Feeling Down? Try This Exercise

Tough days can feel like everything is stacked against you. Having tools on hand to help you cope when you’re feeling down can be helpful. Use the exercise below to improve your mood whenever you’re feeling in a funk.

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Feeling Down? Try This Exercise!

We’ve all had those days where we lie around in bed, moping and covering our faces with the blanket even though the sun is shining bright outside.

You can’t seem to put words to it, but you just don’t feel like getting up. You look out the window and everything seems gloomier than usual.

Bad days are a part of life, and as long as you have the right tools to nurture your mood, you can turn it all around. One way to think of it is that the bad days make the good days great.

It’s important to take a look at what causes a dip in your mood so you can be aware of the root cause and find practical solutions for it.

Common Causes of Low Mood

The nature of emotions is fleeting. It can last for a few seconds to a few hours. It can happen spontaneously and change almost instantly. The beautiful thing about emotions is that they come and go.

If you’re feeling low energy, sad, or lack motivation to do anything, take a moment to reflect. Find out what could be causing you to feel this way.

Stress: Stress can happen for many reasons. From school deadlines to family drama to financial issues, when you’re feeling the pressure of these situations, it can drain your energy.
Lack of sleep: Sleep is so important to our mental health and our mood. Without a good night’s rest, the next day can feel like an uphill battle.
Burnout: Burnout comes from pure exhaustion and not listening to your body. It happens when you keep pushing yourself too hard, even though your body is sending signals to slow down.
Lifestyle habits: Daily choices have a huge impact on the way you live your life. From what you eat to how much physical activity you do, and how you spend your free time. These can deeply affect the emotions you feel day to day.
Medications: Many prescription drugs have side effects that can cause mood swings or low mood.

Happiness can found in even the darkest of times, but only to those who remember to turn on the light
Albus Dumbledore

Try This Activity

When you’re feeling low, you can try a writing activity to help improve your mood.

This simple activity of writing down 40 things that make you happy is an excellent way to remind yourself of everything that makes you smile.

Click to download the free printable below and keep this list in a journal, on your phone, or post it up on the wall – whatever works best for you.

Here is an example of my own list to help get some ideas going:

40 Things That Make Me Happy:

Smiling
Going for a walk in the park
Petting my cats
Spending time with my family
Eating good delicious food
Going for a swim
Looking at plants at the nursery
Hanging out with my best friends
Listening to my favourite songs on full blast
Planning out my next vacation
Going to the SPCA
Volunteering for a cause
Going for a run
Taking a bubble bath
Cleaning my fish tank
Starting a new craft project
Looking at fish at the fish store
Going for a massage
Drawing and colouring
Working on my garden
Smelling my terrariums
Singing at the top of my lungs in the car
Going for a cruise outside of the busy city
Dancing it out
Watching a funny movie
…
…
…

You get the idea!

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Other Ways to Boost Your Mood

There are many things you can do to uplift your mood instantly that don’t cost a thing! You can smile, take a few deep breaths, move your body, go for a walk outside, or listen to music.

You can even combine a few practices, like writing this list outside while listening to your favourite songs.

Remember, tough days are normal, and they make the good days even better. Every time you overcome a bad day, you get a little bit stronger.