Being happy and feeling joy can occur regardless of what is happening in your life.  There are days when feeling joy is difficult and these 5 Ways to Improve Your Mood should help. There are many more ways to improve your mood quickly, and these are just a few of my favorites.  Feel free to comment on ways that you improve your mood quickly to help others feel happier today.

 

1- Go into Nature

Connecting with nature is one of the easiest and quickest ways to improve mood. True, you may not always to be able to head outdoors, but for days you can, this is a great option.

When outside feel the connection to everything that surrounds you, all the people, animals, trees, buildings, and anything else you see.  Breath in the air slowly and see if you can smell scents in the air.  If possible take off your shoes and put your feet in the grass or the sand.  When you outside enjoy nature and the expansion from the small little world where most of us live.

Also if you spend at least 20 minutes outside you’ll get the benefits of the Sun and your Vitamin D for the day.

“Studies show that people who get more light exposure during the day have fewer sleep problems and less depression, and evidence suggests that light can keep you alert and productive.” – Daniel Kripke, MD, University of California, San Diego, light and sleep expert.

 

2- Get and Give Hugs

Think about when you had a bad day as a child and how a parent’s or grandparent’s hug made it seem so much better.  Through touch, one person can share emotions with another and with a hug the intention of comforting is felt through the hug.

The best part about hugging is you will get benefits from hugging a friend or pet and also from giving yourself a massage.

Psychology Today published an article stating “When you stimulate the pressure receptors in the skin, you lower stress hormones,” and touching also stimulates oxytocin, which also has positive effects on our mood. -Tiffany Field, head researcher at The University of Miami’s Touch Institute.

 

3- Exercise

When in a bad mood the last thing most people want to do is exercise.  In fact, many just want to sleep or eat to ease the discomfort.  It’s when you least want to go for a walk or to the gym you should go.  A little exercise goes a long way, and even a walk around the block will get the blood and endorphins flowing.

Jack Raglin, Ph.D., a mental health and exercise expert, said: “Studies have shown that even mild exercise, about 40 percent of your max heart rate, can lift your mood.”

You can get active by going to the gym, a yoga class, go for a walk, or even turn on a fitness program on your TV. The key is just to start even if you do not want to usually within 20 minutes you will be happy you started.

 

4- Spend Time With Positive People

Getting into a positive mood is easy when around positive people because mood is contagious.  If you stay in a situation where you’re alone or with people who are in a bad mood, you will remain in a bad mood unless you have a particular set of skills which will allow you to break free.  It’s much easier and far healthier to surround yourself with positive people.

The easiest way to interact with a positive person is by picking up the phone and calling them.  Never be afraid to make it phone call when you need help because your friends are there to assist you just as you are there to help them.

Even better than a phone call is spending quality time with friends and family where you can be creative and laugh.  Some great ideas for family and friend time are to go to a comedy night, have a game night, or take a painting class together.

 

5- Say Affirmations

Have you heard of affirmations?  Affirmations and mantras are short sentences or phrases that you say to yourself for the purpose of empowering yourself.

Creating a positive mood comes from having a clear idea of where you are today and where you want to go.   It is close to Impossible to be in a good mood when you’re confused about your purpose in life.   It ‘s hard to plan out your life if you did not believe you deserve to have what you want.   By taking the time to say affirmations daily, you will be able to feel confident in who you are today and feel empowered to have what you want tomorrow.

Affirmations are the verbalized goals that you are working towards with confidence-building and self-love.

I created The 500 Affirmations to Improve the Quality of Your Life ebook bundle to help everyone and anyone regardless of your current level of success.  The book has 500 affirmations, six different ways to use them, and 3 amazing bonuses.  One of the bonuses is a self-assessment test to assist you with knowing exactly where you should be focusing your attention to get what you want and to be happy.

Click here to learn More about 500 Affirmations to Improve the Quality of Your Life.