13 Ways to Feel Happier Right Now

I’m gonna be honest with y’all here: I was having a pretty rough time recently.

I know I’m always blogging about how to feel happier, be more positive, improve your anxiety, and topics like that, but honestly? All of us struggle from time to time, and I’m definitely no different.

Sometimes it’s been hard to focus, sometimes I’ve felt like I have no energy. Sometimes I’ve just felt pretty freakin’ depressed and anxious, out of nowhere.

But no matter what the issue was, I obviously just didn’t want to feel so bad anymore. I wanted to start feeling happier ASAP.

So I started thinking of things that (almost) always make me feel better, and I made a list. I thought I’d share it here on my blog today. 😊

Here are 13 ways to feel happier right now!

 

 

1.) Slow down

Too freaking many of us rush through life at 3,389 miles per hour and that’s not healthy, at all. It’s not good for our physical health, our mental health, or our moods. Sure it’s fun to be busy but when “busy” becomes our lifestyle mode, something’s gotta change. If your low mood is due to being over-busy, slow down.

Try to live in the present moment. Carve some space into your schedule for relaxing alone time and make it a regular occurrence. Everybody has at least 10-15 minutes a day to spend on this and even that amount of time can do wonders for your mood, I promise!

 You might like: 30 Day Self-Care Challenge (Free Printable!) 

 

2.) Log off – or unplug

Constant time spent on social media isn’t good for your mood or your mental health. A study that was done by the University of Michigan even showed that the more time young adults spent on Facebook, the more their satisfaction with life decreased.

Being connected 24/7 doesn’t equal happiness. It literally means the opposite, according to tons of research that has been done on it. Don’t get me wrong – social media can be a helpful tool with a lot of positive aspects. But not when you consume too much of it. So logging off of social media once in a while, spending some time in the “real world” and living in the present, will do wonders for your mood and your general happiness levels.

 

3.) Take a small nap

Sleep is important. Sometimes when we’re lacking quality sleep, it can drastically affect our minds and our moods – not to mention our physical health. Countless psychiatrists agree that it’s vital to our mental health.

I’m one of those people who feel like a nap is a waste of time, and I could be getting a million other things done instead of sleeping. But I also know that just like when we were children, sometimes all we need is a little nap.

 

4.) Take a walk (or jog) outside

There’s something about nature that just has a calming effect on people. Maybe it’s the beauty, maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s the vitamin D – probably all of the above. But I know that when I’m feeling low or having a bad day, spending time outside has a way of lifting my spirits.

So if you’re feeling upset, try to go for a walk or a jog outside and focus on your surroundings. You don’t need me to tell you how exercise lifts your mood too. But even if you don’t exercise, even sitting outside can do wonders.

 

5.) Do something nice for someone

Doing something kind for another human is one of the greatest ways to feel happier. Not only does it make you feel better, but it also makes someone else happier and it releases positivity into the world – which we could really use some more of. You could volunteer somewhere, donate to a charity, or do something super simple like letting someone go ahead of you in the checkout line or paying for someone else’s coffee.

Or you could focus on someone you know – like your parent or spouse – and think of something really big and amazing to do for them. I guarantee that no matter what you choose to do, being kind to someone else will cheer you up!

 You might like: Making a Difference with Random Acts of Kindness 

 

6.) Express gratitude

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: being grateful is a sure-fire way to feel super happy. I feel like it’s one of the things that’s made the biggest difference in how happy I am with life. Gratitude is such a simple thing, but it can have huge results.

When you’re feeling low, think of all of the things that you have to be happy about. Even if you think things couldn’t get worse, you still have things to be thankful for. Even simply being thankful that things aren’t always this bad.

 

7.) Read something positive

I think this one is beneficial for pretty obvious reasons! Reading something inspiring or something that can help you change for the better is a great way to improve your mood.

Positive reading material can include motivational blogs, real-life inspiring news stories, self-improvement books, religious books, or anything else that leaves you feeling more optimistic. Just make sure to stay away from the news and all of the negativity and anxiety it spreads.

 

8.) Clean or organize something

I know that when I’m feeling sad or stressed, cleaning or organizing makes me feel better. Doing a mindless task like washing dishes, folding laundry, or any kind of cleaning really is a great way to relax and clear your mind. Plus, it helps you let off some steam and makes you feel like you’re more in control. I also just like to clean and organize so there’s that too. 😊

Bonus tip: listening to a good podcast while I’m cleaning makes it even more enjoyable!

 You might like: Spring Cleaning: 50 Things to Get Rid of Today 

 

9.) Watch a funny movie, TV show, or video

This sort of goes along the same lines as #7. Laughing (and even smiling) has been proven to be a mood-booster. So it makes sense that watching – or reading – something funny would put you in a better mood. So next time you’re feeling low, just binge-watch your favorite funny show or YouTube channel.

 

10.) Do something spiritual

A lot of people roll their eyes when they hear the word “spiritual” but whether it’s religion or something else, having some sort of spiritual life can be super beneficial. Take time to pray, read a religious book, meditate, do a tarot reading, or whatever else speaks to your spirituality.

Connecting with this side of you can be comforting, it can give you important insights about problems you’re facing, and it can make you feel more at peace with yourself and your life. It can also give you a sense of direction and purpose.

 

11.) Go out (or stay in) with someone

The quality of your life can improve drastically if you have healthy relationships with your significant other, family, and/or friends. A close relationship with someone can do wonders for your mental health, and if you’re in a bad mood, it’s nice to have someone there to cheer you up. Go out and have fun, or stay inside and hang out. Laugh, let go, vent your problems, ask for advice, or do whatever works for you.

 

12.) Write in your journal

I just recently discovered how great journaling can really be when I decided to actually dedicate time to journaling regularly. I actually wrote a whole post about starting a journal, that you can read right here – with 55 journal prompts to get you started! Whether you’re into bullet journals, art journals, stream of consciousness writing, whatever.

Journaling can really help you sort out and process your thoughts. It can also help you let out some creativity. So if you’re upset about something, I encourage you to write about it in your journal or do a brain dump to help you sort out what you’re feeling and (possibly) overcome it.

 

13.) Get lost in a hobby

Our hobbies are our hobbies because we enjoy them. So if we’re feeling stressed out or upset, getting lost in them can cheer us up. Especially if your stress or bad mood is caused by being over-committed to other priorities. I’m a bit of a workaholic and I know that when I step away from my work for a while to spend time crocheting, reading, drawing, or working on another hobby, I usually come back feeling refreshed and even more creative.

 You might like: 30 Creative Hobby Ideas for Better Mental Health 

 

Final thought: I hope this post helps you feel happier! Try one (or a few) of these suggestions and let me know how you feel in the comments! And let me know if you have any other suggestions! Just remember that we all go through hard times and it will get better. 💖

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What’s something that helps you feel happier when you’re upset? Let’s chat in the comments!

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