We all have bad days, and sometimes, things happen in life that completely blindside us. Somedays, we just wake up feeling down, and that’s okay. Whatever you’re going through, there are ways to cope with sadness or disappointment and cheer yourself up.
How to cheer yourself up? These strategies are scientifically proven to improve your mood and mental health, so give them a try the next time you need to cheer up fast!
How to Cheer Yourself Up When You’re Sad?
Think about what you do when you’re happy. You might not feel like doing that when you’re sad, but engaging in hobbies, talking to others, and staying active can actually raise your spirits faster. Rather than just wait for a low mood to pass, try these seven tips to cheer yourself up.
1. Watch a Funny Movie or TV Show
Laughter is the best medicine, right? Watching funny movies, TV shows or even videos could help lift your spirits when you’re feeling down.
Laughter releases endorphins, which are feel-good chemical messengers. In addition to making you feel better, endorphins are also natural pain-blockers. They stop you from feeling uncomfortable sensations as strongly while increasing the release of dopamine, your body’s motivational and reward neurotransmitter.
2. Talk to a Loved One
Sharing negative feelings with others can be a great form of stress release. By venting to someone you trust, you can get all of your difficult thoughts and emotions out, and create much-needed distance.
The reason talking to others about our problems helps is rooted in psychotherapy. By giving us a chance to externalize our thoughts and feelings, we reduce physical and emotional distress. It can also be therapeutic to give our feelings names, e.g. “sad” or “frustrated,” and receive validation from another person who is willing to listen and accept us as we are.
3. Spend Time With a Pet
Your pet loves you unconditionally, including your bad days. Spending time with pets is a natural stress reliever, and they help increase the production of serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are closely linked with a positive mood, motivation, and happiness.
According to the University of New Mexico, pet owners have lower levels of cholesterol and a lower risk of heart disease, and dog owners have a lower risk of depression.
Being with a pet can be profoundly healing because they do not judge. When we feel down, we can also be harsher on ourselves. You may find that when you’re struggling emotionally, you also have more negative thoughts.
Receiving love from a pet can be a nice way to break through your own dark cloud and realize that there are good things in the world to care about, and you can connect with them.
4. Workout
Working out is great for cheering yourself up because it gives you a physical release from stress and anxious feelings. Exercise can be so effective and beneficial for mental health that many therapy programs now incorporate exercise as part of treatment.
The reason physical activity makes people feel better lies in neuroscience; exercise releases endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and neurotransmitter/hormone called norepinephrine. Combined, these can reduce the effects of stress hormones and leave you feeling more upbeat, positive, and optimistic.
It can be hard to get moving when you’re feeling low, so don’t pressure yourself to work out intensely if you aren’t feeling up to it. Instead, low-intensity exercises like walking and swimming are great options. Just moving your body, whether it’s through yoga or stretching, can have a positive effect on your mood.
5. Journal
Journaling is a wonderful way to get feelings and thoughts out on paper. It also gives you space to process events that lead to you feeling bad and understand how you feel about them.
Just like talking to someone helps you process things, journaling is a chance to dialogue with yourself. You can work through thoughts and feelings at your own pace, try to uncover the reason why you feel the way you do, and come to peace with it.
Whether it’s in a notebook or just the Notes app on your phone, journaling is great for your mental health and cheering yourself up.
Try writing a gratitude list to remind yourself of all the things you have in life to be grateful for. Gratitude shifts our minds from feeling like a victim, which can be empowering and soothing at once.
6. Dance
You may not feel like dancing when you’re down, but when you need to cheer up, busting a move can help! It all comes back to endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that are like superheroes battling bad moods. Interestingly, people who dance also report higher feelings of confidence and compassion.
Just like other types of physical activity, dancing is great for your mind and body. It doesn’t matter how good you are. Just focus on putting on music that energizes you and makes you feel good! Let loose, and you may find that after a few minutes, your thoughts feel less intense, and you’re naturally moved by the beat. Let it carry you through your stress to brighter days.
7. Be Creative
Creativity is a form of release just like dancing or exercising. Journaling is one form of creativity, but there are tons of other options out there to consider.
You can engage in some self-guided art therapy by drawing or sketching what you feel and then creating a solution to it. Or you can just draw something that makes you happy. Try adult coloring books, crocheting, scrapbooking, digital art, or anything else that allows you to make something.
Being creative doesn’t have to mean being good at art, either. The purpose is to lower stress levels, improve your mood, and focus your mind on something productive and positive.
When we feel low, it’s normal to dwell on the same negative thoughts over and over again. This is called rumination. To get past it, you need activities that engage your brain without overstimulating it. Most creative pursuits are perfect for this.
How to Cheer Yourself Up After a Bad Day?
We all have bad days, and even when you prepare for one, getting over it can be a challenge. Take it easy, and treat a bad day like an opportunity to care for yourself. Unwind with a nice shower or bath, watch a show or movie you love, read a book that brightens your spirits, and eat something delicious for dinner.
You can also consider reaching out to a friend or family member to talk about your bad day. Sometimes, reaching out to others and venting is just what we need to feel better.
If you want to be alone, that’s okay. Just focus on doing activities that keep you active and make you feel good rather than dwelling on any negative thoughts or events from the day.
How to Cheer Yourself Up After a Breakup?
Getting over a breakup isn’t easy, and it’s natural to feel sad for a while after your relationship ends. Remember to take time to mourn the loss, but try to focus on the positives as well. What are some lessons you learned in that relationship that will make your next one stronger?
Spending time with friends and family, being active, and focusing on hobbies can also help you cheer up after a breakup.
Conclusion
How to cheer yourself up? Remember the famous saying, “This too shall pass.” Even though we all get sad, mad, or overwhelmed sometimes, bad days and bad moods are temporary. Keep a list of your favorite ways to cheer yourself up, so you’ll always have something to fall back on whenever you need a pick-me-up!
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