3 Mood Boosting Habits We All Need

Life can be stressful! It’s no surprise that approximately 280 million people are diagnosed with depression at any one time. While that statistic is scary enough already, it doesn’t even take into account undiagnosed cases where people are trying to beat the condition themselves. 

Ensuring that you take care of your mental health and are kind to yourself is very important, both for coping with life stresses, and helping to prevent a ‘downward spiral’ in your mood. 

This article will explore some of the ways you can boost your mood yourself without medical intervention, but it is always important that if you are struggling with your mental health you speak to your doctor also. 

Exercise 

Exercise is a fantastic way to boost your mood, for multiple reasons. Firstly, exercise changes your body, and often feeling confident and happy in your body can make you feel confident and happy in your mind also. 

In addition to this, exercise puts you in a ‘mindful’ state. Mindfulness is the act of being present in the moment, and when you are totally focused on your current situation, you are unable to worry about the past (which can lead to depression) or the future (which can cause anxiety), putting you in a more balanced place mentally. 

Exercise also releases Endorphins. Endorphins are a mood-enhancing chemical produced by the brain, and they are extremely powerful. 

Whether letting off steam at the gym, throwing your anger into a punchbag, or relaxing and opening your mind with yoga, exercise is the perfect addition to your daily routine to help boost your mood. 

The great thing is, there is a sport to suit everyone, so even if you aren’t usually one for exercise, you can just go for a walk, it will have the same impact on your mental health! 

Socializing

Spending time with loved ones or friends is truly chicken soup for the soul. Again, it is another mindful practice. However, connecting with someone you care about also helps you release chemicals such are Oxytocin and Serotonin, both of which are responsible for feelings of love and wellbeing. 

Sometimes, just having a good laugh is a wonderful way to boost your mood, so ditch the TV dinner and head out to meet a friend! 

Supplements

While alcohol and other addictive substances should never be your go-to solution to boost your mood (and will often actually have the opposite impact), there are some natural supplements that can help you do this. 

Look for a really good dopamine booster. Dopamine is another feel-good chemical that floods our brain when we experience something we like. It gives us a great sense of wellbeing and the urge to do more of the activity that caused the dopamine spike. 

Dopamine can be triggered by anything you enjoy, certain foods, activities, or experiences can cause your dopamine levels to spike, but the difficulty is that often more and more of the trigger is needed each time to reach the same level of dopamine boost. 

A supplement will help you naturally boost your dopamine levels, giving you that feel-good factor without having a physical trigger. 

St John’s Wort is a mood-enhancing natural supplement often prescribed to women going through menopause. However, this supplement is not suitable for use with certain medications, so you should always ensure you consult your doctor before embarking upon a supplement program. 

Summary

Boosting your mood doesn’t only have to be done via prescription medication. There are many ways you can boost your mood at home using exercise, supplements, meeting friends and family, or even taking up a new hobby. 

Ensure you make time for yourself and look after your mental health for a well-balanced lifestyle.