Inspirational Blogs That Will Change Your Life

17 Factors That Make Up a Mood

I'm in the midst of working on a very exciting project (can't wait to tell you about it soon!), and I've been listening to makeup videos while I work. I rarely even wear makeup, but there's something about these videos that just works so well as background noise! All that makeup talk in the background has had me dying to draw makeup things so I was thrilled when I thought of the mood makeup idea the other day.

Once I started thinking about it, I realized just how many things factor into a person's mood! It's incredible! Obviously, some of these impact some people more than others. (For example, I get super cranky if I'm hungry, but not everyone is bothered as much by an empty stomach.) I planned on just drawing the makeup and identifying the various mood influencers, but as I was working on it, I decided I wanted to explore (and explain) each one in a bit more detail. So, here we go...

1. SELF-AWARENESS

The more you know about yourself, the easier it becomes to identify (and predict) your moods. When I was young, I was quite moody and it always felt like these moods came out of nowhere. Now that I'm older (and more self-aware), I'm able to better assess why I'm feeling a certain way. Of course, I still experience a full range of moods, but knowing why they happen helps a great deal in terms of lessening or heightening (or potentially avoiding them -- for example, knowing I get cranky if I don't eat, I make sure to have snacks handy!).

What we've experienced in life can have a tremendous impact on our moods. For example, if you once had a horrific experience at a county fair, going to an amusement park, fair, or circus might impact your mood for the worse. This is an extreme example, but our experiences shape our points of view in subtle ways too. Certain smells, sights, or sounds might trigger a recollection and you might not even realize that your mood has shifted because a certain smell wafted past!

The weather affects some people more than others, but a great many people I know have moods that are influenced by what's going on outside the window. Some people thrive on a hot, sunny day while others can't wait for the rain to arrive. Cloudy days (particularly if they come in week-long stretches) can bring down a mood in many people. Not to mention, some people can physically experience weather in their joints, sinuses, or other areas. Pay attention to how you feel during certain weather cycles. You can't control the weather, but you can use it to anticipate how you'll be impacted.

Some people (like me!) are just more prone to moods. I know some people who are typically pretty even-keeled, no big highs, no big lows. I, on the other hand, can experience a huge range of emotions (and sometimes all at once!). When considering what influences moods, it's important to factor in temperament because most people have a general range of emotions. It's not better or worse to be more "moody," but it's something worth understanding (and accepting) about yourself and those around you.

The more grateful you are, the easier it is to be in a better mood. (I'm pretty sure some studies have shown this to be true, but I know from personal experience that it's the truth, at least for me!) Keeping a gratitude journal can sound kind of cheesy, but ever since I started doing so years ago, I've found it to be so helpful for my mood. Whenever I feel really down, I think of what I'm fortunate to have in my life, and I immediately feel (at least a little bit!) better.

Hunger levels and mood seem related for a lot of people. Not everyone notices a drastic change in mood when they're hungry, but I think it's human nature to be a least a bit grumpy when we have empty stomachs. (After all, eating is part of how we survive!) As someone whose moods are definitely impacted by my hunger level, I do what I can to prevent extreme hunger (lots of little meals) so that I can at least positively impact that aspect of my mood.

The environment you're in plays a huge role in your mood. If you're somewhere you feel comfortable, relaxed, and at peace, it's going to be easier to be in a good mood. If you're in a place where you feel overwhelmed, hyper-stimulated, or uncomfortable, keeping an upbeat attitude is going to be trickier (though it's certainly possible!). We obviously can't avoid every environment that feels less-than-perfect, but it's worth noting where you are and what your mood is so you can at least be aware of what environments are more mood-boosting.

Closely tied with the environment factor is the memory you might have a certain place, person, or experience. Positive memories of a place will likely boost your mood when you're there, while negative memories might make it a bit tougher to feel happy in that place. Memories can change over time (fade, be replaced) and so they can be very complex and layered. They can't always be changed, but sometimes creating a new, happy memory in a previously mood-lowering spot can transform the way you experience it.

Everyone handles stress differently, but, for most of us, the more stressed we are, the harder it becomes to be in a good, relaxed mood. Stress is, unfortunately, a part of life, but if we find stress greatly impacting our moods we can work to lower stress levels or, in cases when that's not possible, we can find ways to combat the stress. I, personally, find yoga, drawing, and being around dogs to be some of the best tools in my stress-busting arsenal, but it might take some trial-and-error to figure out what works best for you!

Your state of mind can significantly influence your mood. If you wake up with a good attitude, sure that everything is going work out just fine, it's easier to cope when conflict and struggles arise. However, on the flip side, if you're certain everything is terrible, you're going to have a tough time making the most of even the best moments. A positive mindset takes time and practice, but learning to be optimistic makes a huge different when it comes to any emotional state.

I could probably tell you, without a calendar, what day of the month it is based on my mood alone! Not everyone's mood is heavily influenced by their hormones, but, if you pay attention to how you feel at different times in the month, you might realize that your hormone levels do impact your mood. (While it hasn't been proven that men have monthly hormone cycles, they do apparently have daily cycles so, if you're a guy, pay attention to your moods during different times of the day.)

Some people aren't greatly influenced by those around them, but most people are impacted in some way. Some people thrive around a lot of other people; others prefer not to have too many humans around. Some people are incredibly tuned into the moods of others (typically known as empaths) and are typically swayed a great deal by the way others are feeling. Other people are oblivious to the moods of others. Regardless of how you feel around other people, it's likely they influence your mood in some way (for better or worse!)

Exercise is a mood-booster so the more you do of it, the easier it is to be in a good mood (unless you have an unhealthy relationship with exercise and overdo it). For the average person, even just a short walk or a few jumping jacks can lift a mood a little bit. If you're not a habitual exerciser (me: looks in mirror with raised eyebrow), it's worth incorporating into your routine for some mood-boosting benefits. It doesn't have to be a lot, but it can make a big difference (so I've heard...).

At any given time, we can only see from one point of view (both literally and figuratively), so this obviously impacts our mood. If you can't see the whole picture (and it's pretty hard to, since we can't look everywhere at once and we have no idea what the future will hold so even if something seems terrible now, we don't know if it'll ultimately be great), you might be missing out on something that could influence your mood. Thinking about this can be frustrating, but accepting it can make it easier to cope with your current perspective.

This is a big influencer because it includes both physical and mental health (which are very connected!). If you're going through health troubles or struggling mentally, your mood is likely to be impacted significantly. While we can't control every aspect of our health, there are things we can do to take care of ourselves so that our bodies (and minds!) are in the best possible shape. What we eat, do, think, and don't do influences our health (and mood!) so it's worth at least trying to be healthy.

The media you consume (social media, TV, Internet, books, podcasts, etc.) can impact your mood more than you might realize. Not all media consumption is bad, so it's worth paying attention to how you feel when you're consuming different kinds of media (or when you're on different social media platforms). You have a lot of control over what you consume (you don't "have" to watch anything, unless it's part of your job to do so) and knowing how your consumption influences your mood is important!

And, finally, sleep! Sleep, for most of us, significantly changes how we feel. A good night's sleep can completely transform a mood. Little to no sleep makes for very cranky, delirious, and (when driving, etc.) dangerous moods. Personally, I think the optimal amount of sleep varies a great deal from person to person (and by age group), so it's a good idea to tune into how you feel after certain amounts of sleep to know what will likely cultivate the best mood for you.