Ten Ways to Lift your Mood

Low mood is a symptom experienced by many people with the medically diagnosed condition of depression. It is the symptom that most people associate with depression and, as such, has become a state which we all seek to avoid. And yet, low mood cannot be avoided at all times. Sometimes, we must feel the sadness, the loss, grief, overwhelming pain of rejection or bereavement or just inexplicable crappy feelings. Sometimes we need to talk about our pain, blog it out, embrace it, listen to sad music, and just cry.

Sometimes, however, we will want to feel better again, and that’s where it’s useful to have some ideas on how to lift our mood back up. Every person will find different things which help them to do this. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to happiness. So, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. The Sunshine Stone

Crystals are not just stones, they are part of Mother Earth which vibrate at different frequencies, bringing different energies, and various healing properties. There are many ways in which to use a crystal, and lots of them which can help to lift our mood. Citrine is my favourite, nicknamed the Sunshine Stone, for its ability to make us feel happy and warm. You can buy citrine online, although many people like to choose their own piece by going to a local shop. It is available as a tumble stone (smooth) or as a rough cut stone, from the tiniest piece to huge expensive lumps of the stuff! Once you have a piece, you can carry it with you, holding it in the palm of your hand when you need it, or rolling it in your fingertips. You can make a crystal elixir, either by immersing it in water, or by placing it on the lid of your water bottle, allowing its energy to diffuse into the water. Sip this through the day to help lift your mood. See my blog on how to use crystals for more ideas.

2. Home-grown Herbs

Herbs have many medicinal and magickal properties, and growing your own is a satisfying process. They can be grown in pots, so you don’t need a large garden, and many will grow indoors on the kitchen windowsill. St John’s Wort is perhaps the most commonly known herb for happiness, being available in tablet form from many pharmacies and health food shops. The humble dandelion is a great mood booster, and can easily be made into a tea by leaving the flowers to sit in hot water for ten minutes. It doesn’t taste too bad! One of my favourites is rose petals. As a child, I steeped petals in water to make a perfume, knowing instinctively what to choose to make me happy. Although, if left too long, they become rotten and smelly! Lemon balm is another herb which is very easy to grow, even for the less green-fingered amongst you! It makes a lovely tea and can reduce stress and lift your mood. It also aids digestion and can help reduce bloating and menstrual cramps, so useful all round.

3. Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness have become very trendy practices, but it’s hard to know how to do them when there are many different interpretations on what they actually are. Put simply, mindfulness is about being in the present moment. An easy way to try this is to sit and look and listen. Keep your eyes open and notice what’s around you. It might be some cat hair on the carpet, and then your mind will begin planning when you’re going to get the hoover out and clean up. Allow your mind to do that, and then return to focussing on the cat hair. Notice how it sits in a clump. What can you hear? Perhaps your children are watching something on TV in the other room and you are distracted, your mind begins planning what you cook your children for dinner, or perhaps your mind races back to the programmes you watched last night, or as a child. Again, don’t be cross with your mind for doing this, that’s its job. Just gently bring your focus back on the sounds you hear. Do the same with each oh your senses, each time gently reminding your mind that all those other things don’t matter right now. This is hard! Buddhist monks dedicate their lives trying to perfect this art, so don’t be disappointed with yourself if you struggle with it. Visit my other blogs for more ideas on other meditation techniques.

4. Animals

Many of us will have animals sharing our living space with us. Animals can be hard work; they need feeding, walking, cleaning, grooming. They may cost us lots in vet bills, food, toys, replacing scratched furniture! Animals, however, are the masters at living in the moment. Your dog is not worrying about whether he offended you by licking your face last night. Your cat is not worrying if her bum looks big. Your hamster is not disagreeing with her friends over political issues. Your chameleon is not mulling over what colour to dye his skin. Spend some time with your animals, try matching your breathing to theirs, try the mindfulness exercises with them (they often fall asleep when you do this), stroke their fur, play with them. There is a reason why animals are being brought into hospitals, or bringing their special gifts to therapy sessions. Of course, be mindful of their needs and wishes, always allowing them to walk off if they choose. If you don’t have an animal to hang out with, perhaps you have a friend with one. There are organisations that pair up people wanting to walk dogs with owners who are unable to give their dog adequate exercise. This can be a great way of helping others (another great way to boost your mood) at the same time as getting you a doggy fix.

5. Friends

Now this is a tricky one. Many of us don’t like to burden our friends with our problems, especially if sometimes we just feel a bit blue and we’re not even sure why. Sometimes, talking things through with friends can be a great way to put things into perspective and help us work through a specific problem and find a solution. Sometimes, however, what we really need is distraction. Just as we would do with a toddler on the verge of a tantrum, we can distract ourselves by a change of scene, a change of subject, and some good old-fashioned fun. Try to spend some time with people who lift your mood, whether they are life-long friends, work colleagues, people you have met through a hobby or mutual interest. Have fun, laugh, talk about their problems, talk about work as long as that’s not your cause of stress or unhappiness. Share stories of life events, giving birth, memorable events from school days, discuss your favourite films, best night out ever, favourite book, desert island discs, anything! The human connection is vital, not only to our happiness, but to our survival.

