Top 12 Ways Out Of A Bad Mood

We've all been there: something annoying or frustrating happens and as a result we spend the rest of the day in a foul mood. And the additionally frustrating thing is, someone can often know they’re in a bad mood, but be unable to snap out of it.

However, you and others around you don’t have to put up with those foul moods; instead, you can do something about them. By following our top 12 tips to beat a bad mood, you will be able to deal with your bad mindset in a number different ways — so if one doesn’t work, another one will!

1. Talk about what has put you in a mood

If you are in a bad mood, then there’s obviously a reason for it. Pinpoint why you’re in a bad mood and, if you can, talk to a friend about it. Simply talking about your problem with someone will make you feel many times better. After all, what they say about ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ rings very true. But if you can’t talk to a friend, try going outside and letting out a mighty scream or having a good cry. Remember that bottling it all up will only darken your mood.

2. Beat a bad mood with exercise

Exercise is a great way to get you out of a bad mood. If you can make yourself do some exercise, you will reap the benefits. Exercise releases endorphins , which are chemicals in your brain that make you feel good, so by doing some exercise you will automatically make yourself feel better.

A game of squash could be a good option, as you’ll be able to take your bad mood out on the ball. On the other hand, if you take your sport too seriously and are a bad loser, then a non-competitive form of exercise may be the best way to go.

3. Eat chocolate to make you feel better

It’s amazing how many people instantly reach for their favourite chocolate for comfort if they are feeling low. It’s probably not a bad thing to do, though, as chocolate is known to be responsible for positive mood-lifting effects due to the release of serotonin, the brain’s natural pick-me-up. If you find that chocolate does the trick for you, then a little of it can be no bad thing. However, if you’re the sort who ends up with pang of guilt, then it’s best that you give it a miss.

4. Think about less fortunate people

If you’re in a really bad mood, it may be because you think everything is going wrong for you. What you need to do in this case is to regain your sense of perspective on life. Take a stroll, maybe in your lunch time, and have a look at the people around you.

Chances are you’ll probably pass by at least one person who would probably settle for your problems and a roof over their head. Or you might see someone disabled or elderly struggling to get into a shop. If you can, get a sense of perspective — then things may not seem so bad after all!

5. Blasting out some 'positive' music

Everybody has some favourite tunes to listen to, from rousing classical music compositions to bouncing pop tunes. Listening to one of your favourite tracks — such as one that you associate with a happy time in your life — will help draw you out of your bad mood. And why not go one step further by belting out your favourite tune at the top of your voice? You could even do this if you feel yourself being drawn into a bad mood while stuck in traffic — as long as you don’t mind being a source of amusement to other motorists.

6. Get more light

At certain times of the year — particularly around winter, the lack of daylight hours can have a negative impact on your mood. Some people even get seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is even worse.

Whether or not you get SAD, it’s always good to get more light into your life. You could try to get out more during daylight hours, as this is known to improve mood.

7. Take time out

Give yourself a chance to blank out all your negative thoughts by taking a few moments out and doing something different. For example, take half an hour out to have a soak in the tub — it can work wonders and help soothe both the body and mind. And why not get some candles out and have a glass of wine at the same time?

If you’re in a bad mood, it’s sometimes good not to be around other people until you have got it out of your system. If you stay around people, you may cause a reduction which will, in turn, add to your bad mood.

8. Avoid people who put you in a bad mood

It might seem obvious, but there are people who just have an ability to put you in a bad mood. Okay, so some situations can’t be avoided — for example a work colleague or your boss. But there will be others in your social life who you can avoid. Some people can drain you and leave you in a bad mood. It’s best to avoid these people when you can or at least keep your contact with them to a minimum.

9. Make contact with positive people

The flipside of avoiding negative people is making contact with positive ones. There are some people out there who have a very positive influence on us. They are the sort you probably never argue with, or the type of people that have you cracking up with their sense of humor.

It may be that you’ve lost touch with them recently, so why not look them up and give yourself a boost. Don’t be waiting for them to make the first move — do it yourself. Surrounding yourself with positive people will have a positive effect on your mood.

10. Get a pet

Studies have found that pets can actually help us feel better. For starters, animals do some pretty funny things at times, which will help to make you laugh. Even stroking a pet is known to lower heart rate, making you calmer. And if you get yourself a dog that requires plenty of walks, this will mean you get some exercise and daylight — which will further enhance your good mood.

11. Think happy thoughts

If you can take yourself back to a time when you were happy, then this will instantly fill you with happy thoughts. If you need a prompt, why not dig out some old photographs of great times that you’ve had? Being in a bad mood is avoidable if you rid yourself or intruding bad thoughts and replace them with good ones. It really comes down to choice — choose to think of unhappy thoughts and you will be unhappy, and vice versa. People are only as happy as they allow themselves to be!

12. Try to avoid worrying

Worry is one of the major causes of unhappiness.  The simple answer is to stop worrying after all, worrying doesn’t actually help in any way at all. If it’s something that you can deal with at the time, then do it, and hopefully that will end the worry. If you can’t deal with it at that moment in time, then think of potential solutions and be optimistic rather than worrying excessively about a problem.

A final word

Anyone can become more upbeat and optimistic just by using some of the techniques mentioned above. When you try some of them, you will inevitably feel a burden lift off your shoulders and become more positive.The key to it all is an optimistic outlook. Accepting that bad moods are an inevitable part of life can immediately lessen the impact of a bad mood — and having an optimistic outlook means you’re more likely to actively look on the bright side.