7 simple little mood boosters for when you are having one of those days

It’s been a rocky few months, with just about every aspect of life disrupted for people all over the world. So, naturally, the pandemic has caused our moods to fluctuate somewhat.

One day, you could wake up feeling great. Make yourself a healthy breakfast, squeeze a workout in before work, and power through the day feeling productive and undeterred. The next, you might struggle to get out of your pyjamas and feel as if you are being followed around by a giant black cloud.

Life in lockdown is not easy, and many of us will have felt fairly up and down for the past two months. But on those black cloud days, there are still ways to find some joy, and require minimal effort.

Here are seven little pick-me-ups to help boost your mood …

Rewatch your favourite film

We all have that one film that, no matter how many times we have seen it, will always cheer it up. Maybe it’s a classic comedy, or an epic Oscar winner, but there is nothing quite as comforting as getting lost in a story that you know and love.

Treat yourself to your favourite dinner – and don’t feel guilty about it

Comfort food earned its name for a reason, and on the days when you aren't feeling your best, the last thing you need is a bland meal that you aren't looking forward to and know you won't enjoy. Treat yourself to food that makes you happy, whether it's a recipe that reminds you of family members you haven't seen for a while, or something that just tastes really good. And if that meal happens to be a little more on the unhealthy side, don't beat yourself up about it. Allow yourself some enjoyment on an already tough day.

Call a friend

Actually call them, not Zoom. Many of us will have spent more time than ever on Zoom over the past two months, and while it is nice to see the faces of our loved ones, video calling can be way more exhausting than a good old-fashioned phone call. Sit in your garden or on your balcony, or pull a chair up to the window, and enjoy a catch-up while staring out at your view, not at the screen of your laptop.

Plan something exciting

Whatever that means for you. It might be something epic, like the destination you’d like to travel to once all this is over, or something smaller, like a restaurant you’d like to visit when the time is right, but giving yourself something to look forward to will instantly boost your mood, even if you can’t put an exact date on those plans right now.

Take a social media break

If you are having a bad day and you’re finding yourself endlessly scrolling through social media, stop to think about how that is making you feel. Is it improving your mood, or dragging it down further? Chances are, it’s the latter, especially as countries around the world begin to relax coronavirus restrictions at different rates. Friends might be back outside at the beach or out for dinner while you are still at home, and that isn’t going to make you feel good. Commit to closing the apps for 24 hours, and enjoy the lightness of being oblivious for a while.

Put on fresh pyjamas and bed sheets

Even if you’ve had a terrible day, the feeling of snuggling into bed in fresh crisp sheets and pyjamas, ready to sleep it off and start again tomorrow, will at least end things on a happy note. Even better if you can light a scented candle and indulge in a chapter of your favourite book before you go to sleep.

Write down a moment of joy from each day

Even if it’s just one thing, try to make a note of something that has brought a smile. It might be something as small as a silly meme shared by a friend, or taking five minutes to watch the sunset, but appreciating the little things that bring us joy in life can add up to a big mood change, and it's a great way to break a negative thought cycle when it creeps up on us.

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Read more:

Anxious about the idea of being around people again? How to cope with life after lockdown

Start small and set goals: 14 tips on staying motivated to exercise at home

Free as a bird: How pigeons have become a source of solace for Jordanians in lockdown

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