When you’re in a bad mood, it’s no fun for anyone. Snapping at someone for no good reason can ruin their day as well as yours. When you exude negativity, the others around you can feel it just as much as you can.

Luckily, there are methods of quickly escaping a bad mood and shaking off the unwelcome feelings. Here are 5 things you can do in just 5 minutes to turn your frown upside down:

1. Fake it

If you’re not happy, fake it ‘til you make it. Etch a smile on your face even if it hurts to do so. Speak pleasantly to your peers. Practice enjoyment in whatever task you’re doing. Research has found that faking a smile really can cheer you up, so next time you’re feeling down, you know what to do.

2. Tap acupressure points

If you’re yet to learn about acupressure, today’s the day to get educated. When you tap acupressure points on certain parts of your body, you can send signals to your brain to stimulate feelings of happiness and positivity.

Try tapping the webbing between your first finger and your thumb, which is said to reduce stress, anxiety and associated headaches. You can also tap the intersection between your big toe and second toe for an endorphin boost.

3. Snack on a healthy food

Hanger is a real issue – it’s not been put in the dictionary for nothing. If you’re feeling snappy for no reason, check in with your body and see if you’re hungry.

If you do grab a snack, make sure it’s healthy and fulfilling, like a handful of almonds, peanut butter on apple slices, or a homemade granola bar. These contain slow-release nutrients that will both satisfy your hunger and lift your mood. Just make sure to avoid chocolate – although it’ll give you an endorphin hit at first, your mood will only drop lower after that.

4. Practice aromatherapy

Simply the act of smelling a certain scent can evoke feelings of happiness and calm. Lavender and orange, for example, are known to be mood boosters and anxiety eliminators.

One study in Austria looked at the effects of aromatherapy in the dentist’s office – a place that’s highly associated with stress. Participants were asked to sit in waiting rooms with lavender or orange aromatherapy, music, or a room that featured none of these. It was the room with the orange and lavender scents that most effectively reduced anxiety and improved mood in the participants waiting for their procedures. Try out your own essential oils to determine which works best for you.

5. Go for a walk

It’s one of the simplest things you can do, and if you’re in a bad mood, it’s always a good idea to walk it off.

One study at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom looked at the benefits of taking a walk outside in nature in comparison with other mood-improving therapies, like antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programs. The study found that exercise was just as effective as these therapies, concluding that it can help people to shake off a bad mood in just a few minutes.

And one for good luck…

If all else fails, give yourself a pep talk! Nothing works better than positive self-talk when it comes to improving your mood when you’re down. Instead of giving into your voice of negativity, replace these whisperings with kinder statements to remind yourself what a badass human being you are. Some examples of positive mantras to repeat to yourself are:

‘I’ve got this – I’ve done it before, so I can do it again!’

‘I am an intelligent person. I believe I have the ability to power through.’

‘Today I’m going to be amazing! Setbacks? Where?’

‘I made a mistake, but that’s okay. I’ll learn from it, and it’ll make me a better person.’

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Source: Power of Positivity