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We all have those days when the whole mood of the house is just off. Whether it’s just one person who wakes up crabby or everybody is in a bad mood, sometimes it doesn’t take much to shift the mood of the whole house!
Try one of these eight simple things:
Turn on some music
Crank up the tunes! Music is a mood lifter – try some calming classical music and deep breathing, an upbeat dance mix for a dance party, or play worship music to spend time in praise together.
Pray
Praying is always a serious mood shifter! Breath prayers are particularly good in these moments – especially when you are overwhelmed, frustrated, or feeling like you just need a break.
Try something simple like:
I breathe in the calm presence of the Holy Spirit.
I breathe out the anxiety and pressure of this day.
Something that will shift my mood? A good cup of coffee and a few minutes alone time to pray and sit in the quiet.
Get outside
Nature is an automatic mood changer! Even when it’s cold, I know that kicking my kids outside (or kicking myself outside) will put us all in a better mood.
Breathe fresh air and get some sunshine on your face. That vitamin D will boost your mood for sure! If it’s not too cold, put your feet or hands in the dirt – plant something in the garden or walk barefoot on the grass. Actually touching the ground has a physical response in our bodies, and it can help to change how we feel.
Add water
Have a crabby toddler or preschooler? Put them in water or give them a water table to splash in. Take your big kids to the pool for the afternoon or (even better) get to a lake, stream, or other natural body of water. Water has a natural physical impact on our health – even just being close to the water and not in it!
Eat
I know that often my kids or I are in a bad mood because we just need to eat something! Hungry kids or hungry mamas are much crabbier. ;) Just don’t do junk food – make it something that fuels your body, otherwise you’ll feel the disaster of the crash afterward.
Diffuse some oils
Essential oils can pass through the blood brain barrier and impact how your mood and your emotions. Citrus oils are a particular mood booster! Diffuse them, wear them on your body, or just smell them straight from the bottle. If my kids are in the middle of a tantrum, I will rub oils on their back. Or I will put the oils on the front of my shirt, so that when I hug them close, they smell the oils, and it helps to calm them down.
Move your body
Throw a dance party, go for a hike, have your kids shake their bad mood away or jump on the trampoline together to put you in a better mood. Physical activity will up your endorphins and get you feeling good!
Do something special
Make hot chocolate for everyone, pull out special art supplies, or set the table for a fancy dinner. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but doing something a little bit out of the ordinary can change everyone’s mood. And if your kiddos are fighting, having a common goal or shared experience can shift the mood together.