Instant Mood Boosters for Every Mom

July 1, 2024

quick fixes for uplifting your spirits anytime

We’ve all woken up on the wrong side of the bed at some point. Sometimes we can’t shake that mood as our day progresses and it negatively affects our productivity and creativity. As moms, aren’t we always dealing with moods of one sort or another? Between our own hormones and our kids’ ever-changing developmental stages, who can blame us for waking up in a funk? We’re sleep deprived, have neverending to-dos, and often our bodies are fighting off whatever germ-of-the-week our kids have brought home. Here are a few quick fixes for even the worst of moody days.

In a hurry? Pin this and read it later.

For starters, no matter how you choose to raise your spirits, try not to be too hard on yourself. If you’re feeling guilty or resentful toward your mood, that’s okay! Acknowledge how you feel without judging yourself.

1. Chug a glass of water

This seems almost too obvious, but we often don’t realize our brain fog and irritability are simply because we haven’t had enough water. We all know about dehydration dangers during physical activity, but chronic dehydration can creep up on us and really affect our mood. I make a point to down a 12 oz glass of water with a wedge of lemon every morning before I make my coffee or tea. It makes an immediate difference in how I feel. Not only do I feel more alert and awake, but my coffee tastes better on a clean palette and I tend to overeat less.

2. Assess your body

Bad moods can come on for seemingly no reason, but there can be an underlying cause we haven’t noticed. Take a minute to close your eyes and assess what’s happening with your body. Maybe you feel the beginnings of a headache coming on or some tightness in your shoulders from hefting your toddler around all weekend. Little things like changes in your medications or peaks and valleys in your hormone cycle can wreak havoc on your mood. Once you realize what’s happening, often it’s a relatively quick fix.

3. Jump for joy

Get out the irritations with a quick set of 20 jumping jacks. Ever feel like your body is agitated and you want to scream? If you’re not getting enough physical exercise and stress relief, it can make you feel like you’re jumping out of your skin. Jumping jacks get your entire body moving and are a great combo of aerobic and resistance work. They can be done pretty much anywhere, anytime and are a wonderful release of tension.

4. Freshen up

There’s nothing like greasy hair, mascara under your eyes, and comfy yoga pants to make you feel like crawling back into bed. Especially if you work from home, this can become the norm (I have no personal experience of this of course…no, nope, ununh). Taking 5 minutes to use a little dry shampoo, wash your face, and change clothes will work miracles. For extra effect, pop on something fancy, your favorite pair of heels, some sparkly earrings, or some bright lipstick (really, whatever makes you feel good). You’ll be click-clacking around feeling snazzy in no time.

5. Treat yourself kindly

Food guilt, body shaming, and diet anxiety are always high on my stressor list. Give yourself a break and appreciate the delightful parts of whatever you eat next. Even if it’s a “treat” that you would normally feel guilty about, instead, say a few words of gratitude and savor how much you enjoy eating it! We are so programmed to focus on the negative aspects of our food, whether it’s GMO’s, gluten, carbs or the like, it’s amazing we can enjoy eating at all! The same concept goes for your body. Next time you walk by a mirror or see your reflection in a window, acknowledge one thing you love about your body. It can be anything, your hair, your smooth skin, the shape of your eyes, anything. Treat yourself better and you will feel better.

6. Silence is golden

Don’t get me wrong I love my kids, but after hours of their cackles, bickering, and shrill screams, I NEED TO LEAVE. Taking even 5 minutes a day to sit in silence or meditation is proven to reduce stress levels and even change your brain’s stress patterns. Being subjected to repeated aggravating sounds is a recognized (and U.N. banned) form of torture! So basically, your quiet time is an official human right. Feel vindicated? Yup, me too.

Fresh air does wonders. Even a short walk can clear your mind and boost energy. Take in your surroundings using all five senses —notice the leaves on the trees, the wind, or the smell of the air. Nature is a great distraction and reset button!

7. Turn on the tunes and bust a move

This easy pick-me-up is often overlooked. We all know how great we feel when our favorite song comes on, but do we think to play our favorite songs on when we feel like the Grinch? Music has long been known to affect mood. Pick a playlist or station that feels soothing or uplifting and belt out the words. For extra effect, dance like you’re Kevin Bacon in Footloose. Bonus idea: I use this on my kids ALL the time! If I notice one of them in a particularly sour mood, we throw on some tunes and have a dance party. Our favorite sound of the moment is Queen.

8. Laugh, chuckle, giggle

Laughter really is one of the best medicines for life. It can defuse arguments, create new perspective, and even combat illness. In fact, Physcology Today cited studies noting “laughter sharpens most of the instruments in our immune system’s tool kit. It increases production of immunity-boosting receptors and speeds up the production of new immune cells. It also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.” Taking a few minutes to listen to a funny podcast, joke around with friends, or scroll funny social media accounts are great options. My personal favorite is the series of Instagram accounts entitled, “Overheard”. Kids are also a great source of laughter. They are more than willing to be silly and their humor is contagious.

9. Clean without cleaning

Piles of clutter in our home and work space, create mental clutter and a sense of nagging aggravation. Every mom can relate to the endless piles of toys, stacks of school papers, and mail to be organized littering the counter tops. Grab a large empty laundry basket and start sweeping piles in with great abandon. As you go through the space, separate anything vital like bills, out of the pile. This technique will leave your surfaces and your brain feeling instantly refreshed. Leave the basket in the common area and have everyone grab their belongings and put them away as part of their evening routine.

10. Acknowledge joy

When a bad mood hits, it’s hard to be positive or to appreciate much of anything. Jumping from, “Ugh, this day is the WORST!” to “Gosh, I’m so grateful for all of my many delightful blessings!” can feel really forced and like you’re trivializing your emotions. Instead, start small by acknowledging one small thing that has gone well. Something like, “Yes, we were late to carpool and my check engine light came on, and I have a headache, BUT I did find an amazing parking spot that saved me time and gave me a sigh of relief.” If you can, keep going and list a few more small wins. By recognizing that not everything in your day has been terrible, it will raise your spirits and change your perspective.

Feeling gloomy can really cut into our productivity and become a slippery slope into general negativity. It’s easy for us all to start thinking negative thoughts on a regular basis without even realizing it. The great news is that being aware of those crabby feelings and making a few simple tweaks will have you feeling like you can take on the world again in no time!

Need help? If you feel like your moods may be more serious than a gloomy day or two, reach out for help. More women than you think are dealing with mental health issues, including Postpartum Depression. Help and free resources can be found here.

Have thoughts, questions or comments? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Let’s keep it courteous and professional! Constructive comments and questions only please.

**HEALTH DISCLAIMER: McLeod Caruso Creative, LLC may provide general information and discussions about health and fitness. The information and other content provided on this site, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physical or other qualified health care provider with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions.