Pick Me Up Tuesday: Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana
đž Pick Me Up Tuesday: 5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Mood Naturally
We all have those days where everything feels a little… heavy. Whether itâs the stress of parenting, work fatigue, or just a case of the blahs, sometimes we need a gentle lift. Thatâs what Pick Me Up Tuesday is all aboutâoffering small, meaningful ways to boost your mood naturally and get back to center.
At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana (AACI), we believe that healing doesnât have to be complicated. Sometimes, the most powerful tools are the simplest onesâlike a breath, a walk, a wagging tail.
Add Your Heading âď¸ 1. Start Your Morning With SunlightText Here
Natural light signals your brain to wake up, boost energy, and regulate your mood. If you can, try spending your first 10â15 minutes of the day near a sunny window or outside with your coffee.
â Bonus tip: Pair it with your dogâs morning walkâtheyâll thank you, and so will your nervous system.
đś 2. Spend Time With Animals (Yes, Really!)
Interacting with animals is a proven way to lower cortisol and increase oxytocinâthe feel-good bonding hormone. At AACI, weâve seen how therapy dogs help clients relax, open up, and feel safe.
Whether you’re sitting quietly with your pup or laughing at a silly tail wag, you’re giving your brain a break from the pressure.
đ 3. Try a 1-Minute Gratitude Reset
When your day starts to spiral, pause and name:
1 thing you’re grateful for
1 thing you’re looking forward to
1 kind thing you’ve done recently
This quick exercise helps shift your mindset from stress to strengthâwithout bypassing whatâs real.
đ§ Check out more gratitude practices from Positive Psychology
đ 4. Do One Tiny Thing Just for You
When you feel overwhelmed, your nervous system craves small, predictable acts of care. Try:
Stretching for 3 minutes
Listening to your favorite song
Drinking water while looking outside
Texting a friend âthinking of youâ
These little rituals remind your brain: Youâre safe. Youâre cared for. You matter.
đż 5. Take a Nature Break
Even a short moment in natureâlike standing under a tree or walking around the blockâcan lower anxiety and improve focus.
If you can’t get outside, look at photos of forests, animals, or water. Research shows your brain still benefits!
đž Therapy Dogs Make Every Tuesday Better
At AACI, our therapy dogs arenât just comfortingâthey help clients regulate their nervous systems, engage more openly in therapy, and feel emotionally safe.
They remind us that healing doesnât have to be serious all the time. Sometimes, it starts with a tail wag and a deep breath.
â Pick Me Up Task for Today
Do one thing to shift your energy.
It doesnât have to be big. Just intentional.
Maybe itâs walking the dog, texting a friend, or taking 30 seconds to breathe with your eyes closed.
Youâve got this. And if you need supportâweâre here.
đŹ When Natural Isnât Enough, Weâre Here to Help
f your low mood has been lingering longer than youâd like, or youâre feeling stuck in stress or sadness, thatâs okay too.
đ AACI offers individual and family counseling in Munster, Indianaâwith the calming presence of therapy dogs available to support your journey.
đď¸ Contact us today