5 Quick Ways to Improve Your Mood

The Nystrom & Associates provider consulted for this article is Nadia Fischer-Danzeisen, BS, LADC, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  It’s normal for our mood and emotions to fluctuate, but there are certain tips we can keep in our back pocket for when we need them. Here are five quick ways to improve your mood: 

1. Change Your Surroundings

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor at Nystrom & Associates, Nadia Fischer-Danzeisen, explains one tip she uses with her patients:  

Changing the surroundings or current circumstances often helps people improve their mood quickly and effectively. It likely won’t solve a major problem, but it will definitely help regulate tough emotions for the time being and allow for creative solutions for other problems.

In other words, you can change your mood by changing your surroundings. Fischer-Danzeisen lists suggestions like going outside briefly, changing into comfortable clothes, or taking a shower as quick tactics to accomplish this.

2. Use Positive Affirmations 

Positive affirmations are a proven technique to improve your mood, reduce stress, and boost your confidence. Your subconscious tends to believe what you repeatedly tell it; this is why people with a negative outlook tend to end up affirming their negative views as truth. However, the reverse is also true and positive affirmations can be used to convince yourself that the positive things you tell yourself are true. Essentially, positive affirmations rewire our brains.  Your positive affirmations will vary depending on your own goals, interests, and current situation. Be sure to choose ones that will uplift and inspire you and spend a minute repeating them to yourself. Here are a few examples of uplifting affirmations to improve your mood: 

• I know I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.  
• Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy.
• My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.

3. Start a Conversation  

Improve your mood by striking up a conversation with a supportive person in your life. Sharing your feelings with someone who is receptive can help your mood by putting things in perspective. Similarly, it can provide the perfect outlet to vent and gain a bit of advice. If you don’t want to share your feelings, that's okay, just spending quality time with another person will help shift your energy too.  

4. Perform an Act of Kindness 

Fulfill an act out of the goodness of your heart while not expecting anything in return. Not something you have to do, or something that will earn you anything, but merely a good deed for another being.   For example, you could treat your co-worker to lunch, volunteer, or surprise your partner with a card or poem. Whatever it may be, performing a wholehearted act of kindness for someone else will improve your mood as a result.

5. Complete a Task 

What’s something you haven’t finished? What have you been avoiding for days, weeks, or months? Whatever you've been putting off, now is the perfect time to complete it. It doesn't have to anything too crazy, but push yourself to finish a task that either you know you could do better on, or has been hanging over your head. Ticking it off of your to-do list will make you feel accomplished and therefore, improve your mood.   

A Word From Nystrom & Associates 

Most importantly, remember that we can’t always improve our mood easily. If you notice that your mood hasn’t improved for long periods of time or it’s affecting your sleep, diet, and/or relationships, we’re here to talk. Reach out to us and make an appointment here, or take this assessment and find out if you would benefit from talking to a mental health professional. In addition,  if you’d like to learn more de-stressing techniques, read our article on 8 Simple Ways to De-Stress.