8 Simple Ways to Improve Your Mood Quickly

Improving your life doesn’t have to involve reading a million self-help books. Nor does it have to take a large amount of effort. In fact, improving your life could be as easy as changing just a few small things that you already do every day.

We live in a hectic world and most people find their days filled with stress and anxiety. Trying to decrease this stress typically ends up causing more, but it doesn’t have to. Below you will find seven easy life changing habits that could improve your life in just thirty minutes a day!

Having a routine may sound like a lot of work, because who really wants every minute of their day mapped out, but it can greatly reduce the amount of stress you experience in the morning. This works especially well for people who find themselves thrown into chaos the second they wake up.

Starting your day by running around like a chicken with your head cut off, making frustrating decisions, and stressing about things you should’ve already done, is guaranteed to have a massive impact on your mood.

Imagine if you were to wake up, get out of bed and have everything already done and planned out, to know exactly what you need to do before leaving the house each morning, and being able to spend your morning in a calm and relaxing way, would that not help your mood every day?

Decide what you will have or make for breakfast and get it prepped the night before. Pick out your outfit before you go to bed. Make sure all of your children have done their homework and make sure nothing needs to be signed ahead of time. Plan the route you will take during your carpool or morning commute and be sure to add in any extra stops you may have to make. Get the coffee ready to brew the night before. Doing these small things, and more, can reduce the time you spend rushing around in the morning and help cut stress from your day.

To have a good morning routine in place, you must also have a nighttime routine that you stick too. Aside from getting things ready for the next day, this can help you fall asleep better, and get a better nights sleep.

If you are able, turn your bedroom into a calm space where you can relax. There are some great inexpensive ways that this can be done, and it could make a huge difference.

Where is that red sweater that you love? How can you use your travel mug if you cannot find the right top for it? Why can’t you find a matching pair of socks for the kids? Where in the world are your keys?

Having too much stuff can be just as stressful as having nothing because the things you actually need, get lost in the chaos. If you are unable to tackle the areas you don’t visit often such as basements or garages, you should at least organize the high-traffic areas of your home. You might be amazed when you realize how much of a difference it makes in your mood when everything has a place and is easy to find.

We hear this all the time, “Oh, I love to (insert activity here), but I never have the time.” Make the time! Set aside a chunk of your day or week and dedicate that time to something you really enjoy doing. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll allow that time to be strictly for you and don’t brush it off to do something you think is more important.

That Email you need to send, the stuff you need to return to the store, or the shopping that you hate doing, do these things first. We tend to push the things we know are unpleasant off until the last minute, but this only brings more stress in the long run. Try to get the “chores” out of the way first so when you do finally have time to relax, you won’t have daunting things on your mind.

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to eat at the same places, shop at the same stores and do the same routine. Why not try something new? Pick a song from a band you have never heard of to listen to on your way to work. Try a new coffee shop. Find a class in your area that teaches something you have never tried before. You will learn more about yourself in the process and might find something you really enjoy.

I know, right? Cleaning can improve your mood? It actually can because it is a great form of meditation. When we are robotically doing chores that don’t take much thought, we start to ponder other things. Plus, when you’re done and you see what you’ve accomplished, you will feel good.

We live in a beautiful world, but we often take that beauty for granted when we are rushing to our next destination. Take a stroll in the park, take a nature walk or collect shells on the beach. You might be surprised at how relaxed you’ll feel while connecting with nature.

Once you tackle some of these easier things, you can start to expand your goals and work on bigger goals in life. Happiness is the key to living a healthy life and these small tips can help you become happier with very little effort.