source of low moods.
- Revisit old hobbies and passions.
- Writing, singing, painting, hiking, baking, word puzzles, whatever brings you joy, just do it!
- Find a new hobby or sign up for a local class to learn a new language, recipe, sport or skill
- Buy some flowers for your room or desk.
- Greenery is psychologically serene and something about plants bring life into the room.
- Buy flowers for someone else.
- Visit the park, pack a lunch and read a book. Get outdoors.
- Journal 5 really great attributes you have and keep it genuinely positive.
- Watch one of your favorite childhood movies. Bring out the inner kid again!
- Take an internet/social media sabbatical!
- Many, many studies and personal experience can attest to the fact that too much social media can bring bondage in comparison, self-presentation and the anxiety of keeping up with “the latest.”
- Listen to soothing sounds in the background such as piano composition, ocean waves or wind chimes.
- Find a new place locally on Yelp and make a random visit
- A nice cafe, museum, botanical garden, etc.
- Color in an adult coloring book with a new box of colored pencils.
- Boost your mood by getting a massage.
- Get a pedi & mani.
- Remind yourself you won’t always feel this way.
- Try a new really great smoothie.
- Make a list of short term and long-term goals.
- Accomplish a short-term goal.
- Stand up, stretch and do a slow breathing exercise.
- In with the positivity, out with the negativity.
- Start THIS Bible-reading devotional on Habits of Happiness with Rick Warren.
- Plan a vacation!
- It may not happen tomorrow or even a few months from now but it’ll be nice to plan for the future. Use Pinterest if applicable.
- Put on your favorite lipstick and push through the day like a boss.
- Make a “love” list.
- Things that you love—foods, movies, books, memories, etc., and try to revisit them when you can.
- Decide not to complain about a single thing for the rest of the day.
- Watch the sunset.
- Cry and let it all out.
- A variety of research has shown that releasing your emotions, while also triggering endorphins, can restore you to your original, more stable mood and better, after a while.
- Increase your iron intake with iron pills or iron-rich foods like spinach and lentils.
- Low iron levels can cause fatigue, which can be the underlying cause of blue moods.
- Forgive, learn and move on from your mistakes.
- Better yet, journal what you’ve learned and keep pressing forward.
- Take yourself on a movie date.
- Live in the moment and stop overthinking. HERE’S HOW.
- Smile more.
- Boost your mood by boosting someone else. Tell someone you love them.
- Let small annoyances slide. Stop robbing your own joy.
- Look in the mirror and pick out a feature you love about yourself.
- Print out a picture of one of your favorite memories and post it up on your wall or desk.
- Rent or Netflix a good comedy and laugh the day away.
- Take a break and step away from the screen—TV, computer, telephone.
- Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails.
- Buy a new outfit.
- Drink lots of water.
- Officially say “no” to tasks that can wait so you can focus on what’s important to you.
- Eat a refreshingly sweet bowl of fruit.
- Redecorate your room or desk.
- Play a board game with family, friends, or loved ones.
- YouTube cute animals.
- Give a genuine compliment.
- Forgive someone and make peace with an old enemy.
- Paint your nails a brighter color
- Ask for help and delegate your tasks if possible.
- Dress up for yourself.
- Unfollow/clean your social media friends list of toxic/negative behavior.
- Meditate. Stop, slow down, breathe in a quiet space and push out every negative thought that is not of God.
- Write down each negative thought and then rip them up or challenge them with positive thoughts.
- Buy or cook a really good meal and eat it slowly. Enjoy every bite.
- Let go of perfectionism. Your beauty and strength includes your flaws.
- Make your bed.
- Give up the need for control and trust God is working in your life.
- Get a new hairstyle.
- Stop taking pictures of everything and genuinely enjoy the moment.
- Boost your mood by overhauling some junk. Get rid of 5 things you never use.
- Stop reading or watching the news for a week.
- Be a good listener—become genuinely invested in another person in a meaningful conversation.
- Sit up straight and adjust your posture—body language is intertwined with our mood.
- Recognize that you’re having an off moment not a bad life. Don’t let yourself be defined by your feelings.
- Snack on foods rich in Serotonin.
- Give yourself an at-home facial.
- Sit and refresh by a lake, river, ocean or large body of water.
- Look through old photos of cherished memories.
- Instead of a to-do list, make a done list.
- Create a happy box—a package of your favorite goods to unleash on bad days.
- Go on a lunch or coffee date with a friend.
- Cuddle with your furry friend.
- Go enjoy live music.
- Get counseling to help gain perspective on your life and effectively managing your mental health.
I hope you enjoyed this list of 100 ways to instantly boost your mood, because I enjoyed putting it together!