6 Five-Minute Activities to Improve Your Mood
This article was originally published in the July/August 2023 issue of Med-Surg Nurse Life Magazine.
When things don’t go the way you planned, it’s easy to let your mood slip. We’ve all experienced a moment when a mistake or ill-timed comment has turned our thoughts and feelings upside down. However, whether you are in the workplace or at home, a bad mood impacts others and can turn an entire shift or day into a negative experience for everyone. Getting a grip on your emotions is essential, especially if you work in a people-facing profession. Here’s how you can take five minutes to improve your mood, turn a negative into a positive, and improve your emotional health.
1. Do Something Positive for Another Person
When things are not going well, making the effort to do something positive for someone else can really boost your mood. So, take the time to thank the maintenance staff for fixing that faulty monitor or give some positive feedback to the student nurse who is trying to learn about the procedures in your department. Buy a coffee for a colleague when you take a break from the clinical environment. Or sit with that frightened patient, listen to them, and calm them using your nursing expertise. All these help turn negative energy into a positive.
2. Experience Something New
Although we’re talking about small activities to boost your mood, there are ways to introduce something new into your daily routine. Doing something different is a wonderful way to boost your mood. Think about attending a short talk on a new procedure. If you usually have a latte, try a macchiato. Or spend five minutes learning how to greet someone in a different language. All these small activities get you out of your usual routine and help you think differently — and positively.
3. Find Time for Five Minutes of Yoga
Yoga exercises are a healthy way of relaxing and re-energizing your body. You can fit a couple of simple stretches and poses into five minutes, and they’ll help you refocus with positivity. Start by using a downward dog movement so your feet and hands are on the floor with your hips pushed into the air. Now, move forward into a plank position where your shoulders are over your hands. Next, glide into upward-facing dog by rolling your shoulders back with your chest and hips off the floor. Finally, move back into downward-facing dog position once more.
4. Do a Five-Minute Declutter
All of us have at least one area that is untidy. Maybe it’s the magazine pile in the waiting area or an untidy shelf in the storeroom. However, a five-minute decluttering and tidying of a small space is joyful to experience and see. Out goes the trash along with your negative energy, and the cleaner space will leave you feeling significantly better in mood. It’s also uplifting for colleagues when the place is clutter-free and equipment is easy to find. Try it in your home to see the difference it makes.
5. Notice the Small Things
A little mindfulness in five minutes works wonders for your mood. Step outside and find a quiet space where you can sit for a while. A park or communal garden area is ideal. Put your phone away and focus on what is around you. Notice the petals on flowers and the detail in the coloring. Watch how a butterfly or bee flutters through the air, settling on a plant. Simply focus on the space you are in and nothing else. As you relax and take in the small things, your mood will dissipate, and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to return to work.
6. Celebrate the Good Times
If you are feeling down, one of the best ways to lift your mood is to remember the positive times in your life. Spend five minutes looking at photos of your loved ones or scenes from a favorite vacation destination. Maybe it was the day your daughter was born or a special moment on a weekend away. By focusing on the good times we experience, you’ll find a smile returning to your face and your mood will improve.
It takes no time at all to get into a bad mood at work, but it is also easy to pause and refocus. Knowing you can boost your emotional health with a few five-minute activities will have you energized and ready to face your nursing day.