For some, Winter is the best season, filled with cold weather, snow, cloudy days, and fuzzy mittens. For others? Not so much. Winter can be stressful, frustrating, cold and gray; causing many to fall into a bad mood that can seem to span months.
Get rid of Your Bad Mood
Nobody likes to be in a bad mood; it’s not only difficult for the person who is in a bad mood but also for the people around them.
Unfortunately getting rid of a bad mood isn’t instantaneous nor does it last forever. But while there’s no magic pill that will rid you of your bad moods forever, there is a way to boost your mood that’s quick and easy.
Recently researchers from the University of Regina found out that spending five minutes outside is enough time to turn your frown upside down. The researchers held two separate tests groups.
Group one was where participants were asked to sit in a room alone, and group two was where participants were directed to sit outdoors. Neither of these groups had electronic devices to occupy their time. [1]
Negative emotions were lowered in both test groups after a few minutes but being outdoors inspired positive emotions in group two. [2]
Nothing Ground Breaking
Katherine D. Arbuthnott, one of the authors of the study, said: “I emphasize to all my students these days — when you need an emotional boost, the fastest and easiest way is to spend a few minutes with nature.” [3]
I think we’ve all heard that going outside or taking a break from a situation can help you de-stress and find a new perspective but how many of us do that?
Even five minutes of alone time, inside or outside, is shown to lower your negative emotions. So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or in a bad mood, take a five-minute walk or take a five-minute break.
Notes:
- ^Price, Emily. “Improve a Bad Mood By Going Outside For 5 Minutes.” Lifehacker, 26 Jan. 2019, lifehacker.com/improve-a-bad-mood-by-going-outside-for-5-minutes-1831927148. (go back ↩)
- ^Neill, Calum, et al. “Nature contact and mood benefits: contact duration and mood type.” Journal of Positive Psychology, 16 Dec. 2018, pp. 1-12, doi:10.1080/17439760.2018.1557242. (go back ↩)
- ^Dolan, Eric W. “Spending just 5 minutes in contact with nature boosts your mood, study finds.” PsyPost, 13 Jan. 2019, www.psypost.org/2019/01/spending-just-5-minutes-in-contact-with-nature-boosts-your-mood-study-finds-52948. (go back ↩)
