Finding Relief On Hard Days: 30 Proven Ways To Feel Better Instantly This Year
Marina Nazina | UnsplashLife can be stressful and downright hard at times, especially amid the current social climate. Who doesn't want to feel better and less depleted, disconnected, or anxious? When you're juggling all the parts of your life and the many worries on your mind, it's easy to let self-care take a backseat.
Expecting to have a fantastic day every day seems highly unrealistic. If you don't create the space for your well-being and take care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, you'll become more easily overwhelmed and out of balance.
Feeling overly stressed or down in the dumps can take a toll on your life, including relationships, work, and even cause you physical symptoms, like stomach trouble, aches and pains, and headaches. It's time to pay attention to the little things you're doing to sabotage yourself, so you can get on a healthy and happier path. Feeling good doesn't have to be hard.
Here are 30 proven ways to feel better instantly this year and find relief on hard days:
1. Practice saying no
Say yes to yourself by cutting out activities and interactions that bring you down. Instead, do something that will lift you. Every time you say no to something that drains you, you're actually saying yes to your own well-being. It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're a people-pleaser, but protecting your energy is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself.
2. Drink a glass of water
Flush out toxins, send hydration to your cells, and get energized with eight glasses a day. You'd be surprised how many times what feels like fatigue or a bad mood is actually just dehydration.
Your brain is about 75% water, so even mild dehydration can affect your mood and energy levels. Keep a water bottle nearby and sip throughout the day.
3. Grab something nourishing
Resist the urge to sit down with a bowl of ice cream or a bag of Doritos. Choose a mood-boosting treat, like a square of dark chocolate or a handful of cherries.
The sugar crash from junk food will only make you feel worse an hour later. Dark chocolate contains compounds that actually boost serotonin, while cherries are packed with antioxidants that fight inflammation and support better sleep.
4. Move a bit
Take a few minutes to get your blood pumping with some jumping jacks or a walk around the block. Even a few sun salutations will loosen tired muscles while calming and lifting your spirits.
Research shows exercise increases neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that regulate mood and boost your overall well-being. Even just 15 minutes of physical activity can significantly improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
5. Smell the roses
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Engage your olfactory system and inhale the delightful scents of gardenia, honeysuckle, jasmine, or rose. These flowers smell so good, and they'll make your brain happy.
According to research, scents travel directly to the brain's limbic system, which controls emotions and memory. Floral scents like lavender and rose reduce anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and promote relaxation and happiness.
6. Have something to look forward to
One of the best ways to gain hope is to have something to look forward to doing. Make a date with someone — either by phone or video chat. You'll find yourself daydreaming about how fantastic it will be, and that can make the feel-good feelings linger longer.
Research shows that anticipating something fun decreases negative emotions like anxiety and depression. People get more benefit from looking forward to a positive event than from recalling a past one, making anticipation a powerful mood booster.
7. Watch a comedy
Laughter is the best medicine for an emotional slump. So, skip the news and turn on some stand-up. Just one joke, and you'll be smiling — guaranteed!.
Whether it's a silly sitcom, a stand-up special, or funny animal videos on YouTube, laughter releases endorphins and immediately shifts your mood. Sometimes the best thing you can do is permit yourself to just be silly for a little while.
8. Call someone you love
When you're blue, the right friend knows exactly what to say. Phone someone who will listen with a compassionate ear. Sometimes, just saying your feelings out loud can help you to process them and get you moving past them.
Research suggests that social support from friends decreases stress and anxiety. Adult friendships that provide social support and companionship are significant predictors of well-being and offer protection from mental health challenges.
9. Read a book
Snuggle under a blanket and escape into the characters of a novel. Let their stories warm your heart or give you a new perspective and gratitude.
Reading transports you out of your own head and into another world, giving your mind a much-needed break from whatever's weighing you down. Even just 15 minutes can help you reset and feel calmer.
10. Look at a work of art
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Creativity — whether it's on the wall in a museum or displayed on your refrigerator door — can fill you with wonder and pride. Notice the colors, lines, and tones, and let them speak to you.
Research shows that cortisol levels dropped by an average of 22% when people viewed original artwork in a gallery, proving that viewing art has immediate, measurable benefits for reducing stress. The study also found that pro-inflammatory markers linked to stress dropped by 30% after viewing art.
11. Give yourself a pedicure
You don't have to go to a spa for a full-day event to feel good. Giving your feet some love can take minutes. Start with a warm soak with Epsom salts and scrub away dead skin cells with peppermint or grapefruit to wake up your senses.
Studies have shown that spa bathing is associated with reduced levels of stress markers like cortisol, with the effect being more pronounced in people with higher stress levels. The soothing environment and treatments create both physical relaxation and mental calm.
12. Listen to music
Music stirs the soul. Put on the radio or your headphones, sit back, and chill as the notes and the beat take you away.
Create a playlist specifically for tough days, filled with songs that either lift your spirits or let you feel your feelings fully. Music has an incredible ability to validate emotions and help you process them without saying a single word.
13. Sing out loud
Singing makes you happier, according to science. Do it often and don't be afraid to belt out your tunes. You'll feel more positive, confident, and ready to take on your next challenge.
Researchers suggest that people who participate in choir singing experience significant improvements in their mental health and wellbeing with moderate to large effect sizes. Singing decreases mental distress while increasing positive emotions and reducing anxiety and depression.
