5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Mood – Collaboration
Feeling low, anxious, sad or any combination of those emotions can make it almost impossible to function effectively on a day to day basis. There are many things you can do to boost your mood, but we would like to share five easy ways.
Exercise
When you exercise, you feel good. Perhaps not at the time of doing the exercise, but you will afterwards. During a run, it can be difficult to focus on anything other than how everything hurts or the feeling that you can’t catch your breath. However, the endorphins that physical activity produces are natural feel good vibes and so important for both your mental and physical wellbeing. Choose an exercise that you actually enjoy. Forcing yourself to embark on a fitness challenge in the gym when you detest it will not help. A dance class such as Zumba is fun for many and the popularity of other classes such as Clubbercise are also on the rise.
Socialise
There is a very special buzz that you only get when you spend time with your closest friends. The uncontrollable laughter, the fond memories and the fun times all help to make you feel more positive about things. Whether you spend the day shopping or drinking coffee in a local café, visit a local museum or go out clubbing, quality time with your best friends really does work wonders.
Be Kind
Showing kindness to others without expecting anything in return not only helps others who are in need, but can give us a huge boost to our mood, self-esteem and sense of purpose. Although it is vital to ensure you are not carrying out acts of kindness purely for selfish reasons, achieving a positive glow as the result of doing something wonderful is an added bonus. To feel inspired, read HumanKind; it is a book which celebrates kindness completely transforming people’s lives.
Watch Film/TV
Sometimes, re-watching a favourite film can be really uplifting. It doesn’t have to be the most intellectual of movies, but something that will put a smile on your face. The same can be said about television. Whatever makes you happy or something funny to laugh at will be a good choice. Just taking a bit of time out, to focus on something other than everything you have going on in your life, can be really therapeutic and perk up your mood. Add in some popcorn and ice cream for even more of a treat.
Talk
Talking about how you’re feeling can support you in feeling better about things. Although it might not be an instant fix, getting things off your shoulders does make a difference. Whether you choose a trusted friend or seek advice from a professional, expressing your emotions and trying to dig yourself out of that rut is important. If you don’t feel able to actually talk, there are some counselling services which now offer to send texts out. This might be worth exploring. Internet forums are another place where it is possible to find others in similar situations, though do be careful about how much personal information you share.
