We all face times in our lives when we feel overwhelmed by worry, uncertainty, loss or loneliness. To cope with life’s ups and downs, use these 10 tips to boost your mood and stay positive.
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Take time to reflect and pray: Prayer and meditation can provide opportunities for reflection, peace and connection with God and the world around you.
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Be grateful: Practicing gratitude changes how we look at life. It can help us see the good, even during life’s challenges. Try paying attention to the good around you or journal about experiences, people or things in your life that you’re grateful for.
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Laugh: Laughter not only boosts your mood, but it’s also good for your immune system. A good laugh can remind you that there’s no situation so serious that God can’t lighten it with his love and grace.
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Let things go: Letting go of the anger, grief and hurt weighing you down will help you discover peace with God, yourself and others.
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Connect with others: Talking with friends or family can boost your mood through the support, encouragement and new perspectives they have to share. By having someone you can “think about loud” with, you can discuss problems or concerns and connect over shared interests or experiences.
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Exercise: Staying active can release feel-good chemicals, boost your self-esteem and give you another reason to get outdoors. Find activities you like and keep in mind that even low-impact activities like golf or tai chi are great ways to keep your body moving.
View five ways to stay active while counteracting muscle loss as you age. -
Get plenty of sleep: Let your body and mind recharge with a good night’s rest. Establish a regular sleep routine and try to stick to it every night to feel well-rested for the day ahead.
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Try something new: Play a new game. Join a new club. Read something new. Try new foods. Learn a new skill.
Trying new things can renew your sense of hopefulness, tap into your creativity and teach you new things about yourself. -
Volunteer: Helping others can help you find a new sense of purpose while creating opportunities to form new relationships, where you may find support and encouragement.
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Set limits: An overextended schedule saps your energy. Take regular breaks and plan a vacation or a staycation to recharge. When you start to feel drained, look for things to cut out from your weekly to-dos. If you need to, saying “no” at times can help you find a balance between helping others and yourself.
Support when you need it
Get assistance for daily living tasks so you can do more of what brings you joy. With home care from the Good Samaritan Society, help comes to you.