3 Quick Mental Shifts to Boost Your Mood Instantly

Day 19 of the Fire Up Your February Challenge

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Remember that the point of February’s challenge is to find little ways to boost our mood and raise our spirits as Spring breaks cover with a few snowdrops.

I’ve been low with a horrible lurgy for the last week and with Alnwick Story Fest two weeks away - it’s not the best timing. So as I did a lot of dramatic sighing under a blanket like a Victorian poet with consumption, I was using all my skills to keep my mood up. Here are some of the ones that worked the best:

1. The ‘Opposite Action’ Trick – When you feel low, your instinct is often to withdraw. Doing the opposite can reset your emotional state. If you want to hide, step outside for 30 seconds. If you want to cancel plans, show up for just five minutes. If you feel drained, put on music that lifts you. You don’t have to feel ready—just start, and let the shift happen. Lots of 80s power ballads worked surprisingly well.

2. The Future-You Gratitude Hack – Thinking ahead interrupts negative loops and creates perspective. Write down, “In one week, I’ll be grateful I…” and finish the sentence. For example, “I’ll be grateful I went for a walk today.” This simple trick nudges your brain into action without pressure.

3. The 90-Second Rule for Difficult Emotions – Neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor found that emotions physically last only 90 seconds. After that, it’s your thoughts keeping them alive. When sadness or frustration hits, sit with it for 90 seconds. Imagine it passing through like a wave. More often than not, it will begin to fade on its own.

These small but powerful shifts can help you regain control when your mood takes a dip. Try one today and see what happens.