We all have times when we feel bad or just need a boost. It is useful to have practical ways to deal with these times. Below are some of the practical ways that I have learnt that help me feel better quickly:
1. Meditation
Meditation is one of the most powerful techniques that I have found to feel better quickly. I spend ten minutes each morning in meditation. Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated. You can sit in silence. Observing your breathe is another good way to start meditating. I use a guided meditation CD. Don't worry about 'doing it right'. Just get started by setting aside ten minutes to sit in silence.
Meditation can diminish the effect of external influences. When I am meditating it is a way for me to switch off and press pause on my worries and day to day concerns. I don’t try to stop my thoughts completely. I have found that observing them and letting them flow through my mind is much more effective than resisting them. I always feel refreshed and centred after meditating and able to be more at peace in my day to day life. I read somewhere that an hour of meditation can leave you as refreshed as eight hours of sleep!
2. Emotional Freedom Technique
Emotional Freedom Technique is a fairly new discovery to me but has become something I now use regularly. Glen from ViperChill recommended this link on a recent post. It worked the first time I tried it and I have started using this technique whenever I feel a negative emotion or when I feel bogged down by something.
I would highly recommend taking them time to go through this introductory video. I shared this link on Twitter recently and Nate over at The Way That You Wander tried it too with . He shared the results on this post: Get a Burst of Energy.
3. Exercise
Exercise is a sure fire way to feel better instantly. An even better way to feel better instantly is to exercise outdoors. Recent research shows that just five minutes of exercise outdoors can make a huge difference to our overall health.
My favourite ways to exercise currently are walking, running cycling and yoga. I haven't always exercised but I have started making exercise part of my day to day life in the last couple of years and it has made the world of difference to my emotional and physical well being. I run near our home which saves time and money compared to going to a gym. I practice yoga by following a DVD at home and walk and cycle to save using my car where possible. Removing barriers to exercising, making it part of my day to day life and ensuring I enjoy the exercise I do has helped me want to do it more. I now exercise every day and it never fails to make me feel good.
4. Connect With Inspiring People
Connecting with inspiring people is a great way to feel better instantly. One of the first things I wanted to do when I came off the road in my car last year was to connect with my online friends. I felt so supported and it reminded me that I am part of a really inspiring and loving community.
If you feel like you don't connect with enough inspiring people, seek new friends out. As I shared, being part of this online community makes a real difference to my life. You could join a new club or start a blog or maybe reach out to someone in your life that you find inspiring but haven't got to know as well as you'd like. The people we associate with on a regular basis make a big difference to our outlook in life.
5. Affirmations
Affirmations are a great way to feel better instantly. We are actually all using affirmations all the time anyway. “I am not a people person” is an affirmation as is “I am a successful, happy person”. The trick is to be aware of our thoughts and replace negative affirmations with positive ones. I have found using affirmations very powerful, particularly when said into a mirror.
To learn more about affirmations I recommend You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. This is one of the first personal development books I ever read and in my opinion one of the best.
If you have never heard of affirmations before it might seem a bit of an unusual approach but I would recommend giving it a try. I will leave you with an affirmation that I love from Louise’s book that you can use:
“Deep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love. I now allow this love to flow to the surface. It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied. The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless. The use of love makes me feel good, it is an expression of my inner joy. I love myself therefore I take loving care of my body. I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages. I lovingly groom it and dress it, and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy.. I love myself therefore I provide for myself a comfortable home, one that fills all my needs and is a pleasure to be in. I fill the rooms with the vibration of love so that all who enter myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it. I love myself therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy doing, one that uses my creative talents and abilities, working with and for people that I love and that love me, and earning a good income. I love myself therefore I behave and think in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied. I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am. I love myself therefore, I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free. I love myself therefore, I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright and joyous and secure for I am a beloved child of the universe and the universe lovingly takes care of me now and forever more. And so it is.”
These are some of my favourite techniques to feel better instantly. I’d love to hear yours.
