3 Simple Ways To Improve Your Mood
By Sierra Powell
Your mood plays a big role in how your day goes, how you react to problems, and how you treat your family. The good news is that if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, you don’t have to stay in a bad mood. Use these tips to improve your mood and have a brighter outlook for the remainder of the day.
#1 Move Your Body
Exercise is a great way to instantly improve your mood. High-intensity exercise may be especially helpful. During exercise, your body and brain release neurotransmitters and hormones that help improve your mood, increase your energy levels, and decrease your stress. Endorphins are one of the hormones that are released that is especially helpful in mood improvement.
Though regular exercise is important for overall brain and heart health, studies show that just one bout of exercise can have major effects on mood. A 2017 study published in Brain Plasticity found that participants who exercised just once reported that they experienced a decrease in their depression, anger, and tension. If you are feeling down, try going on a walk, taking a swim, or going on a bike ride.
#2 Step into the Sun
Sunlight has gotten a bad reputation in recent years as too much can contribute to skin cancer. Avoiding it altogether, though, can decrease hormone production in your body. When you get sunlight, it triggers the brain to release a hormone known as serotonin.
Serotonin is associated with mood improvement and can help you feel calm and focused. Some experts believe that this is why some people become more depressed during the winter hours when there is less sunlight.
For the most benefits, try stepping outside into the sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for five to 15 minutes at a time. Do this several times a day for the best results. Alternately, you can consider using a light therapy box if you live in a place where you don’t have a lot of sunlight.
#3 Do Something for Someone Else
Many magazine articles tout the importance of self-care. Self-care is incredibly important to overall health, but caring for others may help improve your mood more than treating yourself. In a 2016 study, researchers divided participants into two groups. One group did a kind act for someone else and the other treated themselves or did nothing.
At the end of the study, researchers found that those in the group that performed kind acts reported an improvement in their mood while the other group didn’t. It doesn’t take too much time or effort to make someone else’s life better, which can then improve your own mood
Some easy ways to help others include:
Walking a neighbor’s dog
Buying a coffee or treat for the person behind you in line
Giving someone else a compliment
Opening the door for a stranger
Sending a thank-you note to someone who helped you
Donating to a local charity
Volunteering at a local food bank, school, or library
Don’t allow a bad mood to ruin your day or your relationships with those you love. Improve your mood by going on a walk in the sun, or doing something kind. You will love your new mood while you enjoy spreading some happiness to those around you.
Author Bio
Sierra Powell is a freelance content writer who graduated from the University of Oaklahoma with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Writing. When she’s not writing, she loves to cook, sew, and go hiking with her dogs
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