What to Do When You're in a Bad Mood

We all have them. We get in a funk and we know it. Maybe we’re having a bad day. Or is it that we are grumpy and have decided to make a day of it? Kind of different when you put it that way, isn’t it?

The first thing to do is ask yourself how long you want to behave and feel this way. The whole day, until lunch or just for the next ten minutes? It gets a bit ridiculous when you think of your mood as something that you are creating! I mean, why would you do something that makes you feel bad all day?

Now that you have caught yourself behaving badly, ask yourself what kind of behaviour would serve you better? What kind of mood would you rather be in? Is there a state that would make your day more enjoyable or productive? What would you need to focus on to get what you want out of this day? If you can’t think of this right away, don’t worry. Give yourself a high-five for noticing and committing to change your mood and then move on to the next step.

To get out of your funk, the next step is to mess with your current headspace. There are three things you want to radically change, to put you in a new, more appealing state. You must create a big shift in the following ways:

1. Moving

2. Breathing

3. Circulating your energy.

Each person will have a preference as to which of the three is easiest to initially change when making this radical shift; however, after you alter the first one, the other two will come along nicely.

The first -- movement -- is a great way to simultaneously change all three. Doing something that gets your heart rate up means that you are moving with some vigour, your respiration deepens and your energy flows more rapidly. People who like exercise find that they are always in a better mood after they do. Going for a run or a workout works well, but that level of intensity is not necessary. You could run the stairs or do some push ups in your office. Doing some stretches or yoga is also fantastic. Using movement to change your state of mind only takes a couple of minutes.

Movement also changes the posture of your spine. Simply bending backwards, forwards and side to side can really alter the way you feel. Hold each position for at least five deep breaths. Since posture and mood go hand in hand, this can really disrupt a bad mood.

Focusing on moving your energy up your body is also a powerful strategy. Taking a couple of minutes to close your eyes and intensify the upward flow of energy in your body can be very effective. If simply connecting to your energy doesn’t resonate easily, focus instead on moving or breathing and then play with the energy you stir up. Visualize colour or light moving from your toes, through your legs, your torso, arms and neck, right up to your head. You may find it easier to feel a tingle or electrical sensation moving through you. Some people like to hear a tone or frequency traveling upwards inside them. However you do it, keep doubling the intensity until you are buzzing, glowing or humming with energy.

Breathing can also be a great strategy to change your current state. Just focusing on breathing so deeply that your whole ribcage expands, right up to your neck will make your mood change. Spending a couple of minutes breathing deeply will be very beneficial. If you know some breathing or relaxation exercises, you can use them, but if you find yourself still thinking about your bad mood, use the movement or energy strategy instead.

So the answer to the question, “What Can You Do When You’re in a Bad Mood?” is to first decide what mood you would like to be in. Ask yourself what you must focus on to be in this preferred mood. How must you hold your posture? What breath, energy and movement support this new state of mind? Start doing it now. Create the new mood of your choosing and have a great day!