Five Quick Ways to Get Out of the Doldrums

Maybe this isn’t exactly the best time in your life. Challenges can overwhelm you. They do not have to! I’ve got five quick ways to get out of the doldrums.

Life is unpredictable. You can be in the best job, with a great family, and suddenly you are not. Your Company gets bought, and there are massive layoffs that, unfortunately, include you. Tensions rise within the family as the stress of looking for new employment mounts, and the kids still want to go to sleep-away camp this summer. You feel so out of control! What should you do?

The Doldrums Are A State of Mind

There is a lot you can do. For starters, do not allow yourself to wallow in the doldrums. Yes, this particular moment in your life may stink. But don’t let it control your mood. You get much less done when you are in a bad mood. Your family does not like being around you when you are in a bad mood. As Cher said to Nic Cage in the movie Moonlighting, “Snap out of it!”

Easier said than done, I know. Here are five things that I do to boost my mood. We are all different, so please use this as a loose guide. If you love polar bears, find videos of them to watch instead of puppies. You get the gist.

• Look at puppy or cat videos on the internet
• Write down three things you are grateful for right now
• Listen to upbeat music
• Go for a walk
• Bake a cake or cook a meal

Having Fun Squashes the Doldrums

It may sound silly to google pet videos to boost your mood, but it works. It is impossible to stay down or upset when watching puppies crawl all over each other or attempt to climb up on something. They are so cute, and you smile even if you do not want to. One of my all-time favorite dog videos is where one dog slithers up to the other and looks like he is whispering something in the other dog’s ear. The voice-over says, “We’ve been looking for you; your extended car warranty is about to expire.” How can you not laugh at that? Here is the link for it: https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonrutledgeandreggie/video/7119285549004786986?lang=en.

Putting pen to paper and making a gratitude list always helps me turn off my doldrums switch. No matter how horrible my situation is, I can always be grateful for something. Did I wake up this morning? Any day above ground is a good day for me! Have you ever made a gratitude list? Once you start, you will be amazed at how many things you can put on your list. You should make one and stash it someplace accessible to pull it out on days you feel the doldrums approaching. It works for me every time!

Music Gets You Out of the Doldrums Quick

We all have our music preferences. Whatever yours may be, by all means, blast it and dance around your living room to lift your mood. But, if you want true inspiration, I have the song for you. Have you ever doubted yourself and felt unworthy or not good enough? Listen to “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman soundtrack, and you will be ready to conquer the world. It is the most powerful, moving music I have ever heard. It never fails to lift me, no matter how down I might feel. Please listen to this and let me know your thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/@houseofstardom/video/7182586987457629483?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7205296646280824366. I will be shocked if you don’t find yourself tapping your feet or full-on dancing. Is there a song that does that to you? Let me know!

Change Your Environment and Take a Walk

Sometimes you must change your environment to “get out of your head.” When was the last time you took a walk around your neighborhood? Are there any lakes or walking trails close by? Engrossing myself in nature helps keep the doldrums at bay. Our neighborhood is filled with many flowers and bushes just about to burst. We also have lots of busy birds to look at. How can you not feel grateful when experiencing the gifts of nature? I find myself thanking God every time I take a stroll. I used to be too busy to notice these types of things. Thank goodness cancer opened my eyes (I have discussed this in other blog posts).

Lastly, I feel better when I make a meal or bake a cake for someone. When 9/11 happened, and I had no clue where my husband was for hours, I never stopped cooking. When he made it home that night, I had enough food to feed an army, including dessert! Cooking helps keep my doldrums far away.

What Matters is How You Handle the Doldrums

We all know they are coming, so why not prepare yourself to handle the doldrums? Use my suggestions above and create a playlist, write a gratitude list, and keep a box of brownie mix in the house. That way, you will have tools at your fingertips to help you lessen the doldrums. Are there any specific things you try to do when feeling down in the dumps? Kindly include them in a comment below.

Happy Spring!