I really like blending EFT with gratitude. Just focusing on what I am grateful for. So simple, yet so powerful!
Henri Junttila´s last blog ..The Most Empowering Post You Will Ever Read
That's a great idea Henri. Being grateful is such a powerful force, I love the idea of blending it with EFT. I'd love to hear more about how you do that... do you tap and then focus on what you are grateful for?
Jen
Hey, jen!
Good post, great information.
I'm one of the many, many people who struggles with depression from time to time. I've more recently learned to meditate; in fact, I just finished up a Zen "Virtual Retreat" about how forgiveness leads to peace, and I'm already feeling more joy from it.
I also use affirmations, and learned early on how important it is to phrase them as "I am" statements. Using "I am" keeps the affirmation phrased in the present, such as "I am courageous." (That's an affirmation I use over and over!)
Annie
Hi Annie
Thanks so much for stopping by and joining the discussion. It is great to hear you have started meditating and your Zen “Virtual Retreat” sounds really interesting. It is great to hear the results you are getting from it. I haven't done a virtual retreat before, I will have to have a look into those.
Affirmations are really great aren't they? I have been using them on and off for a while. Thank you for bringing up the importance of "I am" and keeping the affirmation in the present and also for sharing your own affirmation. Powerful stuff!
Thanks again
Jen
Jen,
FYI: The Virtual Retreats" I've participated in are led by Zen Master Mary Jaksch of Goodlife Zen ( http://www.goodlifezen.com ). They are free. I believe the next one is in September. The address is for the blog, but signup is usually available in the right side widget area.
(I am not an Affiliate, just get a lot out of them.)
Sorry Annie - i just realised I hadn't thanked you for this information. I will check these out.
Thanks again
Jen
Jen:
What a photo. I am a visual person, so I love this image. You legend!
Inspiring post too. Well-written and to-the-point. Thanks for it.
Whenever I want to feel good, I add a dash of honey to my tea. Honey is known to be a therapy for all kinds of allergies. Allergies=kill joy!
I am allergic to all sorts of things, so honey has really helped me.
Try it. Hope it works for you too. Just trying to help, that's all.
During meditation, you'll have all sorts of crazy and wild thoughts.
Don't judge those thoughts. Don't struggle against those ideas. Just be a "silent witness" and let those thoughts go their own way.
What helps me is to focus on a mantra. For me, it is "money," since I can only dream of it and don't have any. The mantra is a kind of buzz word: it helps you focus when there are too many distracting thoughts.
Whenever a thought enters your mind, focus on your mantra. Keep on chanting it silently or aloud. The thoughts will then cease to matter. In my case, it helps to erase the thoughts. Have a nice day. Cheers!
Hi Archan!
I love an inspiring photo too ... glad you liked it.
I will try your honey tip. I have it on my porridge in the morning but haven't tried it in my tea, I will have to give that a go. (Have you heard of Manuka Honey? It has many healing properties.)
I like what you said about being a "silent witness" in meditation. I have found this really helpful. I will try a mantra too.
Thanks Archan - great tips!
Jen
All good stuff! Thanks for putting this post together. One that I hadn't really thought about is to connect with inspiring people. When I think about it, that is what gets me through a lot of tough days. I'll go on Twitter or Facebook and someone will say something nice or encouraging and it will have me ready to tackle the rest of my day.
Thanks for the mention
Nate´s last blog ..get a burst of energy
Thanks Nate, my pleasure.
Connecting with inspiring people is such a great way to feel better. Like you, I find connecting with my online friends and the positive effects of a compliment or encouragement can make my day and keep me going.
Thanks for your post - the shower trick is a really good tip.
Jen
Hi Jen,
I found your blog through Henri, I really enjoyed your tip on Affirmations, this is actually something I'm really big at for myself and teaching my friends and family.
All the best,
Parker
Parker Lee´s last blog ..How to Be The Life of The Party
Hey Parker
Great to have you here!
