5 Ways to Lift Your Spirits in 10 Minutes or Less

What you find in your mind is what you put there.
Put good things in there.” ~
Ron Rathbun

We all have days where we feel a little… well… in a funk.

This is especially true during the winter months when the days are shorter, depriving us of that all that lovely sunshine and the essential Vitamin D that comes with it.

But the good news is that it’s easy to shift your mood towards a more positive vibration that will make your day an easier, happier one!

Here are 5 simple things you can do to lift your spirits in 10 minutes or less:

1) Feed your ears with inspiration

Listening to energizing music is hands down the fastest, easiest way to elevate your mood. Put on one or two of your favorite songs and you’ll be surprised how quickly you start to feel more positive about your day.

One way to make sure your day starts off on a positive vibration is to get a musical alarm clock that you can pre-program to wake you up with your favorite uplifting songs.

You can also download alarm clock software like Alarm Clock Pro (for Macs or for Windows) that you can easily program to wake you up with music from your iTunes or other media player right from your desktop or laptop.

2) Invite positive people into your space

One of the best ways to pull yourself out of the doldrums is to spend a little time with someone who has an abundance of positive energy.

But if a close friend or family member isn’t near by, here’s the next best thing:

There are tons of short videos online of inspiring people sharing inspiring ideas that will provide some mental caffeine by activating the learning centers of the brain.

Check out TED.com or search for “inspirational video” in YouTube for a great selection of free content you can choose from.

3) Laugh it off

Laughter is one of the most immediate, effective antidotes for a heavy mood.

Laughter and smiling releases endorphins, the “happy hormones” produced in the brain that are widely regarded as nature’s cure for the blues.

Lucky for you, there are tons of comedians loading hilarious videos onto the Web that you can access in just seconds!

Take a few minutes and check out a couple of videos on YouTube or Funny or Die (the YouTube-style comedy website founded by comedian Will Ferrell) for some good side-splitting material that will send your endorphin levels through the roof.

4) Beautify your space

Eckhart Tolle writes that flowers are “ethereal messengers from the spiritual realm,” and that gazing at one reminds us of our oneness with all life and that there is peace in the present moment.

Even if you think that sounds a little far fetched, you can’t deny that everyone has a positive reaction to flowers! Stare at a flower for a few moments and and I bet you’ll soon find yourself smiling.

So why not exercise some self-love and treat yourself to a nice bouquet. Put them in an area of your home or office where you can see them and you’ll be surprised how a few delicate buds can lift your spirits.

5) Gain some perspective

If you’re feeling a bit down, it’s important to be gentle with yourself.

Many people who feel unhappy further reinforce their emotional state by feeling unhappy that they feel unhappy.

Instead of making yourself wrong, remember that the ebb and flow of emotions is a part of the human experience. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that this emotion too shall pass.

Giving yourself the freedom to experience how you feel can often the key to releasing it.