Feeling Low? Time to Get Happy

June 18, 2018 1:42 PM

Do you feel low? Worn down? Discouraged? Maybe you need a break. Maybe you need a lot of breaks. Here are 25 ways to feel happier in the next 5 minutes because we all could use a little happiness. No good? Perhaps 14 ways to get through tough times is a better fit.

Do you feel stressed out? Consider 40 ways to relax in 5 minutes or less. Stress makes everything harder, including eating well. If cooking feel likes a chore, try one of these 31 healthy meals you can make in 10 minutes or less. Too busy for that? Perhaps 7 recipes you can make in 5 minutes will do the trick. Or 13 speedy breakfasts or 11 speedy lunches.

What's that you say? You are alone and need a hug? This series of posts suggests some solutions (spoiler alert: cats are good). Oh wait, you may not be alone but you feel lonely? Lots of us feel lonely. That's no fun. Here is one writer's solution, and here are 25 things to do when you feel lonely to help you feel better. Take care!

posted by Bella Donna (13 comments total)

Re the first bullet point in the first link: I have spent the last three hours putting together a pride workout playlist, and at this point my face hurts from smiling so much. I recommend googling various permutations of "best pride songs" etc. and have a dance party. Less grar, more gay.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 2:00 PM on June 18, 2018 [15 favorites]

Similar to your pride playlist, nu-disco is the best workout music IMO (I learned it from some famous bodybuilder but I forget exactly who.) Gotta get pumped when listening to some happy tracks! Less angry shouts, more rhythmic pelvic thrusts!
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:19 PM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

And here's video of a great talk by Austin Kleon (author of Steal Like an Artist) on "How to Keep Going," subtitled "10 ways to stay creative in chaotic times"...
posted by PhineasGage at 3:28 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I recommend googling various permutations of "best pride songs" etc. and have a dance party.

I would be up for sharing happy playlists on Spotify or what-not, if anyone else is up for that?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:17 PM on June 18, 2018 [4 favorites]

How to stay sane if Trump is driving you insane: advice from a therapist (I am still struggling to practice the recommendations in this article.)
posted by snowmentality at 4:17 PM on June 18, 2018 [11 favorites]

I looked at this post and reflexively said "oh, this is a very good thing". So thank you.
posted by dinty_moore at 4:47 PM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

I really needed this post today. thank you!
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 5:50 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

What a great compilation! Thanks for putting this together.
posted by Neely O'Hara at 7:20 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thank you for this!
posted by ellieBOA at 11:46 PM on June 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

What a joy you are. Thank you. I’m actually too sad to do any of this tonight, but tomorrow, I promise.
posted by greermahoney at 12:28 AM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is great, thank you.
posted by Aravis76 at 3:59 AM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

Cooking rice noodles in a boxed soup is a totally genius fast meal, that I would never have thought of myself, so thank you! (I get hung up on not wanting to buy miso or all the stuff for pho.)
posted by Squeak Attack at 12:39 PM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

I wanted to come back and thank you for this post. Today I ended up repurposing leftover chicken for the Greek yogurt chicken salad sandwich recipe from the speedy lunches link, and it did indeed make me happy. And now I want to try that soup Squeak Attack pointed out, too.
posted by mixedmetaphors at 3:35 PM on June 20, 2018 [1 favorite]