What To Do When You’re In A Bad Mood

What do you do when you’re in a bad mood? We all end up there sometimes. One minute you’re happy, the next you’re sad, then suddenly you’re angry. All the feelings show up at once, and it can be a lot to handle.

That was me today. I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to cry, laugh, throw something, or build a blanket fort and never come out. As I’m writing this, I still feel kind of “blah,” and that’s okay. We can’t be at 100 percent all the time. We’re human, with real feelings and real limits.

We get overwhelmed by our own stuff, and then we get overwhelmed again when everyone around us needs something from us too. We want to help the world. We want to be the dependable one. But here’s the problem: we can’t pour from an empty cup. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that it’s okay to step back and refill.

Giving Yourself Permission To Feel

So what do I do when I’m in one of these moods?

First, I take time for me. I give myself permission to actually feel what I’m feeling instead of shoving it down. I ask myself: why am I feeling like this today?

Then the list starts rolling in:This person needs this. That person needs that. The house needs to be cleaned. The dogs need to go out. The to‑do list never ends. It’s hard.

I’m lucky to have an amazing husband, mother, kiddo, and a circle of friends who feel like family. They’re my safe place to vent when everything feels like too much. Reaching out to them is one of the ways I take care of myself.

The Friend Who Brings You Back

Here’s what I did today.

I texted a few of my friends to complain about my day. Some just listened and let me vent, which I really needed. But there’s always that one friend who gently pulls you back to center.

“So, you had a crap day?” she asked.“Yes,” I answered.“Well, tell me what was good?”

Using my own words against me!

I had to stop and think.“Well… Friend A made me laugh. I got to spend time with my kiddo. I laughed at the dogs. I got the laundry done…”

She said, “So a few crappy things, but the good outweighs the bad, right?”“Yeah,” I admitted, “I guess so.”

That tiny shift—looking for what was good—didn’t magically fix everything, but it softened the edges.

Sitting In The Sun

After that, I went outside to sit in the sun because it’s finally nice out. I just sat there and took in the day.

I realized that today didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but tomorrow is a new day. I let myself feel frustrated, took a deep breath, and just existed in that moment: warm sun, dogs playing, no one needing anything from me for a few minutes.

As I sat there, I thought, “Today you’re like Massachusetts weather—sunny, cloudy, rainy, and snowy all in an hour.” It made me laugh, because it was true. My mood had been all over the place, and that was okay.

Feel Your Feelings, Then Do One Kind Thing For You

Here’s what I want you to hear: If you’re feeling like crap, just feel like crap. Don’t rush yourself out of it. Let yourself feel all the feels. Cry if you need to. Be mad. Be tired. Be done.

Then, when you’re ready, do one small thing that makes you happy.

For me today, it was sitting in the sun, watching my dogs play, and just being in that moment. Tomorrow is a new day. You get to wipe the dust off, step back out into the world, and try again.