12 Natural Ways to Enhance Your Mood
By: Darci Maxwell
Sometimes, you just feel stuck in a rut and you need something to perk you up. Read on for 12 easy ways to naturally enhance your mood.
Laugh
Laughter is the best medicine — so find a way to make yourself laugh. Look up funny comics, watch a funny YouTube video, or ask your coworkers if they know any good jokes. And of course, you need to learn to laugh at yourself. If something bad happens, it is easier to handle it with a smile, even if you have to force yourself to smile, as just the act can boost your spirits.
Snuggle Small Animals
If you have the luxury, play with a small animal such as a puppy, bunny, or kitten. If you don’t have one nearby to snuggle, you can look up pictures and videos of animals online to help bring a smile to your face. Baby sloths are a personal favorite.
Exercise
To quote Elle Woods “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they’ just don’t.” When you are feeling blue, get up and get moving! You can dance, ride a bike, go for a run, play frisbee with friends in the park, join a sports group, go to the gym, etc. Just find a way to get your heart rate up!
Eat Healthy
Make sure that you are giving your all of the necessary vitamins, minerals,and nutrients that it needs to thrive. You can also eat food that are known to enhance your mood. This blog lists dark chocolate, chicken and turkey, spinach, lentils, bananas, and foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acid (such as salmon, mackerel, flax, chia seeds, and walnuts) as foods that are natural mood boosters.
Read a Book
Reading a good book can help lift your spirits and relieve anxiety. Professionals call it “bibliotherapy” — or the reading of text with the purpose of healing. Just make sure that the books you are reading will help lift your mood rather than bring it down.
Yoga
Yoga is a great way to lift your mood and to be more in tune with your body. You can join a yoga class or even just find a YouTube channel and do an exercise every day. Yoga can help you relax and reconnect with your body.
Get Enough Sleep
It is important to get enough sleep every night to feel refreshed and well rested. Part of getting enough sleep is going to bed early early and having a regular sleep schedule. It may take a bit of discipline, but you can do it!
Listen to Music
Music is a great way to pick yourself up and make you feel better. Go for a drive and blast your favorite song and sing along. Or you could set up a nice set of speakers in your kitchen or living room to play upbeat music loud and clear as you dance. For best results, convince a friend or family member to dance along.
Seek Human Interaction
I always say that if we were meant to be on this earth alone, God would have put us in a room and said “See you in 85 years!” Luckily, that is not the case. We are here to bless each other’s lives. Sometimes all you need is a good, long hug from someone who cares about you. If you don’t have any loved ones nearby, pick up your phone and give them a call.
Remember The Good
Take a moment to remember the good things that have happened in your life. Instead of focusing on everything you’ve done wrong, try to find the things you’ve done right. Keep a gratitude journal to help you remember all the things that you have to be grateful for.
Reconnect With Nature
There is something magical about nature that lifts spirits and helps you feel more alert. Go outside, even if it is just to take a walk around the block. The sunshine and fresh air will do you good.
Dress Up
Hello Dolly features a song called “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” with a brilliant lyric that states “Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out. Strut down the street and have your picture took. Dressed like a dream, your spirits seem to turn about! That Sunday shine is a certain sign that you feel as fine as you look!” Just as the song says, dress up to boost your spirits when you are feeling down and out!