Feeling anxious? Upset? Angry? Disappointed? You don't have to stay that way. Even when circumstances in your life tell you otherwise. Here's 10 ways to get a boost in your mood and to get a new perspective.
1. Create a Vision
What are some things that make you happy? What things do you need to be happier? Any goals you need to set? Look through magazines and cut out anything that captures your interest. Keep it in a scrapbook or make it into a collage. Or, as seen below, create an actual space in your house to foster creativity and positivity. Having a visual for your deepest desires puts them into reality and into action. 
2. Gratitude Journal
Place a notebook by your bed and write three things
you're happy about before you go to bed.
Wake up in the morning and read it. Repeat.
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| Things to be grateful for can pile up! |
3. Fridge Therapy
Ths is not to be confused with stress eating.
Instead, place photos on your fridge that you love.
Research suggests that we open the fridge as much as 27 times a day.
This is a great advertising space so you might as well look at things that make you happy.
Bonus: Put magnets with funny little sayings on them for an added mood boost.
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| Here's my fridge! |
4. Challenge Your Negativity
Make two columns on a piece of paper. On the left side, list a negative circumstance and/or feeling. On the right, challenge that belief. An example is below:
Complaint: I don't have enough money.
Challenge: I paid all my bills on time.
Complaint: I'm lonely.
Challenge: I have a lot of friends who love me (list them)
5. Optimize
Do at least one small thing that's new, unexpected,
or just a little on the luxurious side. Like that extra foam on your latte? Go for it!
Novelty makes people feel good.
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| The romance of coffee. My coffee selfie at The Cup Cafe. |
6. Mark Your Calendar
Put something on the calendar to look forward to - a lunch date with a friend,
a shopping trip, a vacation, or just simply some scheduled time for yourself.
The anticipation you get from seeing the event is a mood booster in itself!
7. Look Polished
Take extra time to style yourself. Pick out a flattering outfit that's freshly pressed and impeccable. Style your hair differently and add some accessories. Get a manicure. People will compliment and smile at you all day long.
a shopping trip, a vacation, or just simply some scheduled time for yourself.
The anticipation you get from seeing the event is a mood booster in itself!
7. Look Polished
Take extra time to style yourself. Pick out a flattering outfit that's freshly pressed and impeccable. Style your hair differently and add some accessories. Get a manicure. People will compliment and smile at you all day long.
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| Dressing well means feeling well! |
8. Write a Letter Taking the time to write to someone is a lost art. Get stationary in a pleasing color and/or texture or buy some postcards. If you feel crafty, make your own stationary by putting your name at the top of a page using a fancy font (you can download hundreds of free fonts at dafont.com). Writing a letter is like sending a gift to someone. Bonus: If you saved letters from loved ones, take them out and read them.
9. Reprioritize
Sometimes when anxiety levels rise, it's because things are unbalanced. Make a list of the things that worry you and list them in order of priority. Take the top three items and make plans for addressing them with specific steps and due dates. Cross them off the list. Repeat. A sense of control and accomplishment helps ease a frazzled mind.
10. Chocolate Therapy
The feel-good sensations that chocolate gives you are created by a natural chemical in cocoa called phenylethylamine, which researchers believe can cause a feeling of mild euphoria, similar to the experience of being in love. I like to have a square of fine quality chocolate after dinner or with a cup of tea right before bed.
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| Cheap thrill: Lindt. $3.00 a bar. My favorite! |
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| Total splurge: Fran's Chocolate stuffed figs. $40 for eight. |
