The daily stressors of life can sometimes take their toll on our emotions. Neverending work, life events, concerns about health, financial stressors — it can feel like a neverending list of mood-tarnishing things just keep on piling up.
Being in a funk is totally normal, but being stress free and having a positive mindset is much better for your overall happiness and wellbeing. Plus, being in a good mood can be contagious, bringing some smiles to everyone around you.
The next time you start to feel like life’s got you feeling low, try using one of these tips to turn that frown upside down.
Why is Having a Good Mood Important?
There are obvious benefits associated with being in a good mood. For one, feeling happy and rejuvenated just feels awesome! It gives you energy to take on the day with a smile, no matter what challenges might be thrown your way.
But being in a good mood might actually make you more productive throughout your workday. Researchers found that individuals who were feeling upbeat were more likely to engage in necessary activities, like doing taxes or paying bills, compared to people who were feeling out of sorts.
This was termed “hedonic flexibility.” Basically, people tend to use their good moods as a resource, allowing them to work on challenges while in a clear headspace. By contrast, people who felt a bit unstable were more likely to engage in pleasurable, but unnecessary, activities in order to try to cope with their weakened state of wellbeing.
Feeling good can also help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, which can take a biological toll on your body, such as increased blood pressure or increased risk of hypertension.
It’s clear that being positive will have equally positive benefits, but it can be challenging to lift yourself up when you’re feeling down. What are some things that can be done to heighten the spirit?
1. Do Some Yoga
There’s a reason that those Instagram yoga influencers are always smiling when they post to their blogs. It’s because yoga is a fantastic way to clear your head, reset your mind, and ground yourself with positive feelings.
You don’t have to own a yoga mat or go to a fancy studio to feel the mood balancing effects of these stretches. All you need is yourself. Try some beginner poses, like the downward dog or the warrior to get yourself started. It’s amazing how quickly it can regulate your breathing and make you feel ready to take on the day.
2. Call a Friend
Social connection is one of the most important factors in maintaining good mental health. Individuals who engage in social activities and have strong, supportive circles are less likely to experience feelings of isolation or depression.
Being social has been tough during the COVID-19 pandemic, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up if you feel like you’ve been a bit absent in your social circles. When you’re ready, try going on a socially distanced walk with a friend, or have a few people over for a picnic in your backyard!
And you can be social without seeing your friends or family in person. Calls, video chats, and text messaging can all give you a necessary boost. Reminding yourself of the amazing people in your life is a surefire way to boost your mood.
3. Watch a Funny Show
Feeling sad or out of sorts won’t lead you to anything productive, so it’s important to hop out of your funk as quickly as possible. A great way to do that is to take some time to watch one of your favorite funny TV shows, or scroll through funny video playlists on the internet.
The act of laughing stimulates internal organs, activates and relieves your stress response, and helps soothe tension in your muscles. It’s one of the best ways to feel short term relief from the typical woes of life. Laughing frequently can even help improve your immune system and relieve symptoms of depression or anxiety.
If sitcoms aren’t your thing, you can even try something called laughter therapy. You can do this by forcing yourself to laugh. Eventually, you’ll start to realize that what you’re doing is so silly, and you can’t help but actually start laughing at yourself. It sounds weird, but this is a real technique that is sure to bring a smile to your face. And speaking of…
4. Smile
The benefits of physically smiling are greater than you may have ever realized. Just the act of smiling can lower your blood pressure, extend your life, build stronger relationships, and relieve stress. It can also alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety while building a stronger immune system.
You don’t even have to necessarily feel happy in order to reap the benefits of smiling. If you force yourself to do it, you might soon find that you’re being perfectly genuine.
5. Get Some Sun
Have you ever felt sluggish, tired, and in the dumps after being cooped up inside for too long. Sometimes long, dark winter months can be mentally and physically draining. There’s actually a term for this called Seasonal Affective Disorder, more often referred to as seasonal depression.
Sunshine actually helps to produce serotonin in the brain, which is a chemical that directly affects your mood. So when you don’t see the sun for long periods of time, you might feel a natural drop in this important neurotransmitter.
Feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and going for a brisk walk is a great way to lift your spirits while also getting a little bit of exercise. Even if it’s a bit chilly outside, you can try to go for a quick stroll down the street to clear your head and absorb some of those all-important rays.
6. Eat a Healthy Snack
There’s really nothing better than food, and you may naturally turn to snacking if you’re ever feeling stressed or bored. Stress-eating is a very real, verified phenomenon that has shown to increase mood.
However, while mindlessly digging into a tub of ice cream is delicious, you probably won’t feel too good afterwards. Instead, try snacking on some yummy carrot sticks, fresh fruits, or crunchy popcorn. This will satiate your cravings and bring you a bit of balance without those guilty post-dairy stomach aches.
7. Listen to Music
In the same ways that a break-up song or ballad can get those tears flowing, an electric up-beat song is a perfect way to put you in the zone. This is because music can release dopamine in two main places in the brain.
Dopamine is also known as the “happy chemical” because it makes you feel all-around great. When you feel good it’s because your body is producing a large amount of this neurotransmitter. Music has the power to help speed up dopamine production. So if you’re ever feeling sad, fire up that pop-heavy workout playlist!
8. Get Some Exercise
When you feel good physically, there’s a good chance that will translate mentally as well. Exercising is important for a sound body, as it can regulate your blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.
But on top of that, exercise can release tons of endorphins that all work to improve your mood. Something as simple as going for a walk can easily bring a smile to your face.
Try going for a hike in a new location or trying out a brand new activity, like rock climbing or kickboxing. Doing something different for the first time is a fresh, fun way to broaden your experiences while also pumping up your positive mindset.
In Conclusion
Feeling down is a normal part of life, and there’s no reason to be ashamed or guilty if you’re just not your normal self once in a while. However, there are some things you can do to boost your mood quickly and easily.
Smiling and laughing are two of the best ways to lift your spirits, mostly because these are proven to have positive effects on your biological wellbeing. Similarly, exercise and eating a healthy snack can quickly turn your frown upside down.
Additionally, you can try listening to pumped up songs or practicing your favorite yoga poses to release some dopamine and feel calm, cool, and collected.
When life’s got you down, it never hurts to try to bring yourself up!
If you still need a little boost to get your mood sky high, Smile’s organic CBD will give you a reason to smile. With loads of delicious flavors and organic ingredients, our CBD is sure to balance your mood and energize your spirits.
Sources:
https://news.stanford.edu/2016/08/19/mood-time-management/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456
