From Funky to Fabulous

Bad moods suck. Not just for you, but for everyone around you, too. Getting in a funk is one sure way to put a damper on your day.

So how do you shake off a bad mood?

Easy! Just try out one of these simple ideas to go from funky to fabulous:

1. Get dressed. That’s right. If you’re grumping around in your bathrobe, get up, take a shower, and put on some nice clothes. Studies show that your mood has a lot to do with your self-image. By getting dressed and doing what it takes to make yourself look good on the outside, you feel better on the inside. When you feel better on the inside, your mood changes significantly and you’re ready to face the day.

2. Get moving. Exercise releases hormones that help alter your mood. It doesn’t really matter what you do, just get up and get moving. Getting up and doing something, whether it’s exercising or even walking over to the nearest coffee shop, can give you a big mood boost.

3. Meditate. Focusing your mind along with deep breathing exercises can break you out of any sour mood. Remember back in grade school when you were taught to take deep breaths and count to 10 when you got angry? It was actually for a very good reason. By focusing and breathing slowly, our bodies tend to respond in a positive way by relaxing and releasing tension.

4. Hang out with friends. What are friends for? They put things into perspective and provide a diversion from what’s bothering us.

5. Laugh. There’s no possible way that you can laugh and stay in a bad mood. It’s proven that your emotions follow your actions. So next time you’re in a bad mood, try watching a sitcom or tuning into a comedy channel.

6. Treat yourself. Do something just for you. Now, I don’t advocate retail therapy or fridge therapy. The key is to pamper yourself a little by doing something you don’t normally do. But make sure it’s a healthy treat, like a massage or spa treatment.

Don’t wait for a funky day to try some of these tips. Add several of these feel-good actions to every day, and you’ll soon discover lasting happiness. People may even start calling you perky!

SMART Goal Setting

It’s that time of year when many of us resolve to make sweeping changes in our lives. And in a month or so, it will be that time of year when many of us say, “I give up!” Why is it that we can’t stick to our goals? Are we just too lazy or lack motivation to make lasting changes in our lives? I don’t think so.

The problem may be that we aren’t setting the right kind of goals, ones that you can actually reach. We tend to dream big and want immediate results. Dreaming big is great, but as the saying goes, there is only one way to eat an elephant and that is one bite at a time.

Successful goals tend to have several aspects in common, charactersitics that make it easier for you to succeed. Often, you’ll see the acronym SMART to describe this way of setting goals. SMART can have many different meanings, but a common one is:

SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
RISKY
TIMELY

Get Specific

Intentions that are too general are difficult to achieve. If you say you want to be a better person, what does that mean? Does it mean you want to tell your spouse you love them more often, or you want to stop yelling at other motorists driving on the interstate? Make sure your intention targets one single aspect of change.

Measure It

Ensure that you can see the results of the changes you are making. If you intend to cut back on spending, then set up systems to track purchases and save money. If you don’t see the small, incremental steps that you are taking toward your goal, you won’t feel successful.

Reality Check

Remember the elephant? When we set goals that are way too big, they are difficult to achieve. We get overwhelmed and give up. So instead of eating the elephant in one big bite, resolve to eat just his foot, then his other foot, and so on. By breaking it down into smaller, more realistic, achievable steps, you’ll feel that sense of accomplishment much quicker, and it will fuel the next step.

Take a Risk

When a goal is too easy, we don’t put much effort into it, if any at all. Goals that make us stretch a little, that make us a bit uncomfortable, are more meaningful. If you’re uncomfortable speaking in front of large crowds, join Toastmasters. Always wanted to earn your Masters, but think you’ve missed the opportunity? Take a class. These are the goals that are life-changing. So step outside your comfort zone.

The Right Time

Ask yourself, is it the right time for this goal? Are you truly ready to make the change you are committing to? If the answer to that question is yes, then set a deadline for achieving the goal. This puts it at the top of your To Do List and makes it a priority.

Of course, there are lots of other ways to make your goals SMART. They can be Snack-sized, Meaningful, Actionable, Realistic, Top-priority, etc. Find a combination that fits you and your goal best and get started making SMART Goals!