8 Ways to Boost Your Mood After a Hard Day

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It happens to us all. Some days you have a hard day at work, your kids are throwing temper tantrums, or everything just goes wrong. Or maybe you just got out of the wrong side of the bed.

Now that I’m a freelancer, I don’t have the stresses of commuting or office politics to deal with. These days I’m faced with a different type of stress that comes with being your own boss. Worries like “What if I don’t get any clients this week?” or “What if I make a mistake, and they give me a bad review?”

When I feel overwhelmed with doubts like these, I like to take a break during the day (one of the benefits of working at home!) or treat myself in the evening when I finish work. These are some of the ways I like to boost my mood and get back on track.

Set the mood

The first thing I do is set the mood. I light a lovely smelly candle, get into my PJs, and snuggle up on the sofa under a fluffy throw. Yes, I’m very girly. So what, I am a girl! J Is there anything more comforting than snuggling up on the sofa in your pajamas? I think not.

Pamper time!

Now that I’m 30 (the horror!), I’m starting to take better care of my skin. I recently came across a new cleansing oil that I’m dying to try. It’s made from 100% natural ingredients, is not tested on animals, and comes in really beautiful packaging. You might be tempted to skip taking off your make up properly when you’re stressed, but try to make an effort. Stress is really bad for your skin, so now is not the time to skip your skincare routine. A luxurious cleansing oil like the YouOrganic Orange Cleansing Oil will make the process feel more like pampering than boring routine.

Another thing I sometimes do is put on a face mask. This is something I’ve only gotten into in the last year, but I find it very relaxing. It makes me feel like I’m looking after myself as well. I use the L’Oreal Pure-Clay masks. I especially like the orange Exfoliate and Refine mask as it doesn’t feel too tight on your skin as it dries.

Get more calming smells going

I use the Neom Organics Happiness Reed Diffuser whenever I’m feeling down. I love to engulf myself in a Neom haze. My diffuser has a lemon scent that I absolutely love. I’m a sucker for a citrus scent.

Pop a pill

I take Vitamin B Complex tablets. These tablets are made up of eight B vitamins. They have many purposes, such as helping to convert our food into fuel, promoting healthy skin and hair, and also reducing stress. Hence, my use of them when I’m in a bad mood. I feel like the immediate benefits are purely psychological, but the other benefits will do me no harm anyway.

Netflix and chill

Without the chill, although I’m sure that would work wonders as well (let’s call this secret tip number 9!). I’m prone to bouts of binge-watching TV shows. Last year, I binge-watched all six series of Pretty Little Liars, twice! Of course, it was also appropriate to re-watch all of Gilmore Girls as well. I had to remind myself what happened before the new episodes were aired! Netflix is just pure escapism. Any suggestions for what my next binge should be?

YouTube

YouTube is my new guilty pleasure. I follow so many beauty vloggers, travel vloggers, minimalists, financial gurus, the list goes on. Some of my favorites are Mrs Meldrum, who vlogs about her lovely little family; Estee Lalonde, who is my favorite beauty vlogger and also my favorite Canadian thus far; and MuchelleB, who vlogs about decluttering your stuff as well as decluttering your mind. Appropriate for when I’m trying to get rid of negative thoughts from the bad day I’ve just had.

Chocolate

Specifically, Cadbury’s brand. This shouldn’t be appearing on my list because I’m trying to maintain my weight after losing 50 pounds in 2016. However, dark chocolate releases endorphins that boost your mood, so eating it is practically medicinal.

Gratitude

Get into the habit of keeping a gratitude journal. Writing down even one thing that you are grateful for will remind you that it’s not all bad. There’s always something to be grateful for whether it’s the amazing people in your life, a nice moment with a stranger, chocolate (there I go again!), or even hearing your favorite song unexpectedly. Here’s a great article that explains the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal.

On a more serious note, I think it’s important to reflect on why your mood is so low. The other tips on this list are about escapism, and they will help to boost your mood. But if the reason you are in a bad mood is not a once off thing, then brushing it under the carpet will only make things worse.

Try to talk to someone you trust about the issue and see if you can figure out how to resolve it. Go for a lovely quiet dinner with your partner or arrange to meet a friend for coffee. Or if you’re not comfortable talking to someone you know, would it be possible to talk to a stranger? Does your workplace employ an employee assistance officer that you could speak to in confidence? Don’t suffer in silence!

So those were my top tips on how to boost your mood after a hard day. What do you do to improve your mood after a bad day? I’d love to hear your tips.