🌼 In a Funk? 5-Minute Mood Boosters for Off Days
Welcome to this Start Fresh mini from the Om WOW Podcast! Let’s reset our mindset and start the week with clarity and intention.
Listen to the short episode:
Episode #44: Transcript
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing in particular happened, nothing threw you off, nobody said the wrong thing… and yet you feel like you’re surrounded by a fog of stagnant, heavy energy?
I recently attended a virtual event that I normally love. I look forward to it every month. But as soon as I logged in, I could tell something was… off.
I glanced at my little Zoom square, and okay—this is going to sound strange—but I didn’t even LOOK like myself. Not in a dramatic way, just… energetically. I looked kind of tired and angry, or grumpy.
I also didn't FEEL like myself.
It was really odd. I felt like my body was in a weird kind of grumpy mood for no reason that I could think of. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t anger. It was more like my whole body was humming at the wrong frequency and I couldn’t quite tune the station back in.
And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get my mind to focus on what we were talking about. My brain felt so heavy and detached, I may as well have not been there in the meeting at all.
When the meeting ended, I had ten minutes before the next one. I almost skipped it because I was still feeling so energetically not myself.
But instead, I did something quick and woo-woo to see if it would help. I stood up, shook out my arms, and did a few zip-ups to reset my energy field. (If you’re not familiar with zip-ups, I’ll put a link in the show notes.) Then I grabbed my big selenite stone and just brushed it around my body, smoothing my aura.
Then I did something that always makes me feel grounded. I opened my Himalayan salt bucket and buried my feet in it. Yes, I have a giant container of super fine salt specifically for my feet. It’s silky soft like beach sand. I keep it inside the footrest at my desk, so it's always nearby. I took a few deep breaths, wiggled my toes in the salt, and tried to get back to feeling like ME.
Still not perfect, but better.
So I went to the second meeting. I had my feet in the sand, wiggling my toes in it the whole time. It was a speed networking event, and thankfully I was speaking and interacting with my peers the way I normally would.
After that meeting, I just shut my laptop. There was more to do on my task list, but I felt like I needed a break. I knew my energy wasn’t right. So I snuck downstairs and invited my son's dog Luna to come upstairs and play with me for a bit. She is pure joy! Animals have this magical ability to recalibrate us, raise our spirits, calm our nervous system, and just share their unconditional love.
I miss my own dogs who have passed away, so borrowing time with Luna truly feels like medicine. If you don’t have a pet,I highly encourage you to "borrow" time with someone else's pet any chance you get. Dog or cat sitting is a blessing disguised as a favor.
I'm not shiny and happy every day, but THIS DAY was truly wacky. I felt so incredibly NOT myself.
Something was just off.
Whenever this happens to me, I find I need to consciously REMIND myself of the self-help tools that can provide some relief. It’s ironic that I’ve studied self-help strategies for so long, and know so many… but sometimes in the moment I FORGET to do them. And I’ve found this can be a common thing with others who work in the wellness and healing realm.
So I want to share some tips for what to do if YOU find yourself in this kind of "mystery funk" that doesn't seem to have a clear cause. You can try some of these whenever you feel… not your ideal self. When things feel strangely off. Like you're temporarily unplugged from your own spirit.
These are simple things, gentle things, woo-woo things, grounding things—whatever you want to call them. They're all in my personal toolbox. Let’s walk through them.
Take deep breaths
#1 on any self-help list will always be to take 3 or more deep breaths. This has incredible benefits to your mind and body, and if you remember nothing else– remember to consciously BREATHE. Start with 3 deep breaths and then move through any of your favorite wellness strategies.
Look out the window at nature
Just 30 seconds of “nature watching” can shift your entire vibration. Tap into the mindfulness skill of focusing on your senses. What colors do you see? What different textures and patterns do you notice? What’s moving?
Do the cross-crawl
I totally forgot to do this when I had my weird funky day, and it would have helped. Crossing arms and legs in alternating movements reconnects brain hemispheres. Check out this short demo video if you’re not familiar with it.
