Simple ways to boost your mood
Things we do or encounter throughout any given day not only have an impact on our health, they also affect our mood. One day you might be in the best mood ever and the next, you may find that you struggle to be even a little bit upbeat, but can't pinpoint why.
While it isn't always possible to fix everything that triggers a bad mood – after all, there are some things that take time to work through – but you can help lift your spirits to make bad days easier to get face.
If you want to try and boost your mood every day, these simple steps could really help:
Eat better
Foods that are high in fat or sugar may give you a temporary lift, with the extra energy helping you to feel happier and get through an hour or so, but they also mean that your mood can crash all of a sudden. Once the energising effects are over, you can be left feeling lower and more tired than you did in the first place.
Instead of reaching for caffeinated drinks or sugary snacks, choose food and drink that will help regulate your energy levels, as this will have a great effect on your mood.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, avoid overdoing it with caffeine and alcohol and ensure you're eating fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as complex carbohydrates. This will keep you feeling happy and energised.
Regulate your sleep
We've all had a bad night's sleep and felt the effects for the rest of the day. Not only do you feel tired and unable to focus, your mood is usually quite low and you have a short temper.
The odd rough night is to be expected, as stress and worry can make it hard to shut your mind off and let you go back to sleep. However, if you get yourself into a routine in terms of when you go to bed and when you wake up, it can help ensure you're getting all the sleep you need.
Set yourself a bed time and ensure you've got ample opportunity to wind down beforehand for between 30 minutes and an hour. This will help you relax and increase the chances of you getting off to sleep. You should also ensure you get up when your morning alarm sounds, instead of hitting snooze.
This will help you be healthier, sleep more and improve your mood.
Exercise regularly
It's true what they say, exercise really does make you happy. Not only is regular exercise helpful for keeping you healthy, maintaining your weight and ensuring you sleep better, it helps to improve your mood.
Exercise releases hormones that have an effect on your mentality, providing a boost and helping to beat bad moods. You'll feel a temporary high after working out, whether you walk, run, swim or hit the gym, but it also provides long-lasting results.
Creating an exercise routine and ensuring you stick to it will help boost your mood and keep you healthy.
Make sure you relax
Of course, one of the simplest ways to improve your mood is to make sure you get a chance to relax. Making time for yourself when you don't need to worry about work, money or family can do wonders for reducing stress levels and promoting a better mood.
Ensure you have some time set aside each day for you to do something you enjoy, whether this is taking a walk, having a bath, reading a book or even watching TV. You'll be surprised at what a difference this can make.
