Woke Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed? How to Get into a Better Morning Mood

In a perfect world, we would wake up each morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (for the most part). But if we’re tossing and turning all night, our kids keep us up with a virus or we have a dream that we can’t remember that causes us to be a little cranky, sometimes we can greet the morning in a foul sort of mood. And if we’re not careful, we can carry that feeling throughout the rest of our day.

Nothing good comes out of that.

It’s a bit impractical to simply say “Snap out of it!” But we do have some surefire tips that can turn your frown upside down in 30 minutes or less (relatively speaking).

1. Take a morning walk

If a part of the reason why you’re in such a bad mood is because you woke up late, you might need to do this one on your lunch break. But if you’ve got about 20 minutes to spare in the morning, take a quick walk around your neighbor. The fresh air and Vitamin D (from the sun) will instantly help to give you energy. Walking also helps to loosen up your limbs, reduce stress and improve your immune system. It’s hard to stay in a bad mood after communing with nature for a few moments.

2. Eat some "mood-boosting" foods

Stopping through your favorite drive-thru to get coffee and a donut may be a quick sugar fix, but it’s not really going to help your mood much. Alternatives? Greek yogurt helps to alert the “feel-good neurotransmitters” in your body. Oatmeal is a wonderful source of energy. So is fresh fruit. Local raw honey and dark chocolate also get the thumbs up. They both help to keep free radicals at bay and they have anti-inflammatory properties that keep your brain functioning at an optimal level.

3. Put on some essential oils

We LOVE essential oils. If you mix them with a carrier oil like jojoba or almond oil, you can apply them like a moisturizer. Your skin will be super soft and all day people will be asking you “What scent are you wearing?” Certain ones also improve your moods and increase productivity levels. Jasmine, Rosemary and Cinnamon top the list. (Cinnamon is considered to be an aphrodisiac too. Just an FYI!)

4. Wear something bright

There’s nothing wrong with black, grey and neutral colors. But if you’re already feeling a little dreary on the inside, it’s best to put on something bright and cheery on the outside! Even if yellow, orange and pink (for instance) aren’t your thing, at least accessorize with a “loud” color. If you look at yourself in the mirror long enough, you’ll at least crack a smile. You won’t be able to help it.

5. Kiss. Or vent.

If you have someone you share your bed with, lean over for a kiss. Kissing is proven to reduce your blood pressure, relieve headaches and trigger the “happy hormones” in your body like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. If you live alone, there’s another alternative. Call a good friend and devote five minutes to venting. Sometimes just getting how you feel off of your chest will help to calm you do and center you. So that the rest of your day can be better than it started.