By Dr. Rachel
- CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT: To get out of a bad mood, shift your environment.
Step outside, go into another room, light a candle, spray a scent that elicits a refreshed energy in the space. - MOVE YOUR BODY: We carry our emotions in our bodies so give yourself a moment to stretch, move your neck back + forth, up +down, massage your shoulders, extend your legs.
- ELEVATE THE VIBES: Put on uplifting or relaxing music, watch a video that makes you laugh, search a hashtag that always helps you achieve perspective.
- PRACTICE LOVING KINDNESS: Loving Kindness meditation can help soothe whatever is underlying your bad mood. Meditation in general can help achieve important perspective that can move a bad mood.
- ACKNOWLEDGE THE FEELING: The bad mood is an experience you’re having. Give yourself a chance to notice and acknowledge it. That can help reduce its power and shorten how long it lingers.
- SOLUTION-FIND: Think about what solutions are possible to solve whatever problem the bad mood is expressing. Brainstorm and identify what you can solve and what you can’t.
- EXPRESS YOURSELF: Communicate what you’re going through. Either verbally or through art, dance, song, writing. Bad moods lose power when they’re expressed.
- THINK OF WHAT YOU NEED: The bad mood is trying to communicate something to you. Maybe you have a need that’s unmet, or an emotion that needs to be heard. Give yourself some time to consider your needs.
- EXERCISE: Working out significantly impacts all aspects of health. Yoga, strength training, cardio, walking; all of this can help you shift the bad mood and regulate difficult feelings.
- TAKE SPACE: You may just need time away or alone. Give yourself whatever space you need to nourish and refresh yourself. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do more than you can. Self-care can help soothe the bad mood.
If you want more support with learning how to manage bad moods, relieve stress, build confidence, and/or improve relationships, I’m available to provide individual therapy/coaching to anyone in California. Reach out!
