Sometimes I feel low – low on energy, low on positivity, low on gratitude. Many times there’s little explanation for this…I’m just in a bad mood, in a funk. In the past, I would turn to unhealthy vices like junk food or alcohol to feel better but the effects were short-lived and I’d often just feel worse. Over time I’ve found healthier ways to reset my mood and get the funk out of town.
Walk in nature
I’m an introvert living in a small house with my husband and three young girls and sometimes the regular commotion of loud kids and daily living gets to me. I’ll get crabby or overwhelmed and need a reset. This is usually when I’ll escape for a walk in nature. The fresh air and quiet help me to clear my mind and let go of the tension building in my body. Walking hills also helps me regulate my breathing, which in turn refocuses my energy. Typically by the time I get home, I feel ready to tackle whatever battle is ensuing between my two youngest, or to face the stack of dishes on the counter, or whatever it is that requires my attention.
Knocking on Heaven’s Door
This is a technique I learned from Yoga with Adriene. Start by planting your feet on the floor with your knees slightly bent, and allow your arms to swing freely, from side to side as you gently twist your torso back and forth from left to right. It’ll feel really silly at first so I suggest doing this with no one around. A few minutes of this and you’ll start to feel lighter and less irritable. It gets the blood flowing and shifts your mindset to a more positive one. I feel so silly doing this that I’ll feel my stress melt away and just laugh at myself. It reminds me to look for joy and not take life so seriously all the time.
Lion’s Breath
Lion’s Breath is a breathing technique that will, again, make you feel silly doing but you’ll feel so much better afterward. I was first introduced to this technique by Yoga with Adriene. It’s a very simple and quick method of breathing out to relieve stress and tension. It reminds me of a big huff when feeling frustrated but the difference is that the focus is on letting go of what’s bothering you. You look silly because you stick your tongue out and look up toward your forehead while audibly breathing out. Watch this video by Yoga with Adriene for a full tutorial.
Listen to your favorite music
One of my favorite things to do when I’m feeling down is to play my favorite music in the car, crank up the volume, and sing my heart out. I’ll laugh at myself when I get the words wrong (notice I didn’t say if), and I get really excited when I nail the lyrics or the timing of the next line, which again makes me laugh at myself. It’s a great way to let go of tension and I love how pumped up I feel when I arrive at my destination. I’ve also been known to do this while dancing around the house.
Get nostalgic
Sometimes when we’re in a bad mood, it’s hard to remember that life isn’t always deadlines, chores, and hard work. I like to take five minutes to scroll through old photos on my phone to remind me of times that were light, carefree, and fun. Adorable smiles of my babies, the selfie with my best friend after yet another ridiculously fun and hilarious adventure (in our late thirties, no less!), the beautiful landscape from my last vacation. Anything that makes you smile should do the trick here.
Life is tough and it’s completely normal to find yourself in a funk once in a while. It’d be weird and quite frankly annoying if you were chipper all the time but the next time you need a pick-me-up, try these methods to pull yourself out of a bad mood and get the funk out of town.