Do a few jumping jacks
This gets your blood and energy moving. And there are known benefits to clapping your hands together, raising your hands above your head, and even jumping itself! If you’re able to safely do it, try landing on the front pads of your feet and leaving your heels slightly off the floor. Bouncing or jumping with just the front part of the foot has additional benefits related to the fascia that your body will love.
Do a round or 2 of EFT tapping
Tap through what you’re feeling, even if you don’t know the reason. Sometimes clarity pops up mid-tap. And if nothing else, tapping normally makes you feel calmer, and less stressed out. (A great resource for this is my EFT Tapping Quickstart Guide)
Hold your favorite crystal or stone and fidget with it
Again, tap into the mindfulness skill of focusing on your senses. Notice the texture, the color, the shape, the weight. I often fidget with a rock during online meetings. As a bonus, it can also help you stay focused.
Listen to uplifting music
I have several playlists handy for songs that get me up and moving, and songs that make me feel supported and encouraged. There really is power in vibration, and we’re still learning about the mysteries of it. Music can lift your mood as well as help get energy moving in your body, often when nothing else will. If you really want to amp the benefit, stand up and dance to it, too. Getting your whole body involved is key. If it’s a slower song, simply sway and take in the words.
Fake laugh for 3 minutes
Set a timer.You can think of something silly if you want to have a somewhat real laugh, or just fake it with “Ho ho ho” like Santa or “ha ha ha” like a cartoon villain. It works. My friend Cathy teaches laughter yoga, and it is surprisingly effective and is scientifically proven to have multiple positive benefits for your body. (Mini Episode #34 walks you through this strategy)
Hum through an entire song
Yes, this can feel odd, but who cares if it works? Try humming “Happy Birthday,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” or anything that pops into your head. Humming is incredibly healing, and also works with the mysteries of vibration.
Give yourself a blast of cold
Wash your face with cool water - the coldness hits you like an instant reset button. If you’re at home, try holding an ice pack to the sides of your neck for 10 seconds. This is a fantastic vagus nerve stimulation.
Meditate simply
This doesn’t need to be anything formal or complicated. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed and focus on your breath. Even 3 minutes can re-center you.
Give yourself grace
The next time YOU realize you’re not feeling like yourself, please give yourself grace. Sometimes our energy just needs a reset. Sometimes our spirit needs a pause. Sometimes the body is processing something we don’t consciously know yet.
And it’s all okay.
I don’t expect you to remember these tools after hearing them just once, and I made a Mood Emergency Card you can slip in your wallet to have a reminder of the 5-minute tools handy for when you might need it. You can get it free at omwowpodcast.com/moodcard
Your Challenge This Week
This week I challenge you to try three of these tools on any random day– no matter what kind of mood you’re in. That way you’ll be familiar with them, and hopefully your brain will prompt you to use them if you find yourself in a mystery mood you don’t care for.
Notice what shifts for you. Be curious. Be gentle. Be kind to yourself always.
Have a fabulous week my friends!
RESOURCES:
The laughter strategy - Episode 34
If this mini gave you a mindset boost, pass it on! Comment below & let me know— your energy makes a difference.
Meet Our Host: Jennifer Robin O’Keefe
Jennifer Robin serves as a relatable, down-to-earth, REAL Wellness & Success Coach. She’s not a fancy, perfect makeup, airbrushed kind of woman. She’s been told many times, in a variety of environments, that she’s easy to talk to, and makes others feel welcome and comfortable. Her mission in life is both simple and profound: to make others feel worthy.
Professionally, Jennifer holds several wellness certifications including Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping, Thought Field Therapy (TFT) Tapping, Reiki, and more. She continuously expands her knowledge in the fields of Qi Gong, Xien Gong, Vibration/Energy Wellness and Natural Health. She also studied extensively with Jack Canfield, and serves as a Certified Canfield Trainer, authorized to teach "The Success Principles."
She’s an active reader and researcher who loves to learn, and one of her biggest joys is teaching and sharing what she’s discovered with others.