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10 Ways to Shake Off A Bad Mood

by Sammy Nickalls

Do you ever find yourself in a bad mood for no reason at all?

Likely, your answer is yes, because everyone feels blue for no reason from time to time. Even the most positive people can find themselves feeling down without really knowing why. It can feel impossible to shake that sadness when it strikes, but have no fear: there are ways to combat it so you can move on and have the happiest of days.

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10 Ways to Shake That Bad Mood

 1. Vent to a trusted confidant

Even if you have no clue why you’re in a bad mood, it’s never good to bottle it up. Whether it’s your parent, your sibling, or a close friend, talk to someone who you trust. A loved one knows you and can help you figure out what’s bothering you—or better yet, remind you all there is to be happy about.

Related: The Benefits of Friendship

 2. Spend some quality time with your pets

If cuddling your pet doesn’t warm your soul at all, then you’re not human. Because pets are adorable. But also, there are many health benefits to pets—such as the fact that they serve as good stress relievers. Your pet loves you and knows exactly how to cheer you up, so take advantage of that wet nose and that soft, cuddly fur.

 3. Make yourself look nice—for you

If you’re feeling down for no real reason, sometimes the little things are all you need. And think about it—if you’re not feeling good about how you look, won’t that just make you feel a little bluer? Put on your favorite outfit to feel your best and shake yourself out of that funk.

Related: 5 Ways to Naturally Build Self Confidence

 4. Meditate or do yoga

Sometimes, you might find yourself in a bad mood not because anything is going wrong, but because you have just been on the go and let stress levels build. You might feel burnt out or tired, and that’s hurting your overall outlook. Try meditating or doing yoga to center yourself, as studies show that it helps ease anxiety, tension, and fatigue.

5. Exercise

When you’re feeling down, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. However, research shows that exercise can relieve depression. Even if you don’t have depression, it’s thought that the endorphins can serve to boost your mood. Plus, exercise will help you feel accomplished and good about your body!

Related: 7 Ways to Get Motivated to Exercise

6. Have a good cry

You’d think crying would make you feel worse, but sometimes, a good long cry is all you need. Just like it’s sometimes best to face a fear headfirst, sometimes it’s best to just let yourself feel sad so you can reach a state of catharsis.

One study showed that crying makes you feel better if the issues that caused crying have been resolved. And if you’re in a bad mood for no real reason, there’s no issue to even be resolved—so grab a box of tissues and let it out!

7. Laugh…

When I asked my friend what cheered him up when he found himself in a random bad mood, he didn’t even stop to think—he immediately responded, “I watch comedy.”

Laughter is fun, but studies show that it also releases those wonderful aforementioned endorphins, which not only make you feel good but also can even increase your pain tolerance. So put on those George Carlin specials and laugh away!

Related: Laughing is Good For You – Here’s 5 Reasons Why

8. …Or even just smile!

Can’t bring yourself to laugh? Even just forcing yourself to smile should do the trick. According to a study done by researchers at Cardiff University, the expressions we make can affect our emotions. In other words, we smile because we are happy, but smiling also makes us happy all by itself–so cheese it up!

9. Pump up the romance

If you haven’t realized by now, endorphins are pretty great for elevating your mood. And if you find yourself in need of a boost, your partner can help get those endorphins flowing. Research shows that endorphins are released during the peak of sexual intercourse, so to get that happy, blissful feeling, grab your partner and pump up the romance.

Related: 6 Health Benefits of Kissing

 10. Clean the house

If you find yourself in a funky mood but you can’t put your finger on why check out your environment. Do you have a lot of clutter and mess around you? The mess can add unneeded stress to your life, so to give yourself a more relaxing environment, try sprucing up your house a bit.

The Takeaway

No matter how great our lives are, we can all find ourselves in a bad mood from time to time. It’s totally normal to feel glum for no definitive reason. However, there are ways to combat a case of the blues. Try out these tips to see what works for you so you can shake off that bad mood and spend the rest of your day in high spirits.

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sammy nickallsSammy Nickalls is the Content Manager at Inspiyr.com. She is an avid health nut and a lover of all things avocado. Follow her on Twitter or Pinterest.

Photo by secretheart

Originally posted 1/2014 and updated 11/2014.

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