by Jamie Jefferson
The blues overtake all of us from time to time. Here are 25 quick ways to pick
up your spirits.
1. Keep a running list of inspiring quotes and uplifting jokes. Refer to them
when you need to.
2. Call a friend and ask her to tell you her favorite joke.
3. Think about how things would look if your life were perfect. Now imagine your
life is just that way, and live out the rest of the day with that awareness.
4. Drink two glasses of water. Many times, what I thought was sadness was really
just dehydration. Sounds simple, but it's true.
5. Fake a smile for 5 or 10 minutes.
6. Read an uplifting devotional or meditation.
7. Close your eyes for a few minutes.
8. Call your mom.
9. Look through old scrapbooks or personal journals.
10. Go outside. A few minutes of fresh air can do wonders for your mood.
11. Go for a very quick jog.
12. Keep a gratitude journal, in which you write down things that you are
thankful for. This is a great way to start and end each day. For a quick
"pick-me-up," write as many gratitudes as you can in one minute. Don't
think; just write.
13. Make something. Use your creative mind, and create something with your own
two hands, whether it is a piece of jewelry, a scrapbook page, a pretty floral
arrangement or a batch of cookies.
14. What is your biggest goal (or your biggest problem)? Do one thing that will
contribute to its completion (or its solution.)
15. Keep a running list of things you enjoy doing. This sounds funny, but
sometimes, when we're in a funk, we can't think of anything. Do something that
you enjoy doing, just for the sake of doing it.
16. Think thoughts that make you feel just a little bit better. Find the best
part of your situation and focus your thoughts on that. Repeat.
17. Eat something healthy and fresh. You could be feeling blue because your
blood sugar has taken a dip. Eat a bowl of fresh fruits or vegetables.
18. Buy yourself a simple bouquet of fresh flowers.
19. Pour a cup of hot cocoa or a cup of coffee and read a favorite magazine for
a few minutes.
20. Make lists. It makes us feel so capable when we can cross things off our
to-do lists.
21. Turn on music. Your favorite tunes can really lift your spirits. Use
classical and jazz to calm; rock and roll or hip hop to energize.
22. Write down what's bothering you, as quickly as you can without stopping to
think about it too much as you write. You can achieve a huge amount of clarity
from this simple exercise.
23. Mark Twain said, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer
somebody else up." He's right, and it doesn't have to mean a big time
investment. Just do something thoughtful for someone, right now.
24. De-clutter a part of your home or office that needs it. These little jobs
can be really uplifting as they give us a sense of accomplishment throughout the
day.
25. Set a new goal. If I'm feeling down in the dumps, sometimes all I need is
something new to accomplish.
If your mood doesn't brighten right away, go with the flow, and accept your mood
just the way it is. It is okay to be feel blue every now and then. Let yourself
rest, and give yourself time to restore your own happy mood in your own natural
time.