Surefire ways...

[namechange08361548]

...of getting out of a bad mood?

I have always been a bit of a grump and I know that being around grumpy people is no fun for anyone. I also have a short temper but try to use mindfulness to control it (with some degree of success).

Having said that, the mindfulness techniques and recognising that I'm being a grumpy cow don't get me out of my funk.

Can anyone share any tried and tested ways out of a Bad Mood?

What are you in a bad mood about?
If it's all the time then you should try the gp.

A long walk?

It's not all the time... definitely worse in the 10 days or so before my period but I have quite short cycles (24 days, give or take) so it feels like half of the time I'm in a mood. It's tiring, and I recognise it's probably tiring for DH and the children as well though most of the time it's them who made me cross

Put some cheesy pop music on the oldest cheesiest music you can find then have dance

I go for a drive if I can; I find concentrating on the road is soothing

I listen to comforting podcasts (at the moment I especially like Forever35)

I get outside - even just standing in the garden and breathing for a minute can help

I force myself to send friendly messages to friends - I have a habit of completely shutting down communication wise when my mood gets glum - this serves the dual purpose of making me thing of other people’s shit instead of my own and possibly getting nice replies as a surprise at a later moment

I try to be very kind to myself and make my internal chat like that of a nice friend - offer myself a coffee, make sure I do the things I need to do but praise my small efforts etc. This might sound a bit bonkers but it works for me.

If I can gather the energy to start and have the time I do a Yoga With Adriene video on YouTube

Evict everyone from one room of the house with clear instructions you are not to be disturbed.

Get comfy, get a really good book, put some gentle but not depressing music on in the background, a nice cup of tea (or wine) and just take an hour or so for yourself.

Thank you all! These are really helpful! I've never tried a podcast, will check that out.

Go for a swim. You're so cut off from the world when you're in the pool that I find it impossible to be cross while doing it.

Yoga, every time.