It's Wednesday, and for small business owners, that's usually when we realize that the week is going great, and we wish it could last forever, or when the week is going not so great, and the weekend can't get her soon enough. This post is for you, if today, you find yourself in the “wishing for the weekend” category.
Since you can't change the days of the week, you have to do something else to get yourself from now to Friday. And if the week is going poorly, you should probably do something fast, otherwise, it could be a total bust. Here are some of the quick and effective things I do to quickly change my mood for the better.
First, if you must, go ahead a whine for a few minutes first. The value of this is discussed in this post. Now, get on with it.
- Smile at yourself. Stand in front of the mirror and smile at yourself. Say something nice and affirming to yourself. Speak as though you are another person actually talking to yourself. Do this for a few minutes, and you'll see subtle, but positive, changes in how you perceive of yourself and the situation you are in.
- Be silly. Dance with your kids, or make funny faces at them. If they're like mine (aged 7 and 9), they will become totally embarrassed and look at you like you have lost your kind. They may also beg you to stop because they are concerned that you might have a loose screw somewhere. The looks on their faces alone will change your mood for the better.
- Make fun of yourself. Remember the last time someone said this to you: “Girl, you are too crazy.” Recall where you were, who said that to you, and what nutty thing you did to prompt their reaction. When you remember that you should not take yourself too seriously, your problems won't go away, but you'll find that your positive mood change will help you handle the situation better.
- Ask for a good word. When my mom greets people, she often says, “What's the good word?” It's a great conversation starting technique. If you greet someone saying, “How are you?” they'll probably say, “Fine.” But if you ask, “What's the good word?” they may tell you a story. At a minimum, it will take your mind off your problems, and if they answer the question by giving you a “good word,” whatever they say will affect your mood for the better. (This “good word” technique is discussed in the October 2011 issue of Success Magazine's CD. Get it; a CD comes in every issue.)
- Stretch. Stretching always makes me feel better. Warm up for a few minutes, and then stretch. If you are not around other people, be sure to make loud noises as you stretch, to release extra tension. You'll feel better afterward.
- Read your positive Twitter list. My private “positivity” Twitter list contains the Twitter streams of people who have a positive impact on me. When I need a mood lift, I simply read the stream. If I have time, I click through to links to get more positive uplift. This list is private; only I can see it. It's very effective. If you don't know how to create a Twitter list, you can learn in my video screen cast Top 10 Ways For Small Business Owners To Use Twitter Lists.
- Smile on the phone. Before you answer the phone, fix a smile on your face and prepare to offer your most upbeat, “Hello!” You may not feel like it, but when the person calling you hears the positivity in your voice, she will often mirror it. When she does, use the opportunity to feed off of her positive flow, and use it it to improve yours.
I might also add, “Eat ice cream,” but I don't think I should add it to my list. You can add it to yours though …
Question: How do you change your mood for the better, in a pinch? What else would you add?
