10 WAYS TO GET RID OF A BAD MOOD

As a new mom, and just as a human, we’ve all been struggling with our moods. Depression, Postpartum Depression, baby blues, a toxic job, or an unhealthy environment all have a negative effect on our moods. When I get in that headspace it feels like there's nothing I want to do. But if I keep a list of ways to get out of a bad mood around, I might at least do a couple of them. Also if I try to maintain my mood, it's easier for me to get back out of a slump a lot faster. Here's what I do to get rid of a bad mood, and maintain my mood throughout the week:

1. Mediation:

   I use the Headspace app when I wake up, before doing anything else for the day, and before looking at other apps on my phone like Instagram, I make sure I feel calm and relaxed with an intentional meditation for about 10 minutes but even if I don’t have time I’ll do 3 minutes because the app allows you to choose the amount of time you want to meditate. With kids, life gets busy, and it’s hard to meditate when there’s a crying baby, so if you can’t do it in the morning you could always do it later on when you have some time. 

    

2. Individual Therapy:

   I’ve been seeing a therapist for about 6 years. I’ve had 4 different therapists in those 6 years that have taught me so many things about myself, things I wish I had known before. If you want to hear about those things, let me know in the comments. I’ll write down what I’ve learned in a blog post if you feel it would be helpful. Therapy has been so enlightening and has really changed me for the better. It’s refreshing to get all of the thoughts out and to hear an uninvolved perspective. I feel therapy is necessary self-care for everyone. I learned that my depression might not go away, but it does quiet down. Also, I learned depression tries to sabotage your life because misery loves company. It wants to shut down everything good in your life, so it tells you there’s no point in things that make you happy. Depression wants to blow up your life so that you stay sad for as long as possible. You can’t let it take over! Picture your mind like a fish bowl, and your emotions are like the fish. Our emotions and feelings often pass by, we don’t need to let our feelings take over the entire bowl. We need to remember to let our feelings be the fish, and our minds should stay like the bowl. We see our feelings, assess them and acknowledge them. In therapy, you are learning to analyze your thoughts, where they came from, and to put them into perspective. Your mental health is a huge part of your health, so it should be taken care of with as much care as you would provide to a broken arm or the flu.

    

3. Family or couple’s therapy:

   So the last tip was individual therapy, but therapy with your loved one(s) is a different story! A lot of our issues stem from the people who are around us most or have been around for our childhood. It may take a lot of effort, but healing those relationships can really help us move forward and feel more encouraged because now we’ll all be on the same page, perhaps even with support which is especially valuable for regulating mood.

    

4. Listen to music, especially familiar music:

   Remember, we’re trying to comfort ourselves when we’re down. So listening to a few songs we know by heart, can turn into a sing-along for you which really helps you feel more like yourself and happier. It’s really hard to be in a bad mood when you’re belting out your favorite tunes!

    

5. Comfort Food:

   Have you ever heard of the term hangry? Well, it’s a thing! When we’re hungry it’s very easy to also be angry because our body is telling us to get some fuel. Try to find something that isn’t junk food (which could worsen our mood), but tastes really good. 

    

6. Solve the problem:

   Obviously, the problem won’t altogether disappear but taking a step toward your goal does a lot to help us feel more hopeful about one day solving the problem we’re dealing with. Invest in yourself, by spending the time to write down your goals and taking the first step. You have to do it at some point, why not now?

    

7. Support Group:

   Sometimes it helps to spend some time with people who understand your situation. Joining a group, doesn’t mean you have to go every week but why not try it? I tried a virtual group for new moms and it felt so good to be understood. Being a new mama is lonely if there’s no one else close by going through a similar situation.

    

8. talk to a really good friend:

   Reach out to someone close to you. You are not alone, even though your mood might tell you otherwise, just know that it isn’t true. The people that love you, understand you. To give them a call isn’t a bother to them. You never know, with your call to them you could be lifting their spirits as much as talking to them will lift yours.

    

9. Move your body:

   A bad mood can make you feel paralyzed. Get some exercise, take a walk around the block, go to the mall, or get on your elliptical/treadmill while you watch a YouTube video or favorite show. Getting your body into motion works wonders for your mood because it chemically helps your body produce feel-good hormones. Moving your body every day can help you maintain a better mood. 

    

10. Adorn yourself and your space:

    YOU 👏🏾 DO 👏🏾 NOT 👏🏾 NEED 👏🏾 A 👏🏾 REASON! Whether you’re staying home or not, make yourself look good for yourself. You can wear makeup at home, you can wear earrings at home. You can wear your favorite outfits if and when you want to. It might even inspire you to leave your home for the day and get some fresh air! When you look good you feel good, and that also goes for the space around you. A little home update has the power to give you hope and will help change your perspective for the better.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list but these are all ideas that I’ve used myself and they have really helped me. Do you have ideas that have helped you that aren’t on this list? Comment below and tell me what has worked for you! 

(P.S. Please remember to give yourself grace, you deserve it!)

Written by: Shenika