Tips to Positively Impact Your Morning Mood

It’s not even 6 a.m. and you’re already in a sour mood. You’re feeling out of sorts, and the day has barely started.

Starting the day with a negative attitude can happen to the best of us. Those morning can be quite frustrating. You can’t be a productive, pleasant employee if you’re not feeling your best. So what can you do to set yourself straight so it doesn’t ruin your day – or anyone else’s?

The Best Care Employee Assistance Program (EAP) staff offers advice based on their own experiences. We hope there’s a tip below that you can try to start your day in a positive way.

Take Control

“First, it’s important to acknowledge that you’re experiencing negative feelings,” said Terry Coleman, MA, LIPC, manager of Best Care EAP clinical services. “Second, you have to make a conscious decision to not let your mood impact the way you treat others.”

Once you acknowledge how you feel, use the voice in your head to “call yourself out” on the negativity. A simple way to do this is to sit on the edge of your bed, take a deep breath, stand up and start the morning over.

Set a Routine

You may consider taking a different approach if you’re a spiritual person. Jean Faber, MA, corporate director of Best Care EAP, starts every day the same way. For her, routine is grounding.

“I start my morning with prayer, and focus on gratitude,” Faber said. “If I have something to do and I’m not looking forward to it, I try to do that first so it doesn’t weigh heavy on me and affect my mood.”

Plan Ahead

The night before can be a convenient time to plan for a good morning. If you’re someone who usually doesn’t prepare or think ahead, make an adjustment and conduct certain tasks at night in order to be organized for the morning.

“I like to prepare for the next day so I’m ready to take on whatever comes my way,” said Kelena Lyon-Braunersrither, Best Care EAP’s business office coordinator. “When you juggle a lot of tasks throughout the day like I do, thinking through things the night before really helps me stay organized and start my day in a positive way.”

Let it Go

David Dechant, a training consultant with Best Care EAP, does his best to let go of the day when he gets home from work. This allows him to decompress earlier in the evening rather than closer to bedtime.

“I suggest you turn off all electronic devices and do something relaxing,” he said. “Maybe listen to music or a podcast, read, or journal. Use some of that downtime to mentally review how you’re going to make the next day great.”

Starting the day with a negative attitude can be harmless if it only happens once in a while. But if it’s happening multiple times a week over a few weeks, that’s a sign you may need to talk to someone about it.

Ask for help

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Best Care EAP. Our licensed counselors are available to provide support and guidance, and it’s easy to get started. To schedule a confidential appointment, fill out the counseling registration form. If you have issues with the form, please call our office at (402) 354-8000 or (800) 801-4182 and we'll be glad to help.

More Resources

Best Care EAP offers a variety of resources that can help boost your emotional and mental health. You can find a variety of self-help webinars and well-being articles in our Resource Hub.