This 60-Second Hack Can Help Put You in A Much Better Mood Every Morning
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is normal. We’re only human. However, you don’t have to be stuck feeling pissed for the rest of the day. The most liberating concept I’ve encountered is that you can choose to be in a bad mood.
That’s right. Let that sink in for a minute.
But if you can choose to be in a bad mood, you can also choose to reverse it. This is where this great, 60-second hack comes in.
This is an exercise that you can do in the mornings while you’re waiting for the coffee to brew or while you’re sipping said coffee. Ask yourself these questions and carefully consider your answers.
What am I thankful for today?
Gratitude is the best antidote for bad moods, as it allows you to switch out your negative lenses for more positive ones. This claim is backed by science. A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found direct links between gratitude and happiness and hope. The latter two are integral to improving mental health and overall well-being.
Here’s why gratitude is so effective: Bad moods are caused by thoughts of what’s going to happen to you that day or of something that you either don’t have or don’t like. On the flip side, focusing on gratitude forces you to identify a thing (or many things) or a person that you’re thankful for. And having something tangible to be grateful for trumps out negative thoughts.
What should I be focusing on today?
Clarity and focus are essential to increasing your productivity levels. This is why swerving your attention from dwelling on negative thoughts to what needs to be done that day will effectively shift your energy. And energy spent focusing on something productive is energy not spent dwelling on your bad mood.
After you’ve identified the things that you need to get done, plan the steps you need to take to get to it. After this, you’ll find that your brain has been reset and ready to get started doing the tasks you’ve outlined in your plan.
Nobody has to be stuck feeling bad for the rest of the day. Do this exercise first thing in the morning, and you’ll see that your moods are something that you can control after all.
Have you tried this mood-boosting exercise? Please share your experience with us. Leave us a comment below.