Glad you enjoyed this and the section on affirmations. They are so powerful and I think it's great to learn that we can use them to choose our thoughts, rather than the other way round.
Thanks Parker
Jen
Jen, what about dancing?
I love my Argentine tango. That with yoga and yes recently meditation and most of all my friends and family. I can't agree more with these mood changers you have listed here. Ah if only we can keep all of it up all the time....therein lies the challenge!
Hiya Farnoosh!
Dancing is a great one! To be honest I don't dance a lot but I will make a note to dance some more.
Yes, you're right the challenge is keeping these up all the time. At the moment I'm finding it fairly easy ... I think I'm on a roll and building up momentum which is good, coupled with taking my working hours down which helps free up my time.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jen
Hi Jen, if you do take up dancing, only do Argentine Tango
! It's so much fun and such a connection with your partners/friends. And oh so glad to hear that you are keeping up the momentum!
Ciao for now.....be well.
Excellent ... thanks for the tip Farnoosh!
Stay well.
Jen x
I love connecting with other people who inspire me... It always makes me feel better and even more, being able to inspire others when they're in need is a wonderful gift to give back.
Eric´s last blog ..Why You Should Be Your Blog
And me Eric.
That's one of the reasons I'm so in love with blogging .. I get to interact with inspirational people like yourself every day. It makes such a difference (I am sure the positive changes in my work life are partly due to the positive influences and examples around me online.)
Jen
hi jen,
how are you?
thanks for sharing this article. I can relate to the above mentioned tips except for EFT. i have heard a lot about it, i guess i need to look into it.
i also love walking, it gives me the opportunity to collate my thoughts in silence.
take care of yourself and enjoy the rest of the day.
ayo´s last blog ..The Fourth Edition Of The Life Skills Magazine Is Out Now!!!
Hu Ayo!
I'm really good thanks, how are you?
Yeah, I kept hearing about EFT too and finally got round to trying it last month. It's nice to have something practical to do when I'm feeling out of sorts to get myself back on track.
Ah, walking is great isn't it? A nice gentle way to give your mind and body an injection of positivity.
Hi Jen, thanks for sharing these five tips with us. One way that helps me feel better instantly is also exercising. Lately, I've been going to the park and running a mile or two. It's kind of exhausting, but it helps make my mind more clear so I can focus for the rest of the day. I might start meditating like in your tip #1. The only problem is my mind is always thinking! I'll try to focus on my breathing more.
Hulbert Lee´s last blog ..Devotion – Elizabeth Gilbert
Hi Hulbert
Exercising is great isn't it? It's great to hear you've taken up running. I don't run far usually, about 2 miles maybe but it never fails to make me feel better.
Regarding meditation, don't worry about your mind always thinking ... mines exactly the same. As Archan mentions above:
"During meditation, you’ll have all sorts of crazy and wild thoughts. Don’t judge those thoughts. Don’t struggle against those ideas. Just be a “silent witness” and let those thoughts go their own way."
That is what I do, but even sitting in silence for 10 minutes with my thoughts makes me feel refreshed! I've noticed that my mind has gradually quitened in meditation as I let the thoughts be. I'd love to hear how you get on.
Jen
Hey Jen,
You've given me a lot to think about for when I need to feel better. I'm particularly interested in the EFT way as it's something that I've heard of before but haven't tried. I'm a fan of Glen's so I'm going to check out the video.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen´s last blog ..How to Stop Thinking and Start Doing – Guest Post
Hi Karen
Iim glad this post was useful. I have been really impressed with the results I have got from EFT. It's nice to have something practical to do when I'm feeling stuck. I look forward to hearing how you get on with it.
Jen
Hi Jen,
I like the way you've incorporated exercise into your daily activities. I've made some wonderful connections in the personal development community too -- some of my friends offline have no clue what a blog entails
I was recently joking with a friend about having to get ready for bed a couple hours before hand because we implement meditation, journaling, EFT, and reading to clear any negativity of the day.
