I was in the worst mood this afternoon – I’m not sure when it started but it really started showing up after a trip to the grocery store – as I was getting the kids settled into their seats, I notice the woman parked next to me checking her doors, review mirror really closely – as if I’d hit her car (I hadn’t). For some reason this irritated me so much I considered rolling down my window to say something to her (she was the one who’d parked too close to me, not the other way around). For the record, I didn’t, but I entertained the thought. Then I was crabby the rest of the afternoon.
I decided I needed to share somethings that help me feel better that are natural, fun, and are either free or cost next to nothing.
1) Play with the kids
How can you be irritated when playing the silliest games with the kids? Jeremiah and Sarah seem to naturally have fun and when I play with them, I can’t help but feel better.
2) Water, water, water.
Sometimes I’m crabby because I’m thirsty! The desert air can dry you out quickly, so staying hydrated is super important. Even if you’re not in the desert, you need to keep drinking your water.
3) Prayer
I find that when I can grab even a minute or two alone to pray, it helps me so much to focus on what’s really bothering me and to break the cycle of crabbiness.
4) Write
This might not work for everyone, but since I love to write, and it’s so natural to me. I find that if I just let all my feelings out, even if they never go anywhere, it also helps me find the root of what’s making me upset.
5) Food!
Oh man, this is big for me. When I’m hungry (or my blood sugar gets low), oh boy, do I get cranky! I always try to make sure I eat something healthy – fruits, veggies, an egg or some yogurt are great for me personally. I try to avoid carbs or candy because I end up crashing from the, it seems.
6) Go For a Walk
It’s a little hot right now, but still, a little exercise is good for the body and for the mind. If I can’t get out to exercise, I’ll use the Kinect and get a little workout in jumping and playing either by myself, with my husband, or the kids.
7) Get To Work
There’s always something that needs to be done around the house, right? Dishes, laundry, dusting, sweeping, etc, etc. So why not do it? Getting to work can help distract me from my bad mood.
What do you do when you’re in a bad mood?
I listen to music when I get in a bad mood, it helps lift me out of the funk!
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We head out into the sunshine….vitamin D works everytime!
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Cleaning is kind of my mood fixer, too. Usually, I end up thinking so much about what’s eating me while I’m cleaning that I realize that it’s a ridiculous reason to be upset and I’m able to rationalize it out.
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Prayer is one I do a lot of. Works wanders every time to bring peace to my mind and soul. All your other suggestions work too. I love to take walks in the woods. Great tips!
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I do a lot of these too. I also like listening to cheerful music, or listening to my fiance’s silly jokes!
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The Grocery store will do that to me too. I don’ t know if it’s all the people or battling your way through the parking lot but my mood always drops a notch or 2 after I go to the store. Good tips on how you deal with that.
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Getting out and hiking in the Catalinas isn’t a quick remedy, but it has long lasting effect. Turning on the music and dancing with my eldest. My relationship with food is such that if I think my mood related to a blood sugar drop I best having almond butter and veggies or a piece of fruit. What I really want is chocolate, but that does help and involves too much self loathing.
I love this list! Some of the things I like to do are to go on a walk, listen to music, or even go to the gym. Getting my workout on always improves my mood!
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I try to get out of the house, if rainy and not possible I play with kids and do pretty much what you listed. I always let my kids know ahead of time if Mama has a case of the grumpies and they usually band together to help me move forward and smile!
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I do a lot of the things on your list. When I can get a nap in, my mood soars.
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I probably would’ve said something to that lady (haha!) I definitely turn to FOOD! But talking with friends or taking a nap can lift my mood.
you are so right, doing something to get out of that mood is important. We are teaching my autistic son to smash those ANTS (automatic negative thoughts). It really has made a difference. The taught him that good thoughts breed good thoughts while bad thoughts breed bad thoughts and actions. He really took hold of that and it has helped him control himself a lot.
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Great post! I do quite a few of these things to lift up my mood as well, music, going outside and having some silly time with the kids are my top 3!
My husband used to say that he knew I was in a bad mood if the house was sparkling clean when he came home from work. And that was true, because when I got mad or irritated, I started cleaning at top speed.
Playing the kids STRESSES me out. LOL!!
trisha
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REST!
a little power nap can do wonders…
I do most of these already and a nap never hurts either.
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We call #5 “hangry” : )
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If I am in a bad mood right before going to bed, I try to find a good passage in the Bible to read to calm me down. I sometimes (more often than I should) eat when I am feeling stressed out. I find if I eat the wrong things, like chocolate, it puts me in a worse mood. Eating protein snacks like almonds or cheese and a glass of water always help me! Thanks for sharing your good ideas!
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Thanks for those reminders! Music and qouting scripture help me too!
They work, I just have to remind myself to do them!
I’ve found taking deep breaths helps my mood immediately, and taking a vitamin D supplement helps my mood over the long term. (It takes like two days to start working, so it’s not immediate results, but if I skip a day, I am much more likely to have a bad day.)
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