Are you depressed? Heartbroken? Frustrated? Whatever you want to call it, we have all had the blues at some point in our lives. If you believe the commercials and ads then only way to become happy again is to take magical pills and talk to expensive therapists. Happiness does not have to cost a lot of money though and can be achieved in the comforts of your own home. Here are 5 things that you can do to lift your spirits.

1. Be Social

For some of us, the first reaction we have to being sad is to turn off our phones, not want to talk to anyone or go anywhere, and hide in our blankets. We may think that it makes us feel better, but in reality, we get more of a mood boost from connecting with other people. So instead of isolating yourself, make plans with friends and family, even if you do not feel like it. Trust me, you will feel better after laughing and talking with others than you will shutting yourself off from the world.

2. Stick with Your Routine

When you are down it is easy to let things slide. You will do the dishes tomorrow, it can wait. You will run extra long tomorrow, it is ok. You deserve a break, or a day off. However, you get a great happiness boost by sticking to your resolutions and your routine, by giving you a sense of self-control and greater self-esteem while not doing what you know you should do just makes you feel worse. So go ahead, meet that goal and break that habit. Even if you are sad and do not want to—it will be worth it.

3.  Deal With It

Do you ever want to just punch something when you are angry or recite every swear word in 3 languages? If you think it will make you feel better, it won’t. Studies have shown that expressing anger and frustration just feeds those feelings and makes them more intense. Learn how to deal with your feelings in a way that will help you. Go for a run. Write it down. Play and instrument. Clean the garage. Build something. Go to a dark room and sit in silence. Find what clears your mind and calms you down, and do it. Do not feed your feelings.

4.  Treat Yourself With Care

Most of us have something we do that comforts us, whether it is watching a movie, eating fried chicken or chocolate, video games, or shopping. We all have that “comfort” activity we fall to when we are down, but we usually take them too far. Instead of eating one or two chocolates, we eat the whole box. Instead of playing video games for an hour, we do a 72 hour binge. Instead of having one glass of wine at the end of a long day, we drink the entire bottle (or two). Be careful to keep your unhealthy comfort activities in moderation, or even substitute them with a more healthy activity. If you become addicted to a substance or activity while being depressed it is called a co-occurring condition, and can be treated at a dual diagnosis treatment center. So take care what you comfort yourself with, and make healthy choices. ?

5.  Get Up

This is similar to #4. Many of us want to stay in our pajamas all day when we are sad, as a comfort, but it really does make you feel worse. While it is common to think that we act a certain way because that is how we feel, it is actually the other way around. We do not stay in our P.J.’s because we are sad, we are sad because we stay in our P.J.’s. We feel because of the way we act. So get up, get dressed (even your shoes so you are ready for whatever the day brings), and even make your bed. It will lessen the feelings of sadness, lethargy, and powerlessness, and give you a boost to make your mood a happy one.

And there you have it. 5 things you can do without spending any money or taking any strange pills. All you need to do to give yourself a little mood boost is change the way you approach some things. It may be hard at first to change your mindset, but it is worth it. To quote the great philosopher Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t worry, be happy.”

About Author:  Michael David is a freelance journalist and blogger living in New York City. Michael loves writing about DIY projects, home improvement, and garden-related topics.
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