Many of us are traveling more since COVID. I recently returned from a trip to Japan to visit my in-laws. While the trip was nourishing and long overdue, I noticed a significant dip in my mood upon my return.
I gave myself recovery days prior to returning to work, but nevertheless I struggled with upside-down jetlag this week which definitely impacted my sleep, appetite, energy, and mood. Thankfully, I have experienced this frequently before, and so simplified my week in preparation.
This reminded me of the importance of context when interpreting our moods.
There are so many external and internal influences on our moods - travel, illness, hormones, work ramp ups, family demands, nutrition (the list is endless). But it’s a core skill to assess whether these influences are likely temporary and/or changeable. For me, I understood that the source of my low mood was jetlag, and so I was not concerned as I understood jetlag to be a temporary biological phenomenon. This helped me cope; I simplified my week, ate nutritiously, lowered socializing, and was patient with the transition back to my normal circadian rhythm.
The ability to have some meta-awareness about our moods is critical in mood management. When we notice our lowered mood, we can check the context for our mood shift by asking ourselves a few questions: 1) Is there something external or internal that is known and influencing my mood? 2) Has anything changed biologically for me this week? 3) Can I expect this to be temporary? 3) What can I do to anchor or soothe myself today? 4) Am I willing to ask for support from my friends/family/coworkers?
Here at CTWPS, we are always trying to help our clients expand their self-care repertoire. Getting curious about the context of our moods is key.