Whether you’ve just fought with a friend, opened an unexpected bill, or lost out on a promotion, it should come as no surprise that a bad mood can have a huge impact on your day. After all, your mood can do everything from coloring your first impressions to decreasing your productivity.

Unfortunately, shooing the storm clouds from overhead isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Getting negative feelings out of your mind can take time, and it’s not always clear how to do it. If you’re struggling to overcome a bad mood, here are a few simple tips that might snap you out of it.

Talk Yourself Through It

Often, asking yourself “Why am I in a bad mood?” can help you understand what to do about it. This, of course, is easy enough when there’s an obvious cause. However, it’s just as possible to get into a bad mood for no reason—or at least no reason that’s immediately clear to you.

When this happens, take some time to talk through what you’re feeling, whether that’s in a journal, or with a friend. Try to acknowledge your emotions and understand what you feel instead of burying the negative emotion, which can often make the problem worse.

Exercise

Getting your blood pumping gives you a productive outlet for venting emotions. Even better, exercise can help reduce stress by releasing endorphins, which are chemicals associated with happiness.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness tactics like breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation can be great ways to seek a calmer state of mind. These self-reflective practices can help teach you to acknowledge physical and emotional tension in the body before learning to let it go. These techniques take time to pick up, but they’re well worth the time and effort!

Try Natural Remedies

If you feel yourself struggling with your mood, a good first step may be to try natural remedies designed to help, like these herbs for mood swings. The right soothing blends can be a great addition to practices like mindfulness and meditation, boosting your practice to offer even greater relief from negative moods.

Seek Help

Everyone finds themselves in a bad mood from time to time—but it shouldn’t be something you struggle with on a daily basis. If you find yourself angry or sad over the course of several weeks, or if you feel like your moods interfere with your relationships and work, it might be time to reach out to a professional.

Recover From Your Bad Mood

Overcoming a bad mood isn’t always easy, especially if you can’t address the immediate cause. However, acknowledging what you’re feeling and trying a few simple strategies to change your perspective can help you slowly release your anger, pain, or sadness. Again, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional if you’re struggling—these experts can offer great help where standard methods fail.

Taking care of your health is crucial, whether it’s your mental or physical wellness at stake. For more tips on how to do it, be sure to take a look at our other content.