In this article I am not talking about clinical depression, as medical advice should always be sought if you are truly depressed. I’m talking about low moods within the normal range of emotions that we all experience at some point, and about which you can do something.
There are many ways to lift your spirits, ranging from a few quick and simple fixes, like listening to the right music, to developing a new way of looking at life.
To easily lift your spirits, get to work. Physical exercise can work like magic. A good walk or bike ride in the fresh air, swimming, a round of golf, a gym, a yoga or Pilates session can make us happier. You can also be busy at home, as gardening, cleaning out a closet, cleaning the bathroom, or washing the car work well as well, as long as the activity doesn’t feel like a chore. Focus on using your muscles, lungs, and coordination, and on the fact that your body is working, and you will find greater satisfaction.
If you are less able to go outside, an activity like writing, knitting, painting also works well. While the physical benefits are greatly reduced, the mental focus on achieving something worthwhile rather than the cause of low mood gives you a mental and emotional break and provides positive thinking and action. I paint, I photograph and I write, and I am always happier the busier I am.
Volunteering is excellent. It may take a while to find a suitable activity or organization and set up your volunteering, but I highly recommend volunteering. It gets you out of the house, doing something constructive, very often helping people or improving the environment. Not only is this helping you look at the world rather than your own problems, but you are also being a great help, with the added bonus of meeting new people and learning new things.
Which brings me to the benefits of learning something. This could be a regular class, where you learn a language, a skill to improve your job prospects or a trade, or it could be something you do at home. Find out what classes are available in your local area. However, it does not have to be a class. Rediscover your local library or use the Internet to find inspiration. Learn to make your own pasta or bread, learn to knit, learn to grow plants, repair furniture, or fix your bicycle, and you will be absorbed in a worthwhile activity with a worthwhile result.
In the longer term, there are things to think about that will help you develop a more permanent positive frame of mind.
Think about things in a positive way. By this I mean not to focus on the ‘poor me’ aspects of your situation, but to work out what is important to you. Look outside to try to better understand the world and your place in it. Find value in the non-materialistic, and you are more likely to be in a good mood. Develop your inner life, your spirituality. How you do this will depend on your circumstances and personal interests, but focus on the aspects of life that don’t revolve around possessions and the need for money. Appreciate your family, friends, the natural world, doing things, and being involved in the community, and you are more likely to be content. The alternative, wanting material things, needing money to spend on clothes, expensive nights out, and expensive vacations means you’ll push yourself for things that don’t really matter and also live beyond your means. You are almost guaranteed to be miserable.
I will end with two observations. Do not think that you have the right to be happy, and that if you are not happy it is someone else’s fault. Happiness grows from within and from leading a life that gives you satisfaction and the opportunity to grow as a person.
Choose your friends wisely. Cultivate friendships with those who have a healthy outlook on life, who are busy, happy with the simple things in life, and who offer genuine friendship.