Five Ways to Get Over a Bad Mood

“How is your day going?”

You hear this all the time, and the normal response, especially to a stranger is “good” or “all right.” If you’re anything like me, half the time you want to say “I’ve been better” or better yet you just want to growl at them. A good, honest, from the heart growl. When I get in these moods, I try to stay busy. The moods aren’t always triggered by anything in particular, but more likely I just got cut off while driving three times in a row or something just as trivial. However, when the moods are brought on by something closer to home, the best thing to do is get busy. Here are a few tricks to try when grumpy should be your middle name.

1. Clean

   Yes, I said it. I’m the queen of the dust bunnies. However, when a bad mood strikes, there’s nothing quite like putting on your “guilty pleasure” CD, you know the one you don’t admit you own, and cleaning house. My guilty pleasure CD? The Backstreet Boys. I start in the kitchen, then the living room and dining room, the whole time I’m bouncing, singing into whatever cleaning parphanelia I have at hand, and my bad mood starts to disappear. Of course, you may be in a household where this would earn you funny looks. That’s okay. If you can’t jam out and make a fool of yourself, try one of these other steps.

2. Drive

   Find a road that isn’t traveled too much and just take some “me” time to unwind. Roll the windows down if it isn’t too cold and let the wind whip at your hair. Turn the radio up and just be alone. Most of the time when I do this, I end up at my special spot by the lake. After I get there, I sit on the shore and just watch the water. It’s very relaxing and it’s hard to be upset with anything in a place that is so peaceful. Depending on what’s bothering me driving for half an hour generally cures it. Of course, if you’re worried about how much gas it’ll cost you to cure your mood, there’s always this next trick.

3. Baths and Books

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   I figured this one out when I was a teenager. Naturally, I went through the phase where I couldn’t get any privacy unless I was in the bathroom. Since I’m not capable of sitting on the toilet and reading Sports Illustrated for hours on end, I resorted to taking a lot of bubble baths. I’d find a book and nestle into the suds until the water got cool and if I wasn’t over my mood, then I’d drain the tub a little and add more hot water. Of course, I had the luxury of a second bathroom. Not everyone does. So if you must share the bathroom and luxurious bubble baths aren’t a possibility there are a couple other things you can try.

4. Take a Walk

   Chances are you live in an area where it’s okay to go for a walk alone. If not, try the other steps first. There’s nothing quite like a brisk walk. Lace up your tennis shoes, hook the leash to the dog, and walk for half an hour. The energy you expend while walking will probably take your mood with it. Plus, it’s good exercise and I’m sure Rover could stand to lose a pound or two.

5. Shopping Therapy

   This is one of my extreme measures. Obviously, you can’t always go on this huge shopping spree, but sometimes even getting just the essentials can be beneficial. I once got in an argument with my significant other and since I was going to the store for groceries anyway, I used it as an excuse to blow off some steam. I also came home with more than few extra, but completely functional, items: baking sheets, tin foil, a new bottle of lotion. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t being extravagant, just that I was by myself, spending money, and staying busy.

That’s the key. Stay busy. It’ll get your mind off of you and on to something else. Some of these methods might work for, all of them might not. Think of something else you like to do, but don’t do often for whatever reason. I also crochet to relieve me of my moods, but I’m not going to tell you to go out and buy yarn and crochet hooks.

Good luck!