Mood Boosters

The sun is shining. The temperatures are in the mid-50s. With my jacket on and my book in hand I headed straight for the door as soon as my lunch break started. I walked around campus, settled on a bench in the sun, and read. Then I walked some more before returning to my office to reheat pizza from last night's dinner.

That's exactly the kind of lunch break I like. But it was especially enjoyable today after the rainy, gloomy, raw weather we've been having. It's the kind of day that lifts your spirits, if your spirits happen to need lifting.

Walking and reading are on my go-to list of activities for any mood, but when I'm feeling down walking is something that often makes me feel better. And if I can get my feet on a dirt trail surrounded by nature (forest! fields! lakes! mountains!) more the better.

When I need a little pick-me-up, I often turn toward some sort of treat: chocolate, ice cream, cookie butter or a Green Tea Latte from Starbucks.

If I'm in a rough spot mentally (or emotionally) I try to turn to my notebook. It helps immensely to get the crummy things out of my head and onto paper. It can help me stop obsessing. Get it out and move on.

But above all else, when I need to check out and turn off my brain, the TV wins hands down. It is, and always has been, my drug of choice. It is how I unwind, how I de-stress, how I reset myself each weekend. I prefer hour long dramas; some of my current favs are the Chicago shows (Fire, PD, and Med). I watch WAY less TV than I used to since I limit my watching time to when my son is asleep. But when he's napping and I have to choose between cleaning the house or watching my shows, it's really no choice at all.

Hugging and holding my son is the best medicine, of course, regardless of my mood.

What do you do to lift your spirits, improve your mood?