We all want to live happier, more satisfying lives.
Times of feeling unhappy or irritable happen for each of us.
Depression is real, and many people may need professional help to assist their well-being, but negative feelings are natural there are also natural ways to boost your mood and bring happiness.
14 Mood-Boosting Activities
- Laugh – Laughing has so many benefits! It definitely boosts the mood but also reduces blood pressure, encourages better sleep, offers pain management, and even improves dementia and memory failure. Watch some comedy or read some comics. Find something to laugh at today!
- Listen to music – Listening to uplifting music has great benefits. These include a positive mood, extra energy, better sleep, an increase in self-confidence, and a reduction in stress and anxiety. According to Psychology Today, studies have shown when we listen to music our brain releases dopamine – the natural chemical that tells our body we feel good and are happy.
- Smile – Another simple thing, shown to release dopamine from the brain, is smiling. We smile when we are happy but it turns out – smiling can also make us happy. For an extra boost, try smiling at the people around you and boost their moods too!
- Exercise – Exercise produces endorphins and those endorphins – make you happy. Studies from Harvard directly point to exercise as a reliable way to improve people’s moods. Some studies even found exercise as beneficial as prescription drugs designed to treat mild to moderate depression and the effects of the exercise lasted longer. To receive the most benefit, experts suggest 30 or more minutes at a higher intensity level, but any amount of exercise can improve energy and optimism.
- Spend time outdoors – You don’t have to be exercising to receive benefits from spending time outside. Natural sunlight and taking time to enjoy nature both help to improve moods. Researchers at the University of Essex discovered that spending even 5 minutes outdoors was enough to increase happiness levels. Outdoor activities could include going for a walk, gardening, visiting a park, or fishing.
- Drink water – Dehydration can definitely affect moods in a negative way. LiveWell.com points out that water stimulates the flow of hormones and nutrients everyone needs in order to feel happy.
- Eat well – Eating healthy foods can offer the mood boost you are craving. Foods that can help improve moods include leafy green vegetables, whole grains, foods high in vitamin D (such as, cheese, salmon, and egg yolks), and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids (such as walnuts, flax and chia seeds, canola oil, salmon and other oily fish). Developing the habit of always eating breakfast in the morning also has been shown to improve moods.
- Get plenty of sleep – Feeling well-rested is very important for emotional well-being and happiness. It is recommended that most adults get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night and there are many ways to improve the quality of sleep.
- Meditate – Practicing meditation has been found to be a powerful way to improve our well-being. A review in 2014 pointed to the results of 47 studies which said meditation is very effective at improving anxiety, depression and pain, especially when practiced for 8 or more weeks.
- Practice gratitude – While breathing and relaxing helps calm our minds, we also need to fill our minds with positive thoughts. Gratitude is a great way to naturally elevate moods. An article from the Mayo Clinic pointed to optimism as being a highly effective way of increasing an individual’s life span. Breathe, be grateful, and take time to notice the good in people and the world around you.
- Do what you enjoy – The American Heart Association suggests that doing things you enjoy for at least 15 minutes a day is a natural way to reduce stress and find happiness. What are some things you like to do? Read a good book? Take a long bath? Listen to music? Whatever it is, spend some time every day with your favorite hobby – or learn a new one.
- Spend time with people – Taking time to build relationships and engage socially also brings happiness. These relationships give you a place to communicate and feel understood. Reconnect with a friend today.
- Play with pets – Finding happiness spending time with others also applies to the pets in your life. Playing with animals elevates dopamine and serotonin – the chemicals in the brain known to improve mood – as well as improve memory, sleep, libido, and appetite. If you don’t currently have a pet, June is National Adopt a Cat month. It could be the perfect time to add a furry friend to the household! Have you considered a bird? They are great pets for people who can't manage the needs of a dog and their life spans are longer - up to 20+ years. And bird food is relatively inexpensive.
- Try supplements – A carefully chosen supplement can provide your body with what it needs to produce positive mood-boosting effects. ENP’s Mood Boost formula contains several natural vitamins and minerals known to have mood-boosting properties. It was specifically designed to encourage positive moods and increased mental focus.
Take some time to try a few of these natural mood boosters today. You'll be happy you did!
Sources
“12 Reasons to Drink More Water (Infographic).” UnityPoint Health, www.unitypoint.org/livewell/article.aspx?id=7c514da0-0100-4dcc-afba-95712f7313be#:~:text=Dehydration can affect your mood,you need to feel happy.
Jones, Susan Smith. “Sure-Fire Tips to Cultivate More Joy & Less Stress.” American Holistic Health Association, ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/sure-fire-tips-to-cultivate-more-joy-less-stress/.
Nikutowski, Norma, and Norma Nikutowski. “How to Be Happy by Listening to Music.” Happiness On, 7 Aug. 2019, happinesson.com/how-to-be-happy-by-listening-to-music/.
Pietrangelo, Ann. “How to Be Happy: 25 Habits to Help You Live a Happier Life.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 10 Feb. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/how-to-be-happy.
“Stress Management.” HelpGuide.org, www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm.
“Taking Good Care of Yourself.” Mental Health America, www.mentalhealthamerica.net/taking-good-care-yourself.
Williams, Laura. “5 Natural Mood Enhancers to Boost Your Happiness.” Onnit Academy, 15 May 2020, www.onnit.com/academy/natural-mood-enhancers/.
Wong, Cathy. “7 Foods That Improve Mood and Fight Depression.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 3 Feb. 2020, www.verywellmind.com/foods-for-a-better-mood-89889.