{"id":276871,"date":"2025-11-07T08:14:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T08:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/276871\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T08:14:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T08:14:16","slug":"how-to-brighten-a-blah-day-according-to-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/276871\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Brighten a \u201cBlah\u201d Day, According to Psychology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between good and bad days, many of us find ourselves navigating the \u201cblah\u201d\u2014those periods when we feel listless, low-energy, and generally dissatisfied. It can make a world of difference to develop a set of psychology-based strategies that will support you in improving your mood<\/a> on days like this, especially in the moments when you might even struggle to articulate exactly what has got you down. Read on for tips from behavioral science experts that should help you get through your \u201cblah\u201d days\u2014and maybe even find enjoyment in them.<\/p>\n

James Jackson<\/a>, PsyD, research professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University<\/p>\n

Kait Rosiere<\/a>, PsyD, CEDS, clinical psychologist and founder of Bloom Psychological Services<\/p>\n

01 of 06<\/p>\n

Get Out in Nature<\/p>\n

One simple, accessible way to spruce up your mood? Get outside. You don\u2019t need to hike a mountain or set up camp overnight: research tells us that spending less than an hour of your day outdoors can play a significant role in keeping stress in check. \u201cEven 20 or 30 minutes in nature<\/a> lowers cortisol<\/a> and can help foster in people a sense of awe\u2014a mental state that leads to gratitude and decreases stress,\u201d says James Jackson, research professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University.<\/p>\n

02 of 06<\/p>\n

Keep a Gratitude Journal<\/p>\n

For many of us, journaling might feel like a chore\u2014but you don\u2019t need to churn out pages upon pages of self-reflections in order to reap its benefits. Oftentimes, we get clouded in mental funks because we are battling deep feelings of negativity. Psychologists have found that gratitude journaling, the practice of regularly writing down things you\u2019re thankful for, can boost your mental health<\/a> and mitigate symptoms of depression and anxiety. \u201cTake five or 10 minutes and jot down two or three things you’re grateful for,\u201d Jackson suggests. \u201cThen, take a moment or two and reflect and meditate on these.\u201d<\/p>\n

03 of 06<\/p>\n

Embrace Your Creativity<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we are in a negative space, the parts of our brain that allow for imagination, play, and spontaneity may need a jumpstart,\u201d says Kait Rosiere, clinical psychologist and founder of Bloom Psychological Services. It\u2019s OK if you don\u2019t fancy yourself an artist\u2014just the act of partaking in a creative hobby<\/a> can help draw you out of an uninspired mindset. Plus, it gives you something fun to do! This can be as simple as doodling a picture, cooking a new recipe, or dancing around your living room.<\/p>\n

04 of 06<\/p>\n

Exercise<\/p>\n

Speaking of dancing, movement is key to nurturing the neurochemicals that keep our moods in check. \u201cExercise increases production of serotonin and dopamine<\/a>, mood-regulating chemicals that help people feel grounded and calm,\u201d Jackson says. No need to run a marathon or break a sweat at the gym\u2014try gentle stretches, a walk around the park, or even a fun group exercise class. \u201cWhile exercise is almost always good for a bad mood, it is especially helpful when it is done with someone else or with a group of people,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

05 of 06<\/p>\n

Find the “Glimmers” in Your Day<\/p>\n

Practicing mindfulness<\/a>\u2014the practice of intentionally grounding yourself in your current space, observing your surroundings with intention and sans judgment\u2014is a wellness tool that psychologists tout often, and for good reason. To uphold the pillars of mindfulness when you\u2019re aiming to improve your attitude, Rosiere recommends seeking out what she calls \u201cglimmers\u201d in the present moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlimmers are the opposite of triggers\u2014they’re small, otherwise ordinary moments that can feel magical if you just give them a chance,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen the light shining through the window bends just right and scatters a rainbow across the floor. Savoring that first bite of a delicious sandwich. Wearing your favorite color.\u201d These might sound like trivial actions, but focusing on integrating them into your day can set you on a path toward more positive thinking\u2014similar to gratitude journaling.<\/p>\n

06 of 06<\/p>\n

Connect With Others<\/p>\n

Sometimes, we get bogged down in our own heads because we aren\u2019t interacting enough with our loved ones. \u201cStudies show that connecting with others\u2014especially if your interaction is meaningful\u2014reliably boosts your mood,\u201d Jackson says. Call a friend to catch up, strike up a conversation with your neighbor, or make plans to meet up with a colleague after work.<\/p>\n

In the same vein, psychologists find that making an effort to treat others with kindness can actually help us feel better ourselves. \u201cHelp others feel how you want to feel,\u201d Rosiere says. Your act of compassion can be as small as complimenting a stranger\u2019s shoes, or thanking a cashier with their name as you check out at the supermarket. \u201cThese small, intentional choices can make dramatic shifts in your mood and energy<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Real Simple<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Between good and bad days, many of us find ourselves navigating the \u201cblah\u201d\u2014those periods when we feel listless,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":276872,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[147147,147148,147149,147145,147146,147150,79,10034],"class_list":{"0":"post-276871","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-science","8":"tag-bloom-psychological-services","9":"tag-clinical-psychologist","10":"tag-gratitude-journal","11":"tag-james-jackson","12":"tag-kait-rosiere","13":"tag-research-professor","14":"tag-science","15":"tag-vanderbilt-university"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=276871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=276871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}