When you're feeling down, what perks you back up or improves your day?

A nap usually does me good. But I’m having a hard time today because my family is in Chicago and I’m worried about the lunatics statements this week.

Weed

My cat.

Nothing. I just kind of ride it out. Every day.

You alright?
- Nope.
A little bit of exercise should help. Start with walks?
- I'm going hungry most days. Walking doesn't help.

A cold shower. It takes a huge amount of effort for me to actually do it, but if I do, it's the best thing ever. Immediately changes my mood, literally cools my head down and I can't think anything else except "ahhhh cold!" while doing it.

Afterwards it feels like a big accomplishment.

I'm very lucky to have a friend that doesn't try to make me "feel better". She just sits with me and makes me feel... not alone.

I hope I can return the favor one day, but more importantly I hope she never feels this level of despair to begin with.

Cat head bump.

Cats, sex, drugs and food. In that order.

Cats first, wow.
- I stand by what I said.
As long as the cats are consenting!

My dog. Him being happy makes me happy.

This is usually it for me, but recently I'm feeling down because there's a strong chance that my just-turned-one-year-old puppy will outlive me. By a lot. And then her life would be depressing because my partner would largely leave her home alone, not play with her, not take her anywhere, and not keep up with her medical needs.
Meanwile, I don't actually want to live as long as she should and I would feel so guilty leaving her behind, even if I end up having little or no control over it.
So I alternate between living for my dogs (the other one is getting old, so I don't worry about this with her so much) and wishing that I had never gotten the puppy. But of course, I got the puppy so I wouldn't kill myself when the older dog dies. It's a conundrum.

Laughing at stupid people usually does the trick.

Mindfulness meditation is sometimes all it takes. Your mental state is often fully under your control, and in those times you can choose to put down whatever you were upset about and then move on with being happy.

"Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realise your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control." – Epictetus

When I'm sad I often listen to The Lonely Island, the stupidity and silliness cheers me up.

Suffice to say that I basically know all their songs off by heart.

It's all chemical for me. Eating, hormones, etc

Being restrained, beaten, and bitten, then made to orgasm as many times as master wants.

I try to find even 10 minutes alone to decompress and watch what little nature I can. Usually helps a bit.

That or a short walk or stretch, both good.

Music.

I have a playlist of songs that I can’t stop myself from singing along to. That usually helps a ton.

Ride a bicycle into my, I don't fucking care about anything pain zone

Cuddling with the pups

cum

Getting harder and harder but my go tos are walks and baths and my dog. food and drink is nice but tends to get into more of a wallow situation. that can be nice sometimes though.

A nice motorcycle ride. When I am on the motorcycle everything just disappears and I am hyperfocused on the ride.

My dad's been trying to get me into that, I've gone on a couple rides with him on a 1970s Yamaha 500, I forget the exact model. I focus mostly on what I'm doing and what I need to do coming up while I'm riding, don't suppose you know how to stress less and focus on the experience more while you're riding? Is it just an experience issue?
- As a rider for 40+ years now, I can honestly tell you that I still get the jitters at times, especially when I am on a new bike but I don't compare that to stress. I find that even when I am nervous on a bike, I still get off the ride and have less stress than when I started the ride. It's been a long time since I was a new rider, but I have watched a couple of my kids get started and remember the feelings when you are trying to figure out shifting, clutch work, braking and the rest of what goes along with it. I think you nailed it on the head though, and experience will make that part of the ride all but disappear into muscle memory. When you get comfortable with that part of the ride I find that's when it becomes more of a relaxing time for me. That might sound wrong, but it's not like I let my guard down, it's more like the feeling when you are so focused on one thing that everything else fades into the distance. When I am out for a ride things like bills, work, all of the stressors of life just take a backseat. I also don't play music while I am riding, although I do have a couple of tunes that my brain seems to just belt out as I am going along. That's when you know you are in the zone, when you start singing a song to yourself. I have two songs that come up all the time, and oddly enough they aren't really the type of music I listen to, but hey the brain is a funny thing. First is the Smokey and the Bandit song - Eastbound and down... And the second for some ungodly reason is the opening theme song for Gilligan's Island. Don't ask..
  I am curious what other riders have as their head music when they are riding. Now get out there and ride more with your Dad. I am sure it means a lot to him to have you along. You are welcome to ride with me as well. And let me know what song pops up in your head when it happens.