10 Simple Ways to Change Your Mood (When You are Stressed or in a Slump)

Recently, I've been feeling like I've failed on a project that I thought would work out right away. I didn't realize all the little things that go with building an online store. Last November, I outsourced the task of building an e-commerce store for our wellness centre - that was the easy part. However, the difficult part is now getting traffic to this site!

While you wish you could be happy, joyful, and enthusiastic about life all the time, inevitably at times you're going to encounter challenges, stresses, conflicts or health issues that put you in a slump. This online store has definitely given me challenges and I almost felt like closing it down right after it was built! That's how frustrated I was.

However, resilience is about adapting, being flexible and coping with the challenges that you face and I knew that I had to give this creation some time to grow before I could reap the harvest.

During those times that you find yourself in a temporary negative mood and you need a little boost, you can shift your biochemistry through your thoughts and behaviors.

Here are 10 ways to deal with negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors when you want or need to be more positive. Taking any of these steps can shift your outlook.

  1. Become aware and acknowledge that you're feeling down and examine what's been going on to see if there's a specific reason. When you do, your thinking changes from "I'm angry, grumpy (or whatever the feeling)" to "Oh, this is why I'm feeling the way I do."

  2. Give yourself a time period to 'wallow' in your emotion - but try to keep it short, less than a day.

  3. Call an emotionally intelligent friend and ask to talk. Many times you can talk your way out of negative thoughts. Talking to my husband (my business partner) helps a lot.

  4. Get up and move. Take a walk, force yourself to exercise - if only for 5 minutes, dance, do some sit-ups, or take your dog for a walk. This alone has really helped me deal with negative moods because whatever was bothering me feels silly after.

  5. Make a list of the things in life you are grateful for. I usually voice them out aloud every night when I'm lying in bed.

  6. Write or draw picture of your feelings - even if you're not a writer or an artist. Try doodling and see what emerges. I met a lady a couple of years ago at a conference and she doodled everything, even her notes. Her doodles were beautiful though and she told me that it helps her focus.

  7. Think of something to look forward to -- if you don't have anything, then get out your calendar and plan something.

  8. Immerse yourself into something that distracts you - a good book, movie or magazine, a craft project.

  9. Smile at yourself in the mirror - even if you don't feel like it. I practiced this a lot when I had to go for chemotherapy because I'd always be anxious about how I'd feel after.

  10. Reach out to someone who appreciates your attention - even a phone call will do. I like calling my sister in Kenya when I need to feel better and she's always there for me.

During the next few days, be aware of how your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors relate to each other. I encourage you to use these tips above and tell me what worked in the comments below.