3 Ways to Boost Your Mood on a Bad Day

A bad mood can impact every part of your day--from your interactions with others to the choices you make about food and exercise.
 
In short, it’s no place you want to be long term. Here are a few easy ways to turn that bad mood around and get your day back on track.

Work Out
Exercising might feel like the last thing you want to do when you’re in a bad mood, but I promise you that it’s totally worth it. The endorphin rush you get from working out will lift your spirits, and focusing on physical activity will help get your mind off of negative thoughts.
 
You don’t need a long or vigorous workout to reap the mood-boosting benefits. Even a brisk walk, or ten minutes of yoga poses at your desk can be enough to do the trick.

Laugh and Smile
Again, this is probably not high on your list of things to do when you’re in a bad mood, but even a few minutes of forced laughter can help remind you that things might not be so bad after all.
 
Queue up a funny video on YouTube, turn on one of your favorite songs, or call a friend to reminisce about a funny story. Any of these activities will trigger the release of feel-good hormones and lift your mood in no time.

Help Others
This one might not be as easy to do on the spot, but taking time out of your day to help others reminds us that we are players in a much larger community.
 
Much like exercise, it’s a great way to get out of your own head and forget about your problems for a while. And, you’ll receive the boost that comes from doing a good deed.
 
This can be as simple as holding the door for someone, or offering to buy coffee for a coworker who might also be having a bad day. Commit to volunteering to keep those positive vibes going and achieve a more positive overall mental state.