How To Get Out of a Bad Mood

I call it “getting in a funk”. It’s those days where you’re in a foul mood for one reason or another, or maybe not for any good reason at all. I think we all get in these moods from time to time. I really loathe these days, especially when I can’t identify one legitimate reason for being in said funk.

Because giving in to these funks and growing roots on the couch does nothing for my negative mood but make it worse, I have a go-to list of ways that help me snap out of it, and usually rather quickly.

How to get out of a bad mood

1. Call a girlfriend or family member

So often I used to feel tempted to lay on the couch to nap or watch TV after putting Hadley down for her afternoon nap, but now I usually try to call a girlfriend and share some laughs while mindlessly doing the dishes, putting away laundry, or cleaning an area of the house that I’ve been putting off. This results in a win-win situation because I’m maintaining friendships with some of my favorite girls plus I’m knocking out chores that would normally bog me down.

2. Go for a run

I strongly believe that the hardest step to take during a run is the one you have to take out the door. I may not always want to exercise, but I never regret it once it’s done. Even if I only run for 20 minutes, I usually return home with a clearer head and in a positive mood.

3.  Window-shop 

Hadley and I did a lot of window-shopping in January and February when it was too cold outside for the playground. If you’ve been a reader around here for a while, you know that one of my personal “mom goals” is to get my kids out of the house at least once a day, regardless of where the outing is to (just going to the grocery story counts as a checkmark in my book). If we have nothing on the agenda and I can feel a “funk” coming on, I usually throw on some clothes and go run around Target, Marshall’s, or a local home decor store. I usually don’t buy anything because I’ve recognized that the aspect of shopping I enjoy most is just walking around rather than actually coming home with something.

4. Read my Bible in total quiet

Reading my Bible as a “pick me up” should really be the first thing I go to because I always feel more calm, refreshed, and focused after spending time in the Word.

5. Cook a meal while listening to Christian music 

I really love the Christian station on Pandora and iTunes radio; Those are my go-to stations. Similar to reading my Bible, listening to praise music usually helps me gain a fresh perspective on a situation or on the day in general. I don’t want to say it’s magic, but sometimes it feels that way. Christian music is so good for the soul.

What are your “go to” methods for snapping out of negative moods? We all get them!

PS: When you feel like you’re wasting your time