# How do you cheer yourself up when you're down? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683 "2009-11-15T20:06:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/1 "2009-11-15T20:06:57Z")
For me it’s dressing up. Something about a clean, crisp shirt and necktie just works to better my mood. If I’m really depressed, I’ll go the whole suit route. But no tuxedo. “Tuxedos are for waiters.” Anyway, that’s just me (and just one way I work myself out of a funk). Anybody else? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/2 "2009-11-15T20:56:31Z")
I read about other people’s problems on the internet, and think to myself, “Jay-zuz! Those poor, sorry bastards!” I almost immediately feel better. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/3 "2009-11-15T21:51:20Z")
I talk to people who are willing to talk to me. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/4 "2009-11-15T22:16:42Z")
Buy a girl flowers, usually. Cheers me up no end. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/5 "2009-11-16T02:06:00Z")
Go out people-watching. Cute kids, fashion faux pas, the human condition, no man is an island. I always feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/6 "2009-11-16T02:14:23Z")
I take a look at my [enormous penis](http://hypem.com/track/883124/Da+Vinci+s+Notebook+-+Enormous+Penis) and my troubles start a-melting away. (The link is audio only and mildly **NSFW** ish, but may cheer you up too.) ---
**Author:** ![Orr\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/7 "2009-11-16T02:24:45Z")
Exercise. A walk, some time on the exerbike or the ski machine, anything. A nice long shower or a bath with a book. Upbeat music that really grooves. Get up for the down stroke. I think of how far I’ve come, and realize that whatever I’m going through now ain’t squat compared to what I’ve already overcome. Failblog. Porn. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/8 "2009-11-16T04:02:18Z")
I’ll play my guitar. Or break some boards. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/9 "2009-11-16T14:15:49Z")
Change of scenery. I take a short drive, and, if that isn’t working, sit in an empty parking lot and take 15 minutes to just fantasize about better things. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/10 "2009-11-16T14:48:26Z")
I go through a drive-thru, buy my food… and then pay for the person behind me, as well. Works every time. Someone did the same thing for me, years back, and it made my week. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/11 "2009-11-16T15:03:46Z")
Chocolate. Serotonin. Brain. Happiness. ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/12 "2009-11-17T00:46:00Z")
jokes, friends and coworkers with sense of humor. Nothing like a good laugh and it puts it all in perspective about what’s really important. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/13 "2009-11-17T00:53:03Z")
Back when I was a freshman in college, I told a dorm-mate I was feeling down and he came and surreptitiously taped a bunch of pictures of sea-slugs to my door. I didn’t even know they existed! So whenever I’m feeling blue I go find pictures of sea-slugs. Look! [Here’s one now.](http://www.sergeyphoto.com/underwater/nudibranchs/chromodoris-kuniei.html) Seriously, how can you feel sad knowing they exist? ---
**Author:** ![StoutHearted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@StoutHearted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoutHearted)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/14 "2009-11-17T00:56:38Z")
Getting caught in a YouTube warp. One video leads to another, which leads to another, until I’ve totally forgotten whatever was supposed to be bothering me. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/15 "2009-11-17T01:54:49Z")
Usually I get sushi. No joke. I’ve got a nicely tacky “conveyer belt” sushi restaurant near me. The sushi is pretty average - not great, not terrible. But the place itself has a nice warm ambiance. The music is nearly always to my liking - down-tempo electronic with a bit of indie rock tossed in. The tea is free. The people watching is always enjoyable. Plus I can finish a meal and then sit there for hours reading my kindle and drinking tea. The place is so huge that it’s never full and the servers never rush you out. You’re sitting at a conveyer belt “bar” so it’s not like you’re taking up a particular server’s table. I can just relax there, drinking tea and reading. Always makes me feel good. Plus they make a pretty good [Tonjiru soup](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butajiru). ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/16 "2009-11-17T02:11:58Z")
Why…I come here of course. I just stay out of the BBQ Pit and avoid depressing topics in GQ. Junk food helps as much as it hurts. Loving the dog is a good pick me up too. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/17 "2009-11-17T12:02:53Z")
Finding a place where I won’t torture anyone else (ideally, in a car) and cranking up music that I can really and truly sing along to. Loudly. With _feeling_. The music doesn’t even have to be happy music. Just so long as I can wail. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/18 "2009-11-17T12:10:38Z")
Read a book. Get some sleep; lack of sleep for me is one of my most common causes of depression. If I find myself think thoughts of gloom and doom, that’s often my cue that’s I’ve forgotten to check the clock and it’s past time for bed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/19 "2009-11-17T13:06:07Z")
I put on some great music and work on my art. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683/20 "2009-11-17T13:48:26Z")
Terry Pratchett books. Pictures of my nephews. Blowing pixelated stuff up. A movie with lots of big explosions and too-buff half-naked guys running around… (I’m a chemist, explosions count as porn) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-cheer-yourself-up-when-youre-down/517683.md?page=2)