Lift the Mood
Dear Lovely,
There are some days I wake up in a funk. Sometimes its because I have a legitimate worry in my life that is pressing on me, but sometimes it’s for no appararant reason. Some days are just kind of blue. I think it’s important we listen to our bodies and give it rest when needed. We can’t pour from an empty cup, so whatever is needed to replenish ourselves should be a priority.
But sometimes, I just need to move forward with a good attitude.
I feel very passionate about making the best of my circumstances, seeing the positive, and stewarding this life we’ve been blessed with, so staying in a funk isn’t always the best choice to facilitate that. Not every day has to be the most productive, the most fun, the most joyful I’ve ever had, but I like to think that if I have a day to live, I’m going to approach it with a grateful heart and a postive attitude. Below are 9 small things I do to get myself out of a funk.
A Fun Drink
A Fun Drink
I don’t know what it is about a fun/special drink, but I love them! Perhaps its a cup of hot matcha. Perhaps its one of my go-to sparkling waters in an adorable glass. (These are my favorite glasses.) Perhaps its a cup of hot tea in a charming tea cup. Maybe I run over to First Watch and get a Kale Tonic? Maybe it’s a really delicious cup of coffee. Maybe I make a big Stanley and pour in a packet of electrolytes. Whatever it is, a special drink lifts my mood.
I remember when the boys were little, when they would cry about something, I would hand them their water bottle and tell them to take a drink in order to gain some composure. I think drinking relaxes the throat muscles and provides some relief if you’re carrying a little sadness or anxiety. Maybe that combined with something tasty and a cute vessel provides a simple ritual to lift my spirits.
2. A Random Act of Kindness
A Random Act of Kindness
Years ago, my counselor told me that a random act of kindness each day is really good at rewiring your brain to see positive over negative. It’s true! Whether I pay for the person behind me in the Starbucks line, or make a big pot of pumpkin soup and distribute mason jars of it to my neighbors, or just send a little “love you/thinking about you” text to a friend or loved one, little acts of kindness toward others are good for the soul. It gets you out of yourself, and forces you to be “others focused.”
3. Gratitude
This one goes without saying, but just remembering how blessed you are is such a relief to moments of sadness. Friend, I know this is easy for me to say because I am not currently in a season of crisis, but I have been there. I have had moments—some in the past year—that felt really dark. There were a lot of unknowns and fears. Despite those difficulties, it was appropriate for me to be grateful for the blessed parts: my boys, my home, I have food, I feel safe, my husband loves me, I can buy flowers at the grocery store, I have a plethora of beautifully scented candles, I can watch my son play basketball, I can watch my other son play football, I can sit down and write on a laptop that works well, I can rearrange my home decor, my legs work, I have my sight…Some of these things are large and some are simple, but I am grateful none the less.
4. Change the Scenery
Get out of the house. Pick up dry-cleaning, drive through Starbucks, drop off donations, or peruse your favorite boutique—for me it’s an antique mall! There’s a greater chance of me wallowing and getting back in bad if I stay home all day. Sometimes you just need a little change of scenery to lift your spirits and distract you from feeling blue. FYI *Locally, my favorite drop of donation spot is Inn Style that benefits the Samaritan Inn.
5. Be Creative
Be Creative
This could look like journaling, drawing, making a perfume oil by mixing a perfume sample with some grapeseed oil, designing a floral arrangement, cooking, or even sewing. Being creative gives your brain somewhere new to go.
6. Change the Photos in Your Picture Frames
Listen up, if you don’t have anything creative to do, how about this: replace the photos in your picture frames with new ones. It will provide a little task, remind you of a fun time, and also breath new life into that space in your home. It’s like a mini change of scenery. I never take picture from the frames but leave them stacking on top of each other so I can walk down memory lane any time I change out the photos. It really is an easy way to lift the mood.
7. Move your Body
Move your Body
Work out. Go to the gym. Walk around the block. Swim in your pool. Just anything to get your blood and endorphins pumping.
8. Listen to Music
Listen to Music
One of my favorite mood lifters and energy changers is to turn music on in my house. My boys probably think I’m a dinosaur for listening to Pandora still—they listen to Spotify—but I don’t care. I feel no need to change what I know and feel comfortable with just because something new is available, which will be outdated soon, too, by the way.
French Cafe Radio is my favorite station on Pandora. I flip it on during the day, while I’m cooking, or just to lift my mood. It provides ambiance and tone to your surroundings, making it nearly impossible to stay blue.
9. Plan a Visit
Plan a Visit
If you have the ability to plan a full blown trip, go for it! But if schedule or finances get in the way, maybe just plan a little visit. This photo is of my sister-in-law and me last fall. Life was feeling heavy, so I called her and my brother and asked if I could drive to Austin for the weekend. It was such good medicine to see my sweet family and get a change of scenery for a few days. If your schedule doesn’t permit even a weekend getaway, plan a lunch with a friend a few towns over!
Blue days are going to happen, friends. However, in our efforts to live beautifully, I hope we can all have some tricks up our sleeves that help us navigate the not so beautiful parts. What do you do to lift the mood? Leave them in the comments!
