10 Ways to Get Yourself Out of a Foul Mood

If you’re in one of those moods where your eyes could turn everything you look at into a fire ball, perhaps it’s time to let go of your tension and start to work yourself back into the loving, caring person you once were.

Do you hate the world today? Are people getting on your nerves and work threatening your sanity? Would you give anything to return to your bedroom, close the door and lock everyone else out?

When life has you in a choke hold, it’s hard to walk around with a smile on your face. You’re sad or angry and can’t seem to find the energy to pull out of it.

However, if you don’t do something to return to a better state of mind, you’ll only prolong the effect and make yourself miserable in the process.

It’s time for you to get yourself out of your foul mood and start to enjoy life once again. How, you ask? Here are ten options for you to consider:

#1: Call for backup

If you feel ready to rip someone’s head off, it’s time to call in reinforcement. And, who better to talk you down and help you out then a close gal pal?

Sometimes you just need to vent; get whatever is on your mind out in the open. Once you give it a voice, it may not seem quite so debilitating and negative.

Also, a friend may be able to give you a new perspective on the situation that isn’t quite as grim as the one you have right this moment.

#2: Get lost in someone else’s life

If your current life has you down and out, maybe it’s time to get lost in someone else’s. No, you don’t have to change your identity or start an underground existence (although that may not seem like a bad idea if you’re feeling real foul), but you do have other options.

To get a break from whatever is plaguing you and making you feel mean spirited, it’s not a bad idea to read a book or watch a movie that you can get lost in.

Whether it’s a suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat or a romance that makes your heart flutter, it will do you some good to momentarily step outside your world – and into someone else’s.

#3: Unplug yourself

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When you’re at the end of your rope, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. And, if you’re tuned in to your cell phone, social media, email and any other avenue where others can reach you every second of every minute, you’re likely inflating the negative feelings.

Give yourself room to breathe by unplugging or turning off all of the electronics in your life. It may be a little fear inducing initially, but you will learn to appreciate and enjoy the calmness and quietness that results.

Besides, if it is important, someone will leave you a message which you can promptly return -once you’ve released the gremlin inside of you.

#4: Run away

Remember when you were a kid and things got tough? You may have felt that the best solution was to just run away and start over, right?

Well, certainly you can’t run away from your life (actually you can, but that would bring about a whole new world of problems), but you will receive great benefits if you at least go out for a run or walk.

Fresh air and a little bit of physical activity can go a long way when it comes to restoring some mental balance.

#5: Go on strike

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Taking on the role of mother and/or wife means that you likely wear several hats. While it’s great to take care of your family, sometimes you can feel unappreciated and taken for granted. Both of these have the tendency to make you want to throw your hands in the air and scream, “I quit!”

Instead of orphaning your children and divorcing your husband, you may do better to just go on strike for a bit. Boycott laundry and dishes. Ignore the dust and look away from weeds that are overtaking your flower beds.

Of course, you can’t ignore these things forever, but one or two days off may be all you need to rejuvenate (and for others to realize how much you do for them).

#6: Shake your booty

Music has a way of invigorating your soul. It helps you release tension in a spiritual and soothing kind of way.

After all, there’s nothing better than dancing to a song that connects with you so deeply you could have written it yourself.

When life feels too heavy and your attitude reflects your struggles, it’s time to turn your favorite music up and just let it move you as if you are the star in the music video. You’ll feel the stress and tension leave your body – all while putting on the performance of your life.

#7: Tell somebody off

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Okay, you can’t just go around blurting insults and obscenities at everyone who crosses your path, but you can still tell someone off in a non-hurtful way. How?

Write them a letter. Voice all of your feelings on paper. Be as mean and as ruthless as you like. Then burn it. You will have said what you needed to say which automatically lifts your spirits, yet you did it in a way that no one got hurt. It’s a win/win situation.

#8: Take a mental vacation

Maybe you can’t pack up and go to a nice warm island for a week, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take a little mental vacation. After all, as long as some part of you gets a holiday, you’ll still benefit.

Light a coconut scented candle, pour yourself a fruity drink and turn up the heat. Close your eyes, put on Hawaiian music and pretend that you’re sunbathing on a beach. Have a fan blow the ocean breeze on you as you enjoy your time away from reality.

#9: Pamper yourself

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One of the reasons you may be feeling not so nice is because you don’t feel taken care of. Maybe your spouse is too busy to notice you’re alive or you’ve been so preoccupied at work that you’ve hardly taken time to eat lunch, let alone take a much needed break.

A little pampering will go a long way when it comes to getting your good mood back. And, if no one else is going to do it, you need to do it yourself. Schedule a massage, manicure or pedicure. Do it strictly because you want it – and deserve it.

#10: Go back to bed

You certainly don’t want to spend all of your tough days in bed, but if you’re overtired, you’re not much good anyway. You can only burn the candle at both ends for so long before you start to feel the effects.

Taking a nap when you’re exhausted will help boost your mood as it is during sleep that your body heals itself and rejuvenates its energy. Use this as an opportunity to refuel your emotional gas tank so you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

You can’t be positive all the time, but there are things you can do to work out of a negative mood. Why stay miserable and crotchety if you don’t have to? That’s no fun – for you or anyone else.

About the author

Christina DeBusk

Changing careers mid-life from law enforcement to writing, Christina spends her days helping others enrich their businesses and personal lives one word at a time.

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