Sometimes following a quick meditation in the morning, I'll use visualization to set positive intentions and envision how I'd like things to be.
Love your new look.
Kim
Hey Kim
Incorporating exercise into my daily routine has completetely changed how I feel about it.
Connecting with like minded people on line is great isn't it? I think it's so important to connect with people with similar goals.
Ha ha! Yeah, all these things to do can take time! I try to incorporate things in a way that doesn't take too much time as I am unlikely to keep them up (for example my yoga has become my meditation practice too.)
Glad you like the new design and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Jen
Hi Jen - I LOVE the new look of your blog - although I do hope you get around to putting your lovely smiling picture back up again!
These are great suggestions for not just lifting a bad mood, but charting a course for life. I love that you mention EFT, I started using it about a year ago (for a neck pain) and it works wonderfully in clearing up nagging "stuff" that may be bogging your energy down. And I absolutely adore Louise Hay; You Can Heal Your Life was one of the first spiritual books that I read and I have used many of her affirmations over the years. I'm so happy to be surrounded by like-minds, online and off. And so it is!
Tisha´s last blog ..Biz Mommy of the Week: Jennifer Davey
Thanks so much Tisha!
I'm still tweaking this theme but I am pleased with the new look. 
ah, thanks ... to be honest I think getting my smiley picture up might be beyond my current technical capabilities 
but thank you!
It's really interesting to hear how EFT helped your neck pain. I hadn't thought of using it in this way, but I will remember that. I am really pleased to have found EFT, as you say it's a great way to clear up things that are holding our energy down.
Louise Hay is really inspirational isn't she? Same here! "You can heal your life" was the first spiritual book I read and I refer to it often.
Love that new affirmation you have created!
"I’m so happy to be surrounded by like-minds, online and off. And so it is!"
Thanks Tisha, it is really good to hear about your experiences.
Jen
Jen, haven't visited your blog for awhile and wow! what a transformastion. Love the new look!
Those are great tips. I agree with Farnoosh, I'd add dancing to the list. Makes me feel better right away:)
Lana - Daring Clarity´s last blog ..I Refuse To Participate In A Rat Race or Why I Took A Break
Thanks Lana!
I am thinking about taking up dancing after this post!
Love the new blog design and this post along with it!
Without a doubt exercise, affirmations and connecting with inspiring people are things that work for me. So far meditation has been disappointing for me although, that said, I'm FINALLY going to do a TM course this weekend and am told (not least by Archan) that it's a great form of it. Also, I'm new to EFT, and since you're the third person who has mentioned it to me in as many days I think I need to understand it a little more!
Christine Livingston´s last blog ..Social Media. Another 24/7 Work Culture?
Thanks Christine! I am pleased with how it's turned out.
I look forward to hearing more about your TM course. With meditation I listen to a guided meditation CD. Now and then I realise I'm going off on all kinds of tangents and bring myself back. I don't know if this is the same difficulty you find with it but I have found it helpful to let go of how I think should do it and even when I spend the ten minutes still thinking I am usually more refreshed from sitting in silence!
I have found EFT really good, let me know how you get on.
Jen
Chrissy:
Meditation has been disappointing for you....so far.
Trust me, you will improve: don't you ever give up. Just trust yourself. Be patient with yourself. It will work. One step at a time, one day at a time. And TLC!
All you need is a little faith, self-belief. And a guru to provide guidance. And not a fake one, but the real deal. There are too many phonies out there, sadly.
A guru is your spiritual guide. You need to find one who works for you. A guru who is fully in tune with your personal eccentricities. A guru who is as idiosyncratic as you are. Try to create a win-win partnership with your guru, and you will do just fine. Trust yourself. I know because it has worked for me.
I was a really lousy student of meditation. The worst ever. I could never sit still at all. I was a bundle of nerves and energy. I was antsy and wanted instant results. However, I quickly realized that meditation is not like ordering a burger at a take-out joint.