14. Put on a dance party
Why not combine music, singing, and movement? Besides increasing cardiovascular health and flexibility, it can ease anxiety and improve social connectivity. You don't need fancy moves or anyone watching.
Just turn up your favorite song and let your body move however it wants to. Even five minutes of dancing around your living room can shift your entire mood and get those feel-good endorphins flowing.
15. Take a short nap
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When you're physically and mentally spent, a quick nap can give you the pause you need. Feel refreshed and renewed, eager to get your day on track with a new perspective.
16. Do something kind
Donate to a charity, pick up groceries for a neighbor, or pay it forward in the drive-through line, and you'll be amazed at the rewards these simple acts of kindness can bring to you.
According to one study, performing acts of kindness helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by diverting your attention away from yourself and taking your mind off your own symptoms. Kindness also increases happiness and self-esteem while decreasing stress and emotional reactivity.
17. Play a game
Remember spending hours putting together a 500-piece puzzle or strategizing over Monopoly? Dust off some old boxes, pull out some cards, and get your brain working differently today. Solo? Crosswords or Solitaire work fine.
18. Go to bed early
Pretend you're in a luxurious hotel — put on your silkiest pajamas and an eye mask, dab on some lavender body lotion, and tuck yourself in for an hour or two before your usual time. You'll float yourself to sleep and feel fantastic in the morning!
19. Put down your phone
Don't look at your phone for a few minutes. Better yet, leave it in another room. Turn off your notifications and feel the freedom.
The constant pings and scrolling keep your nervous system in a low-level state of stress, even when you don't realize it. Give yourself a real break by disconnecting, even if it's just while you eat lunch or take a walk around the block.
20. Hug someone
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Physical touch increases your sense of well-being. Since hugs are scarce during a pandemic, they're even more needed for our emotional health. If it's safe to do so, give someone in your bubble a hug. If that's not possible, curl up with a pet, provide a video virtual hug, or go for some self-love.
21. Forgive someone — and yourself
Harboring unresolved feelings can hang over you like a dark cloud. Commit to letting go of resentment, and feel the weight lift from your shoulders. Forgive yourself for past mistakes. Compassion will lift your mood now, and it will be life-altering.
22. Take up a hobby
Pick up your knitting needles or boxing gloves the next time you're feeling stressed. You'll be giving yourself a healthy outlet for your energy and creating something of value.
Studies have concluded that having a hobby is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of self-reported health across 16 countries. People with hobbies report higher levels of health, happiness, and life satisfaction than those who don't have them.
23. Deal with chronic pain
If pain is interfering with your joy, it's time to find ways to tackle it head-on — or at least divert your attention. Talk to your doctor, look into alternative approaches, and meditate to help your brain process your pain.
24. Get some sunshine
Being trapped indoors can give you the blues, especially in winter. But, regardless of the weather, a little sunshine and vitamin D can give you an instant feeling of happiness. Start your day with sunlight on your face and give yourself some more sunshine when you need a mood boost.
24. Lift some weights
Start small and get a spotter, or try some lighter options at home. Pumping iron can increase your endorphins and lower cortisol — both are great for a temporary emotional high and long-term emotional well-being.
25. Take a break
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Sometimes, just permitting yourself to chill out is all you need to feel good. Step away from what you're doing, put up your feet, take the pressure off yourself, and recharge in every way.
26. Bond with a pet
Having a pet helps you live longer. They lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and fend off loneliness. If you can't have a pet of your own to snuggle with, visit a friend's pet or check out a doggie park, and release some endorphins.
27. Meditate
The first time you meditate might feel awkward. But as you ease into it, you'll feel more curious and less judgmental, and more connected to and accepting of your true self.
Just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness meditation can improve wellbeing and ease depression and anxiety. Studies found that people who meditate report significantly higher levels of overall well-being and significantly lower levels of psychological symptoms compared to people who don't.
28. Pray
Whether you're religious or not, praying to a higher power can calm you down and create a sense of peace. It might be because you feel a presence or simply because you're breathing deeply and giving yourself over to the moment.
29. Journal
Writing can be therapeutic, so curl up with a beautiful notebook and pen, and pour out your heart and soul. Journaling helps to process your emotions, and you'll notice by the time your pen lifts from the page, you're already feeling a little bit better!
30. Breathe
You can do this when you're at a stoplight, at your desk, or in line at the supermarket. Try this simple exercise:
- Put a hand on your stomach or over your heart.
- Say to yourself, "I breathe in calm," and breathe into your abdomen.
- Let yourself experience your breath before you say, "I breathe out stress."
- Repeat this several times, and you'll feel calmer and less triggered.
If you struggle with panic attacks, breathing while lying on your stomach helps. It slows your breathing down, so you don't hyperventilate. Forget to breathe? Create a Post-It reminder and stick it on your laptop or another conspicuous space.
Make a note of the items that resonate with you and create a "feeling good" plan. Try one today and then another. Notice how you feel when you take care of yourself. Soon, you'll have the awareness and momentum to tip the scale and feel better every day.
Lisa Petsinis is an ICF-credentialed life and career transition coach. Her bylines have appeared on Psych Central, The Good Men Project, Parade, Prevention, The Minds Journal, PopSugar, and All4Women, as well as many others.
