Life isn’t a bed of roses, so the odds are always there. Sadness is one of the basic human emotions associated with pain, helplessness, disadvantage, feelings of loss and sorrow. It often causes the individual to be lethargic, cry or be disengaged from social interactions.
We’ve all been there, pulling through the annoying and frustrating times. Beating this mood is not always easy because knowing you are in a bad mood does not mean you can just snap out of it. It goes beyond that. Sadness varies in people and is dealt with in different ways. Below are some of the best ways to get yourself over this mood.
1. Focus on positive things
Brooding over negative thoughts can cause or nurture the feelings of sadness and depression. One of the best ways to overcome this is by changing how you think about life; choose to think positively by taking responsibility of your own life. Understand that you are in charge and can control the thoughts that find way into your mind. A great way to achieve this is by listing out some great things about yourself that you are thankful for, the successes you’ve had so far and your happy moments.
Set your goals right and take them one at a time to ensure you are fulfilled even as you do them. No matter the amount of negativity around you, there will always be something positive to think about. Take on motivational quotes and hang them around in your room where they will be visible to you.
2. Listen music
Over the years, studies have shown music to be effective in improving the mood as it activates brain pleasure centers to make us feel connected and gathers our thoughts together. However, the kind of music played is totally dependent on the individual. While it is recommended to listen to happy songs and lyrics when you’re down, sad tunes aren’t left out either. For some, listening to sad songs is therapy, because of their ability to empathize along with the lyrics and melody. On the other hand, some others resolve to happy songs because it makes them feel alive again. You can also play any musical instrument and let everything out on the sounds you create, or you could sing if that’s what you love doing.
3. Choose your meals
What you eat can also play a role in how happy or sad you feel. Soluble fiber-rich foods help to slow down the absorption of sugar in the blood, which lessens the blood sugar and mood swings. Examples of soluble fiber foods include brown rice, pears, apples, sweet potatoes, peas and beans. You can also eat foods with high amounts of glucose or caffeine soft drinks or energy drinks, as they cause a sudden state of sugar rush or restlessness and improve energy levels.
Dark chocolate is another perfect example due to its several chemical substances that create a positive effect with cognitive health and mood. You can also opt for foods with high levels of tryptophan like turkey, cheese and nuts, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin that helps to improve the mood. Sadness is just a phase that should pass. Try one or all of these tips and know what works best for you.
Image Courtesy of: prevention.com, diarioelnortino.cl