6. Exercise

The last thing I feel like doing when I feel low is putting on my running shoes and going outside. How can making myself sweaty and exhausted possibly make me feel better? How can bouncing about inelegantly in front of the TV with a fitness DVD on make me feel any happier about myself or my life?! And yet...it does. The surge of adrenaline released into our nervous system by doing some form of exercise causes a rush of feel-good hormones (endorphins, serotonin) to the brain. Exercise is like an anti-depressant drug. For me, it also gives me a sense of smug self-satisfaction. I am proud of myself for doing something that is good for me, even if I hated every moment of it! There are many ways to help motivate us to do more exercise. I’ve tried the Couch to 5K app (I’m sorry, Sarah Millican, but I can no longer hear your voice without thinking “Leave me alone, I can’t run any further!). You could try attending a dance or yoga class and you might make some new friends too (see above)! Do things which make you feel great, proud, happy!

7. Blogging or Journaling

Many people find journaling their emotions can be helpful. It can certainly help you to identify patterns of behaviour and mood, to see if there are certain things which cause your low mood, which you hadn’t realised. In the absence of a trustworthy friend or a professional counsellor, your journal or diary can be there for you to pour out all your secrets. Getting things on paper or screen can help to focus your mind, minimising things which had seemed overwhelming, making you realise you can cope, or at least giving you a fresh perspective and perhaps some new ideas on what to do next. If you want your words to be seen, then try blogging instead of writing in a private journal. Who knows, perhaps your words will help someone else going through a similar situation. We tend to keep our low mood private, believing we are all supposed to be able to cope with life. Social media accounts give us the impression that everyone else has their shit together and is gliding about through life like an elegant swan, keeping well hidden the legs beating about beneath the water. Why not share your struggles? There is a difference between what our grandparents called “airing your dirty laundry in public” and reaching out to connect with others. Oh look, there’s that vital human connection again, so often lost through the keyboard.

8. Feng Shui or Marie Kondo

Feng Shui is a complicated art of placing your possessions about your home in order to bring greater harmony to your life. It’s actually considerably more complicated than that, with different years bringing auspicious times to move house, different compass points having different energies and therefore being the better place for each room in your house. You don’t have to be an expert, however, to use a little of its wisdom in your home and in your life. One of its main themes is about clearing unwanted clutter from your life, a theme also familiar to us now through the work of Marie Kondo. If something does not “spark joy”, then we thank it and let it go. Try applying this to other areas of your life, work, friends, and activities. Sometimes our lives become too full; our diaries are ram-packed with fun activities, our homes full of possessions, leaving no room for anything or anyone new to arrive. This can be overwhelming and it can be hard to know where to start. Maybe start small. Start with your smalls. Fold your pants and socks beautifully, and each day take a moment of pleasure at getting them out of the drawer and putting them on! I’ve found most pleasure from having only nice socks that I love, and folding them so the little design on the ankle is visible in the drawer. I don’t know why I enjoy choosing my socks so much now, but I do!

9. Fresh Air and Sunshine

Wherever you live, it is important to find an outdoor space where you can enjoy spending time. If you are near a beach, then you are so lucky! The sound of the waves, the feel of the sand, the taste of the salt; for me these are healing things and I do miss living by the sea. Trees are wonderful mood-lifters; they are silent and strong, living, respiring, photosynthesising, giving you the air you breathe. Take a moment to say thanks. Hug a tree! Or sit beneath one, your back against its trunk, feel it support you, imagine its roots spreading deep into the earth below, look up at its branches above. The sunshine can be more problematic, depending on the season and on where you live. Daylight helps to regulate our sleep patterns and whilst we humans don’t hibernate, we are more lethargic, less active, and lower in mood in winter. Some people suffer with the aptly named SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) believed to be caused by an insufficient amount of light leading to higher levels of melatonin and therefore more sleepiness and less happiness. So get out there, and soak up what daylight you can!

10. Self-care

What is self-care? Is it running yourself a deep bubble bath and claiming some “me-time”? Is it indulging in a large gin and tonic with ice and a slice and peppercorns?! Is it enjoying a whole tub of cookie dough ice cream? Well, yes and no. Self-care is personal. Only you know what makes you happy. I would recommend that the things you choose to make you happy now, don’t cause you grief in the long run. In other words, if you are trying to shift a few pounds or weight, then you might enjoy that ice cream now, but be plagued by feelings of guilt tomorrow morning when you step on the scales. If you are struggling financially, then buying that new top might make you feel wonderful for a while, you will soon have feelings of regret when you check your bank balance and can’t afford next week’s food shop. Self-care is about getting the balance right. Try to find things which make you feel good, without any trade-off. Find a delicious but healthy snack. Find a place you love to go that’s free to enter. Hang out with friends at one of your houses. Enjoy a drink in moderation! I’d love to know what your ideas for self-care include, let me know in the comments!

If none of these are helping, your go-to techniques aren’t working, or you cannot motivate yourself to try any of these, then it may be time to seek help. Low mood is normal, but a persistent low mood which will not shift can be a symptom of a mental health issue for which you may need medical intervention. Friends and well-meaning blogs cannot cure depression, but your doctor can help with a range of strategies.

As always, I’d love to hear your feedback. If you have other ideas for how to raise our happiness, then please share them below.

Nicky