It takes a lot of practice and it takes time. For me, it took an eternity. For you, the time will be much shorter, because you are a quick study. Trust yourself.
Initially, give yourself a break even if you feel it is not working out. Hey, if I can master it, anybody can master it. TM has the potential to change your life. It is just a matter of time now. Go for it.
Great advice Archan!
Thank you - I found what you said really useful.
Jen
Hey, Archan
Thanks for your encouragement and support here. I did the first part of the TM training on the weekend and it was awesome. I can totally "get" why you are so passionate about it. It's SO simple and yet SO powerful too.
I've been doing it with one of the gurus in London, which has meant travelling, but you're right in what you say about needing to work with someone who really knows what they're doing. So the time, effort and indeed cost is worth it.
Thanks again, my dear!
Christine Livingston´s last blog ..Work life change: event or journey?
EFT looks very interesting. Never heard of it before reading it here. Looks like something to try.
Mike Roosa´s last blog ..I’m Giving Away The Farm — Read This If You Like Free Stuff
I'd be interested to see how you find it Mike. As I mentioned above, I like the idea of having something practical to do when I am feeling off.
Thanks for stopping by.
Jen
Exercise works great for me, serotonin hormones brought about during exercise makes us indeed feel good. But when I'm not exercising I try to think of the good things that happen in my life, and this brings smile to my face.
Hi Walter
Exercise is so good isn't it ... I have really got into it this year.
Thinking of the good things in your life is such a great practice. I an trying to do this regularly... the more I do it the more I realise what I have to be thankful for.
Hi Jen,
I love the new look - very nice!
Counting my blessings always makes me feel better when I'm feeling discouraged. I think it's easy to focus on what's wrong, but when you 'zoom out' and get some perspective, there's usually at least something that's going really well too.
Going for a walk in the countryside, when I can, never fails to reset my mood and make me feel better. Combination of fresh air + exercise.
Anna Conlan´s last blog ..How to Make Life Changes Feel Less Scary
Thanks Anna!
Counting your blessings is a great practice - I think it really puts things into perspective and helps you see the bigger picture. I am big fan of fresh air + exercise too ... really uplifting!
Pleasure re RT's Anna - I really enjoy your blog.
Jen
PS. Thanks for the RTs! xxx
Anna Conlan´s last blog ..How to Make Life Changes Feel Less Scary
I just found your site and can't wait to browse around.
Great post and i think we all need to find a way to get some of the noise out of our lives and just be able to reconnect with ourselves for a little bit. All are excellent suggestions and i try to implement a little bit of each into my daily life.
Thank you!
I am glad you found this useful.
Jen
Hey Jen. Connecting with inspiring people and exercising are my two ways of making myself feel better instantly, what are your ways?
Aaron Darko´s last blog ..Matt Mickiewicz Interview – Making Sacrifices To Enjoy A Better Future
Hey Aaron
They are two of my favourite ways too ... who we connect with and how to take care of our physical bodies have such an impact. My ways are really all of the above, but as I said particularly the ones you mention here.
Thanks for dropping in.
Jen
Hi Jen:
I love the idea of snapping out of feeling bad and thinking about feeling better instantly! Think positive. Connecting with inspiring people always helps me, but what I find works the best for me is helping other people. Even if you are helping someone with questions on a blog or website, or helping at a local community center, school, church, or neighborhood. Build in time to spend with others and helpout where you can. Even the littlest things can make you feel better. Look outward!! Too often we only realize our own flaws by looking inward. Don't get me wrong, we need to assess and look inward some, but don't dwell on the negative. There are many out there that can use your help. You'll be glad you did!
Ann´s last blog ..Ways to Manage Stress -Calming a Stressful Lifestyle
Hi Ann
I really like what you said here - getting outside ourselves and helping others is so great and helps us get out of our own heads and into the world.
Jen