10 ways to cheer yourself up

joanlawson · 12. May 2010, 18:23

If you ever feel a bit down, as I do from time to time, here are 10 ways to improve your mood:

1. Fight the Urge to Mope. Get committed. This is the first step. Do you want to be happy or do you want to wallow in bad feelings? When you're ready to be happy, just make the choice and go with it.

2. Smile. Smile at everyone you meet today. It's OK to fake it at first if you need to, but pretty soon it will be real and it will make you feel good. As you feel yourself becoming happy, remember not to fight it!

3. Laugh. Tell some jokes. Seek out jokes, funny people, and funny videos. Be silly. Crack yourself up. Just start laughing. That alone can make you laugh. And when you laugh you release your body's own natural opiates: endorphins which make you feel good.

4. Yield to Others. Let others go first in line, on the road, and at any other opportunity you encounter during the day.

5. Count Your Blessings. Heard it before, right? Well have you done it? It works. List 50 things for which you're grateful and without which your life would be worse. Go ahead. Try it!

6. Make Someone Else Happy. Who could you cheer up today? Who could you thank or compliment? Who could you send a quick handwritten note to? You can really have fun with this, so go ahead and do it!

7. Take an Action Step on a Goal. If there is a goal you've been dreaming about for a while, take the first or next step today. This will give you a feeling of control over your life and that will make you feel good. Just one step is all it takes and then plan the step you'll take tomorrow!

8. Exercise. Moving your body creates endorphins which make you feel good. Exercise will also make you breathe more deeply activating your lymph system which is the body's waste removal engine. Removing toxins through exercise will make you feel great!

9. Music. Get a good dose of your favourite music. Sing along! Dance! Silly, you say? That's the whole idea! Have some fun. Enjoy!

10. Treat Yourself. Pick a little something and treat yourself to it. Maybe some chocolate cake, a movie, or something else that will make you smile.

Joan

Wonkylegs · 12. May 2010, 18:25

thanks Joan - great ideas

joanlawson · 12. May 2010, 18:28

Hi Wonky

They might not all work for everyone, but they are worth a try.

trisher · 12. May 2010, 18:55

Yes well, I will try a little harder.

Trish xx

barbara12 · 13. May 2010, 04:29

Hi Joan
What a lovely thread, there is so much you can do to make yourself and others around you happier, I get people saying to me you are always smiling, I really didn't realise I did this (hope I don't stop now I know)

for a couple of hours a week i teach basic comp to some elderly residents, believe me it is basic, but it means the world to them, yesterday when my oh dropped me off they said, we love you coming and really look forward to it.
I get so much out of it and so do they, when I am there my pain goes from 8 out of ten to 1 or 2

barbara12 · 13. May 2010, 04:52

delboy wrote:

[quote="barbara12"... for a couple of hours a week i teach basic comp to some elderly residents, believe me it is basic, but it means the world to them, yesterday when my oh dropped me off they said, we love you coming and really look forward to it.
I get so much out of it and so do they, when I am there my pain goes from 8 out of ten to 1 or 2

Ditto, Silvers Surfers at the local library.

Amazing what we take as the norm they consider as wondrous.[/quote]Hi Del...I am a silver surfer myself...nearly 60 just learning them what I have learned over the years....they treat me has if i am a young girl...that's worth going for

angel1 · 13. May 2010, 05:03

I do laugh a lot, love music, and as for treating myself, well you just have to peep in my wardrobe /s!! The most important point here for me though is Count your Blessings.

I have always been a glass half full person, and this attitude has helped me during bad times.

The old saying that there is always someone worse off than you is so very true.

ninakang · 13. May 2010, 05:41

This is very true, all of it. If I'm feeling down I just tend to take a look at my girls, they never fail to cheer me up.

Something I've learned in the past few years is to let things GO and stop dwelling on them. I can't change other people, I can only change myself and my attitude towards the situation. Sometimes a shrug is the answer :-)

Nx

skezier · 13. May 2010, 06:02

Hi Joan,

Well I certainly hit the music

dance about as well..... oh be glad this isn't see a vision..... mind it might help you to laugh

x

dreamdaisy · 13. May 2010, 06:09

Shopping. For girly, pink and sparkly stuff, not the dull food shop. Never fails. DD

joanlawson · 13. May 2010, 09:35

delboy wrote:

" Do you want to be happy or do you want to wallow in bad feelings?"

Oh yes! Nothing like a good wallow in self pity every now and then. 8)

I'm a champion wallower sometimes, Del, but I'm trying to train myself out of it. Hence the thread.

joanlawson · 13. May 2010, 10:18

Trish

You cheer me up all the time :!:

Barbara and Del

That's great that you teach computing. I attend a computer class every week, and recently we have been working alongside pupils at a local comp. school. It has proved very popular with all concerned, and we have all learned a lot from each other.

Ange

I agree about count your blessings. If you write them down, it is amazing how long the list will grow.

Nina

Letting things Go is often the best way. There are some things we can't change, so why worry?

Cris
I can see you now!!

DD

Nothing like a little retail therapy!!

angel1 · 13. May 2010, 12:08

Joan Lawson, you have a lot to answer for!!

You told me - it`s in black and white! - to go and buy myself a "little something". As I always do as I`m told, I bought myself some gorgeous Jo Malone Red Roses fragrance,

for the summer...I know, I know, but I can hope.

You said it would make me smile, and it did, until I was driving home, and realised what I had spent on it. Now I`m crying!!!

Actually, I`m not, cos, I`m worth it, and with all I`ve had to put up with lately, I deserve it, so thank you Joan.........Ange.

ironic · 13. May 2010, 18:29

Thanks Joan.

Yes you are so right, will be taking some of those on board.

Just bought a new lippy and smellies for my bath tonight.

Ix

joanlawson · 13. May 2010, 18:53

Ange and Ironic

I think it is good to treat yourself sometimes, and you are definitely worth it. I treated myself and my friend to a cream tea the other day. It was probably a million calories, but who cares? We had a lovely chat and a super tea, and it put a smile on both our faces.

skezier · 13. May 2010, 19:25

Hi Joan,

Oh cream teas we do very well.... 33% ft but hell tis good

Still recommend the music and a quick drift above all the pain and worries.... hitting it hard just now and it dos kinda work..... though I do tend to get a bit floaty.... and dancing tonight.... well think of an old broken Victorian music box with a gorilla on it.......

purrs to Tommy and a ((( ))) for you Cris xx

10 ways to cheer yourself up

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