Do you feel tired and unable to push toward your goals? Do you feel like a robot that needs new batteries?

All of us can reach the point of forcing ourselves to function. But if we look at what’s behind this, we may see that a bad mood or depression is contributing to the tiredness. What we say to ourselves is a powerful driving force. So, we have to be careful about our internal dialogue.

In order to crawl out of a bad mood, it pays to focus on what will help. We can create a better mood by how we manage our emotions.

These tips can help:

• Work on problems at a regular, fixed time. For instance, if you’re unemployed and working on a job search, keep this limited to 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Refuse to work on it until bedtime, for example.

• Realize that consistency will correct problems. For instance, exercising three days a week for three years beats hit-and-miss workouts. Figure out what will work for you over time.

• Listen to your favorite music. Good music will lift your mood faster than anything. Keep your favorite songs readily available, even if you can only listen 10 minutes at a time.

• Put a limit on feeling sad. Even if your favorite pet died this week, make it a point to limit your grieving. Dwelling on sadness and sorrow doesn’t celebrate the life of people or pets who’ve died. Instead, think about the good times you’ve spent with them.

Raising your energy or improving your mood really boils down to focus. Ask yourself, “What am I focusing on? Am I practicing positive self-talk, or am I worried most of the time?”

Worry is a signal you need to do some problem-solving. For example, focus on one or two steps you can take to chisel away at a major problem. Could you ask someone for help? Could you decide to do something differently?

It’s easier to stay in a better frame of mind, if you can envision pushing the right buttons. Taking action to push those buttons will actually restore some of your energy.

— Tribune News Service

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