Good Lifestyle

When you're in a bad mood, it can be hard to pull yourself out of it. While a funk differs from serious depression in that it's generally more short-lived, no one likes to feel blue. Maybe you're overwhelmed by global events, or maybe it's something closer to home, like a falling-out with a friend or workplace drama—whatever the case, there are a lot of reasons you might be down in the dumps. So what's the best way to square your shoulders, boost your mood, and finish off that funk?

Sisters Shanna Cancino (serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of Zen Resources) and Cherish Wilson (a student of psychology and clinical counseling) have founded The Vibe Check Deck, a 52-card deck that incorporates psychologically-based ideas to help boost your mood throughout the day. Read on for five of their best ideas for pulling yourself out of a funk.

Lea esto a continuación:If This Happens When You Drink Alcohol, It Might Be Time to Stop.

You've probably heard that meditation can be bueno para tu salud, but did you know how much it can help with your emotional wellness?

"Meditation can help promote mental, physical, and emotional health benefits such as better self awareness, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved sleep," say Cancino and Wilson. "Even as little as five to ten minutes a day can help." Meditating can also help reduce your risk of dementia and improve your focus and concentration. In fact, research has shown that just 15 minutes of meditation can be equivalent toone whole vacation day—and you won't even have to book plane tickets or ask your boss for permission to take time off.

Para empezar,Los New York Times recommends taking it slow: "If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't begin with a 10-mile run," they explain. If you're a true beginner, using a meditation app can help you get started.

"Journaling is an effective technique to promote well-being," say Cancinco and Wilson. "Just putting a pen to paper and writing about whatever comes to your mind, good or bad, helps free your mind from any clutter or negative thought patterns."

Psychotherapist F. Diane Barth tells NBC News that "Not only does journaling offer a number of intellectual, organizational, and psychological benefits, but some studies have shown that it can also improve your physical health." (Studies have shown that by decreasing stress, writing can strengthen your immune system.) If you've never journaled before, use prompts to help you get started. And don't stress out about the quality of your results: "None of these advantages require that you be a good writer," adds Barth.

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When Cancinco and Wilson talk about connecting with the earth, they don't mean opening up a copy of National Geographic or watching the latest nature documentary:"The earth is like a big battery. Since everything is connected, plugging into the electrical energy of the earth to be one with nature helps us to feel grounded," they explain. "It's difficult to absorb the ground's restorative energy when we are so acclimated to industrialized cities and wear rubber/leather shoes or when we are surrounded by electronics and appliances—which is why it's important to integrate being barefoot into your daily practices."

So find some (clean) grass and soil, take your shoes off (or press your palms against the ground), and take time to soak in that energy, while being mindful of the many wonders that nature has to show us.

Research shows that merely saying "Thanks" out loud can boost your mood by 25 percent (as long as you really mean it!). But making a habit of practicing gratitude can have myriad benefits not just on your mood and outlook, but even physiologically (being grateful has been shown to to help you sleep better and keep your heart healthy, among other things).

"Cuando nosotrosexpresar gratitud, it can fire up multiple areas of the brain that are responsible for delivering mood- and happiness-boosting chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin," according to Positive Psychology. Not sure how to begin sincerely feeling grateful in your everyday life? Try a gratitude ¡diario! "Gratitude journals may allow individuals to better organize their thoughts and tasks, potentially leading to improved organization and clarity," psychiatrist Leela R. Magavi, MD, tells VeryWellMind.

Cancino y Wilson recomiendan nombrar cinco cosas por las que agradece cada día: "¿Qué podría ser mejor que apreciar activamente a las personas, las cosas y las experiencias en su vida? Cuando estamos agradecidos, estamos diciendo al universo que queremos más de eso".AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Hablando de dopamina ... "Pensar en alguien que amas desencadena automáticamente la dopamina, la oxitocina, las endorfinas, etc., que están conectadas a la positividad y la felicidad", dicen Cancino y Wilson. "Cuando sentimos ese tipo de productos químicos naturales, nos sentimos bien".

Así que deja que tu mente se aleje de los negativos de la vida para concentrarse en las personas que amas. Asegúrese de racionalizar sus pensamientos para que realmente esté pensando en una persona y su amor por ellos, en lugar de detalles potencialmente complicados. Por ejemplo, piense en su hermana pequeña, pero no necesariamente en el tiempo que derramó deliberadamente jugo de uva en su papel.

Reflexionar sobre el amor que sientes puede aumentar tu energía. "¿Por qué no enviar más de esa energía a la persona en la que estamos pensando?" Pregúntele a Cancino y Wilson. "¿No querríamos que sientan ese tipo de energía también?"

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