7 Tips for Improving Your Mood Naturally

If you find yourself feeling a little down, you may be tempted to turn to your doctor and ask for a little medicinal help. There are so many options available these days for mood altering or enhancing drugs, but all of these carry with them a long list of sometimes quite severe side effects. There are many natural ways that you can lift your mood and get yourself feeling great. My advice is to try these suggestions first before putting yourself at undue risk.

Exercise

When you exercise, endorphins are released and the neurotransmitters in your brain send a “feel good” message throughout your body, improving your mood and energy. If you can get some type of workout in everyday, preferably in the early morning, your overall mood will improve greatly and you can take on the day with a much more positive energy. Getting your daily workout also helps to improve your self-esteem and confidence, when you feel better about yourself, you are happier, period.

Drink Water

Drinking lots of water and staying hydrated can really help to put you in a better mood. When you are dehydrated, you have the tendency to feel more tired and out of sorts and depressed. By making sure you drink plenty of water, you can avoid these mood slumps. It is very important to make sure that you drink plenty of water before, during, and immediately following a workout, as this is when people have a tendency to get the most dehydrated. You should also have plenty of water in the morning when you wake up because you have just gone an extended period of time without any.

Eat Fat

Did you realize that eating butter can actually make you happier? It has been proven that those who followed strict low-fat or eliminate fat completely from their diets were more susceptible to depression. Our bodies are made up of mostly fat and without a diet that incorporates some saturated fat; you are more prone to illness and other harmful effects from free radicals. Eating fat can also help to prevent premature aging, and when you get carded for a drink well into your thirties, I guarantee a mood boost.

Increase Omega 3s

Making sure that you are getting enough Omega 3 Fatty Acids in your diet is very important as it gives your brain a heightened ability to focus and it can greatly improve your mood. It makes sense that when you are thinking more clearly, you will feel better. Your brain has to be firing at optimum speed for your mood to be at its peak as well. You should try to eat salmon or other fish high in Omega 3s a few times a week, or make sure to take a fish oil supplement with your multivitamin daily.

Listen to Music

Listening to music triggers the same pleasure centers in the brain as having a full blown orgasm. There is something to the logic most have when they say they are going to put on some tunes to liven the mood. When you are listening to music, your brain is pumping positive messages as fast as the beat goes and the effects on your mood can last all day. So the next time you are feeling down, put on your favorite playlist and have an impromptu dance party.

Get Some Sun

Research has shown that depression is at its peak in the winter months when there is little sunshine, and those living in places like Alaska where they can go months without the sun, are at a higher risk for suffering from depression. Getting out doors each day for at least twenty minutes can do wonders for your mood. Exposure to sunlight helps the brain release serotonin which is an important factor related to your mood. Without exposure to the sun, your serotonin levels can drop and depression can set in.

Surround yourself with Positive Energy

Energy is infectious, if you are around negativity and people with bad attitudes on a constant basis, your mood will easily be affected and you will begin to be more negative and your mood will shift to be more like those around you. The same works if your were to surround yourself with positivity. If you can take a stand and do some cleaning up of the individuals and circumstances in your life that might foster this negativity, you will greatly increase your positive mood. By eliminating the negative energy and the stress that comes with it, you will begin to feel lighter and much happier in general.