There are many reasons why you should actively seek to improve your mood. The most obvious is to feel good about yourself.
Other reasons are probably not as obvious to you. Although, they’re pretty obvious to your mental and physical health.
Let’s talk about some of these reasons and how they can influence everything that goes on in our lives.
Improve Your Mental Health
Your mental wellness affects your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It helps reduce stress, as well as help you cope with challenges and setbacks.
Having strong mental health doesn’t mean the absence of anxiety, fears, and worries. A natural part of living is going through difficult time occasionally.
Yet, when you’re in good shape mentally and emotionally, you bounce back faster. You have the tools needed to face all these things head-on with confidence and resilience.
Being resilient means you stay flexible and focused when life throws you a curveball. You have confidence in your abilities to deal with whatever the future has in store.
Here are some extra perks that come when you boost your mental wellbeing and improve your mood.
- You have a sense of contentment with life in general
- You maintain a hearty dose of confidence and self-esteem
- You see opportunities where others see none
- You enjoy living and can laugh at yourself
- You balance work and play
- You build healthy relationships
Polish Up on Your Social Skills
We’re social creatures. We are need some social interaction and when we feel connected to others, we thrive.
This doesn’t mean we have to be surrounded by people all the time every day. It just means that our brains crave companionship in varying degrees.
Yes, you can always call or text. They certainly have their place and time in our busy, hectic lives.
Still, nothing beats the mood-boosting power of sitting down with family or friends. That quality face-to-face time is priceless.
You sit, you talk, and you listen — pretty basic right? But for your brain, it’s revolutionary!
Here’s why: studies show that our brains are wired for connectivity. Certain areas of our brains light up when we do volunteer work or spend some time with a friend.
Not only that, but the brain rewards us for being socially outgoing. It does so by signaling the release of two happy hormones, oxytocin, and serotonin. So, by being out with your partner, friends, or even colleagues, you’re actively seeking ways to improve your mood.
You should also make the most of those fleeting encounters you have with strangers each day. Make a point of looking your neighbor in the eye as you wish them a good day.
Look up from what you’re doing and take a couple of seconds to thank the barista or the cashier. You can even add a smile to go with it.
Despite taking mere seconds out of your day, those little acts of kindness are terrific mood boosters. They’ll do wonders for your day and theirs!
Stay Fit
The link between the mind and body is complementary. When you take care of your physical health, you’re nourishing your mental well-being.
Anytime you exercise for at least 20 minutes, your brain releases endorphins. These are one of the four happy chemicals that help stabilize your mood and boost energy levels.
Regular physical activity also has a big impact on your memory and concentration. Plus, it relieves stress and promotes better sleep.
The trick is to find an activity you like and do it several times a week. Take a walk, cycle, throw a Frisbee with your dog—the point is to enjoy what you’re doing.
Better still, find a group of friends and be active in a group. This will hold you accountable, boost your motivation, and improve your mood.
Regulate Stress Levels
Almost everyone on the planet knows by now that stress is a major problem – and it affects our emotional, mental and physical well-being.
We also know that stress can’t be avoided, especially in this busy day and age. However, certain stress management strategies can help regulate stress in your life.
These tactics allow you to cope with life’s ups and downs. They allow you to improve your mood and feel good about yourself.
Try reducing your stress by practising some of the following:
- Enhance the quality of your sleep
- Eat mood-enhancing foods, such as fresh fruits, fatty fish, nuts, avocados, and beans
- Practice relaxation techniques, like mindful meditation, yoga, and deep breathing
- Make time for yourself and do something you enjoy
- Find somewhere to sit at a local park and soak in some sunshine
- Laugh more