Mopey Mondays: Getting Out of the Slump

So I've got a class schedule I'm not exactly thrilled about to say the least, a bunch of great friends that are seriously far away (or will be soon!) and one super stressful decision to make about what to do when I graduate. In other news recession, global warming, scary tea partiers, blah blah blah. Gross! Can I really help the fact that my Monday is especially mopey? Yes. Yes I can.

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How? Well I'm working on it, but here's a couple ideas...

Get ahead. If it's the work load that's stressing you out, try to eliminate the problem by getting ahead - not just on top - of the deadlines. This will mostly suck while actually in the process, but it beats whining about what you still have to do while watching endless Top Chef reruns.

Keep in touch. Reach out to the people you miss or haven't talked to in a while! I sometimes am bad at this, but with all the options available to me, I really have no excuse. Use skype, email, texting, facebook, twitter, instant messaging, calling, or snail mail - but whatever you decide to use as your method of communication, do it now!

Make your space beautiful. Drawing strength and energy from a happy environment will be instrumental to keeping things joyful. You don't need to be a certified interior designer to know what kinds of things will give you a boost and what kinds of things will bring you down. Try adding plants, flowers, and art that means something to you. Avoid blah white walls, scary clutter, and dusty appliances.

Listen to happy music. I know when I get wallowy I tend to listen to quiet, depressing music to match my mood. It's beautiful, but it's not helping. Try to make a playlist or two that will really get you amped up, singing along, and ready for anything. Think pop, whether it be of the eighties, indie, swedish, or top 40 variety.

Buy a friend. Okay. This one I take some flak for, but I have a silly habit of purchasing small random animals to care for and love. I currently have a beautiful Betta named Florent and an African Dwarf Frog named Otis. Don't get too crazy if you can't manage the responsibility - I would love a furrier friend but it's not an option for me right now at school - and don't discount the little guys! They may not be cuddly, or show any affection whatsoever, but they're still kind of fun.

Laugh. Need a TV show suggestion? Try 30 Rock, The Office, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, and Modern Family. My favorite funny movies are Role Models, Burn After Reading (watch it again if you didn't like it the first time!), Death at a Funeral, Moonstruck, and My Cousin Vinny. This one is self explanatory.

Help others. Sometimes when I get crabby I start to feel like I can't do anything right. But volunteering at a local charity event or donating money to a worthy cause can turn that around! You can start here if you'd like.