How to Lift Your Spirits

"When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown"

Petula Clark knew what to do to get herself out of a funky mood back in the '60s; a little exercise, a change of scenery and a great tune. A perfect cheering up recipe. When life gets rough, we all need a way to get ourselves back on track. If you're not sure what might work for you, try a couple of the following ideas and you'll be smiling in no time.

1. Music

Put on a happy tune and dance, sing, or even indulge yourself in a little air-guitar. Groove to the beat and lose yourself in the song. Turning the beat around can turn the mood around.

2. Laugh

Go on-line and spend sometime on a funny joke site, or look up funny videos on You Tube. Watch an old rerun episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and just let yourself laugh. Laughing releases endorphins and makes us feel good in spite of ourselves.

3. Nurture

Bake banana bread for an elderly neighbour, or cut her lawn. Call your mom and listen to her problems or baby-sit your sister's children for the evening. Helping others makes us feel better about ourselves.

4. Get Moving

Go for a walk, head to the gym, or go for a swim, anything that gets you moving will help make you feel better. Your brain get the message that you are taking care of yourself and the actual exercise is a mood elevator.

5. Call Your Best Friend

Whether you call or visit, seeing a friend is probably the best way to lift your mood. You can get that terrible day off your chest, and before you know it you will be smiling and laughing about all the curve balls life throws at you.

6. Go to the Park

Watch the kids play with abandon with no worries about how they look. Not much gets a six-year old down, especially when there are swings and a slide nearby.

7. Try Some Retail Therapy

Don't max out your credit cards but buying a shirt that you feel good in, or a good book to read can give you a lift. Just getting out and spending time near people is good therapy.

8. Indulge Yourself

Whether you are male or female, getting a new haircut or relaxing in a nice, hot bathtub are great stress relievers to help forget the problems of a tough day. We have to remember to be good to ourselves.

9. Eat Your Fruits

Evidence shows that eating healthy carbohydrates such as fruits can help improve your mood by increasing serotonin levels which can in turn can reduce pain and produce a sense of calm.

10. Take A Break

You may be grouchy because you are tired. If possible lie down for twenty minutes, or just sit with your eyes closed for a while and try to clear your mind. With cell phones buzzing, emails coming in, traffic honking, and bosses yelling it is easy for your mind to go into hyper-drive. If you can drown everything out for a few minutes and reboot your brain you might just find that your mood has been rebooted as well.

The main thing to remember is that bad moods are not permanent. They will pass, and when all else fails you can take the advice of Petula and go Downtown.