Quick mood boosters
December 20, 2023 7:59 AM Subscribe
Winter can be a drag even in the absence of military conflict across the globe. Need a quick way to boost your mood? Below are some ideas. Are they new? Absolutely not. Are they rocket science? See answer above. Have you probably forgotten a few? No doubt. Let the cheery links begin (as usual, your mileage may vary; these tips may help some individuals at some times but maybe not!). From Real Simple: 8 Science-Backed Ways to Improve Your Mood at Work. From Yahoo Life!: Birdsong. Psychology Today: Music. Washington Post: Breathing (archive).
lol youtube gave me a Knightscope Bonds ad.
this is super cute! yay kitties.
thanks for this post, BD. not everyone is excited about this time of year, for some its brutally difficult. I hope you all feel able to spend the time in a way that is good for you, whether that is alone, with family, eating Chinese food, whatever.
posted by supermedusa at 8:43 AM on December 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
this is super cute! yay kitties.
thanks for this post, BD. not everyone is excited about this time of year, for some its brutally difficult. I hope you all feel able to spend the time in a way that is good for you, whether that is alone, with family, eating Chinese food, whatever.
posted by supermedusa at 8:43 AM on December 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
The birdsong info is totally new to me and I adore it. I’m going to be seeking out some birdsong now.
The Aesthetics of Joy blog was very helpful for me when I was having a difficult week earlier this month. Here is ‘11 ways to Start the Day on a Joyful Note’ from that blog.
posted by bitbotbit at 8:44 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Aesthetics of Joy blog was very helpful for me when I was having a difficult week earlier this month. Here is ‘11 ways to Start the Day on a Joyful Note’ from that blog.
posted by bitbotbit at 8:44 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I started laughing at “find meaning in your work” but it was followed by “start looking for a new job” so, hats off.
posted by rodlymight at 9:14 AM on December 20, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 9:14 AM on December 20, 2023 [5 favorites]
Lucid Rhythms' music-ish doodles might count as a slow mood booster?
posted by a faded photo of their beloved at 9:23 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by a faded photo of their beloved at 9:23 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I love in Buffalo, so I'm no stranger to long bleak days and nights...But somehow I just can imagine all the bubbling activity going on underneath the snow and ice...I do get out to look at the bare branches trees...and the bushes , some of which have beautiful red berries on them... January can be rough. February is a tiny bit better,,,then March blows in, literally ..
posted by Czjewel at 9:46 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 9:46 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
find meaning in your work
Yeah, my work means I can buy groceries.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:54 AM on December 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
Yeah, my work means I can buy groceries.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:54 AM on December 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
FWIW, reading the witticisms from MeFites on the FPP below boosted my mood today.
posted by pantarei70 at 9:57 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by pantarei70 at 9:57 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
I pretty much have one earbud in all day. I switch between music and spoken word things (audiobooks, podcasts, and people reading trainwreck Reddit posts on YT). It really does help.
Then again, so did changing jobs last year. Shorter commute, better pay, good boss. (Ok, so my last boss was pretty cool too, but there were changes going on out of his control.)
Oh yeah, and dancing in the bathroom helps too. :)
posted by luckynerd at 10:59 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Then again, so did changing jobs last year. Shorter commute, better pay, good boss. (Ok, so my last boss was pretty cool too, but there were changes going on out of his control.)
Oh yeah, and dancing in the bathroom helps too. :)
posted by luckynerd at 10:59 AM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
This guy is my go-to source for birdsong video.
posted by JanetLand at 12:27 PM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by JanetLand at 12:27 PM on December 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
what absence of military conflict?! there seems to me to be more than enough…😳
posted by mollymillions at 7:33 PM on December 20, 2023
posted by mollymillions at 7:33 PM on December 20, 2023
> Winter can be a drag even in the absence of military conflict across the globe.
What is the fractally cursed sentence?
posted by davel at 7:56 PM on December 20, 2023
What is the fractally cursed sentence?
posted by davel at 7:56 PM on December 20, 2023
i mean this isn't a particularly insightful observation but the "find meaning in your work" suggestion is a classic instance of the "treat social problems as if they were individual problems and then put responsibility on the individuals stuck with them" move.
but yeah, i could go on a graeber-quoting spree right now, but for the sake of my time and yours — you've read as many graeber quotes as i have — i'll just vaguely gesture toward graeber and note that i agree with him on the meaninglessness of most work aside from the worst-compensated jobs and you agree with him too.
desperately looking for meaning and goodness in a place no meaning nor goodness resides is something people do when trapped in an abusive relationship. if you do it hard enough you might actually fool yourself into thinking there really is meaning and goodness there, but fooling yourself will never make you happy or the relationship good.
i typed out a lot of words on my (pretty effective, i think) strategies for coping with the meaninglessness of work but it's a little bit of a derail for this thread, so i moved that content to my own blog.
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 6:49 AM on December 21, 2023
but yeah, i could go on a graeber-quoting spree right now, but for the sake of my time and yours — you've read as many graeber quotes as i have — i'll just vaguely gesture toward graeber and note that i agree with him on the meaninglessness of most work aside from the worst-compensated jobs and you agree with him too.
desperately looking for meaning and goodness in a place no meaning nor goodness resides is something people do when trapped in an abusive relationship. if you do it hard enough you might actually fool yourself into thinking there really is meaning and goodness there, but fooling yourself will never make you happy or the relationship good.
i typed out a lot of words on my (pretty effective, i think) strategies for coping with the meaninglessness of work but it's a little bit of a derail for this thread, so i moved that content to my own blog.
posted by bombastic lowercase pronouncements at 6:49 AM on December 21, 2023
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MitchiriNeko March Deluxe! - Cute cat characters in a marching band!
posted by Wilbefort at 8:30 AM on December 20, 2023 [2 favorites]