How to Boost Your Mood: A Guide to Positive Mental Health
Everyone loves to be in a good mood. When you’re happy, the world seems like a brighter place full of possibilities and potential. When we’re sad, depressed, stressed out, or unhappy, our mood isn’t just soured, but it can have a negative impact on our mental health.
To help you stay upbeat and positive, we’re giving you our guide on how to boost your mood. We’re discussing what happens in your body to elevate your mood as well as natural methods for putting you in a positive mental health space. See how you can brighten your day with these ways to boost your mood and start your healthy new routine.
Feel Good Hormones: Boosting Your Mood
The hormones in your body act as chemical messengers that interact with various organs and tissues to control everything from how your body functions to how you feel. There is a group of four hormones often referred to as “feel good hormones” and they are responsible for elevating your mood. Alongside how they boost your mood, they may also provide secondary effects like pain relief or euphoric feelings.
The hormones responsible for how to boost your mood are:
- Endorphins
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Oxytocin
Increasing the level of these hormones in your body can be done with simple lifestyle changes.
How to Boost Your Mood Naturally
Learning how to boost your mood doesn’t require medications or supplements. While those may help folks whose doctors prescribe them, many are able to find ways to elevate mood naturally. More than just a pathway to positive mental health, finding ways to improve your mood also have a direct impact on your physical well-being. It’s all part of holistic health practices to improve your overall quality of life.
Some ways to boost your mood naturally are:
- Staying active
- Giving back to others
- Living in the moment
- Connecting with others
- Practicing self care
- Disconnecting
- Getting out into nature
Staying Active
One of the easiest methods for how to boost your mood is by staying active. Physical exercise releases endorphins that elevate mood and aid in pain relief. Beyond being an effective way to boost your mood, staying active is also critical for supporting circulation, improving heart health, increasing lung function, and more.
Staying active to boost your mood doesn’t mean you have to spend all day at the gym, either. While experts recommend you get 150 minutes of exercise each week (often described as at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week), there are many ways to achieve this. For example, taking a brisk walk after dinner each night or doing exercises at work to stay loose during short breaks are both effective. Staying active to improve your mood is about elevating your heart rate and causing your body to produce more feel good hormones.
Giving Back to Others
We feel good when we do good for others, it’s as simple as that! Finding opportunities to volunteer and give back to others brings about a sense of fulfillment and happiness in lending a helping hand however we’re able to. It’s not just a method for how to boost your mood, but a way to build a better community.
Finding ways to give back to others can take many forms. For some, this may be volunteering at a food bank, helping at a shelter, or donating clothing to those who may have need. For others, giving back to others could be cleaning up the community. No matter what you choose to do or how you help, it’s sure to boost your mood and feel nice to make a difference.
Living in the Moment
Another of the most effective methods for how to boost your mood is living in the moment. Too often we get carried away wondering “what if” or “if only” that we forget to focus on what’s right in front of us in the present. Striving to be more present will make you more attentive to your own needs as well as those around you. It’s grounding and helps center your mind.
One of the easiest ways to boost your mood this way is with mindfulness meditation. While there are many forms of meditation, practicing mindfulness is meant to focus your mind on the present, acknowledging your thoughts without judgment. Many people mistakenly think this is about emptying your mind entirely, but it’s not. Experiencing the here and now through mindfulness meditation helps you to focus more on the present throughout your day. It’s a healthy habit that may help alleviate stress and boost your mood.
Curious about meditation? Learn more on how to meditate at home after this.
Connecting With Others
Whether you’re a social butterfly or a more introverted individual, humans are social creatures. Some of us have social batteries that may run down more quickly than others, but connecting with others serves as an effective method for how to boost your mood. Interpersonal connections help us avoid feelings of isolation that could lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. This is why it’s important for everyone, especially older individuals who may not be able to get out as often, to connect with others regularly.
Thankfully, today’s technology has made connecting with friends, family, and neighbors easier than ever. Whether it’s a phone call, an in-person gathering, or even a video call using popular platforms like Zoom, there are a plethora of ways to talk to others and boost your mood.
Practicing Self Care
Next up on our list of methods for how to boost your mood is practicing self care. Self care comes in many forms. Going for a walk, journaling, reading a book, listening to calming music, and even taking a hot shower are all examples of ways you can carve out time for yourself and improve your mood.
Many people have looked to zero gravity chairs as part of a relaxing night time routine, as well. These modern recliners elevate the legs above the heart level and distribute weight evenly along the body, removing excess pressure from the lower back and providing a plethora of potential health benefits. One of the ultimate tools for self care, zero gravity chairs could help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve your overall wellness all without ever having to lift a finger. Heat therapy and massage features deepen your relaxation and elevate the experience, making them even more effective methods for how to boost your mood.
Disconnecting From Technology
Sometimes there are no better ways to boost your mood than to disconnect from technology. Oftentimes, we find ourselves glued to our phones or compulsively checking social media so we feel up to date. The truth is we don’t need that. In fact, we need the occasional break from that. A tech detox, even for just a few hours, could improve your mood and lessen feelings of stress or anxiety.
Being overconnected via social media, television, computers, phones, and other electronic devices may actually lead to feelings of social isolation. Taking time to disconnect helps you live in the present, connecting with those around you or taking some quiet time to yourself.
Getting Out Into Nature
In a study conducted by Stanford University, it was found that a walk in nature could potentially help reduce feelings of depression. What better method for how to boost your mood, then, than getting out into nature and breathing in the fresh air? Feeling the wind on your face, smelling the fresh scents of the trees, or hearing the gentle songs of a nearby creek are calming, tranquil experiences that calm the mind and will boost your mood.
You don’t have to venture out into the wilderness just to improve your mood, however. While some may love an impromptu trip to a remote cabin as a way to relax and recharge, you can also go to a nearby park or walk around your neighborhood if it has some lovely trees. Soaking up the sunlight and breathing fresh air will do wonders for you, no matter where you are.
We hope this guide has helped you discover new ways to boost your mood. Even the smallest lifestyle changes could have a profound impact and lead to positive mental health. Start integrating your favorite mood-elevating activities into your routine and experience the changes for yourself.
Zero gravity chairs don’t just help with how to boost your mood but provide a variety of benefits for people of all ages. Check out the Svago ZGR Zero Gravity Chair and learn more about the chair that started it all.
