“WHEN YOU CAN’T FIND THE SUNSHINE, BE THE SUNSHINE”
Our mood factors pretty heavily in the quality of our day to day lives. Expressions such as ‘hopping mad’, ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’, being ‘on cloud nine’ or ‘feeling on top of the world’ are just some of the thousands of words and phrases we have to describe our mood, be it good or bad or somewhere between!
And whilst how we’re feeling at any given moment has a significant impact on our emotional, mental, and even physical wellbeing, we also hold the key to improving and changing our mood. So, in honour of mindfulness month, we’ve compiled our top ten ways to boost your mood, naturally!
1. Get out in nature
You can’t beat a walk in nature, especially on a sunny day, to give you a little lift. Whether that’s a quick walk around the block, a stomp around your local town, or a little countryside stroll, it's a great way to help you take five and spend some time outside.
2. Listen to music
There’s nothing quite like a dance to your favourite tunes. A sure-fire way of giving you an instant boost is to blast out those songs that always put you in a good mood. Why not make a playlist of your top mood-boosting tunes to save for a rainy day? Or, tune on it to our very own Mood Boosting Playlist!
3. Write a joy list
Grab a paper and pen and list all the things that give you joy. A joy list is a great thing to have to hand when you’re feeling a bit low, and there’s something about committing it to pen and paper that makes it even more joyous. We highly recommend our journals for these particular kinds of lists.
And, once you’ve written down all the things that bring you joy, make sure to incorporate at least one of your little joys into every day.
4. Send a gift
One way to help give yourself a lovely lift is to boost someone else. Whether that’s paying someone a compliment, smiling at a stranger, or sending a friend a little treat to let them know you’re thinking of them, these super sweet gestures will also elevate your mood too!
5. Light a candle
Our sense of smell is a pretty powerful tool, and it can instantly send us off down memory lane. Light a candle with a scent that makes you feel calm, relaxed or upbeat, and let that smell fill your room. Fragrances such as citrus, mint, and lavender all have soothing effects that act as mood boosters.
6. Take three deep breaths
If your mood is leaning towards feeling anxious, stressed, or uneasy, hit pause and take three deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose (deep into your belly) for the count of four, hold the breath for a count of four, exhale for the count of four, and pause for the count of four before repeating. Breathing exercises are scientifically proven to reduce our stress response and help us feel calmer.
7. Eat something delicious
Busy lives mean that we often eat our food on the go, whilst watching TV, or even skip meals completely. Take some time to prepare something delicious and savour your food. Maybe that’s ordering your favourite take away or getting fresh ingredients to make or bake something that you know you’re going to enjoy, whatever it is, lift your mood with good food!
8. Phone a friend
Our phones serve more purposes than answering emails, frantically replying to texts, and doom scrolling through Instagram. Remember, it’s good to talk so why not take some time to phone a friend or family member? You could even do this whilst taking yourself off for a walk and enjoy the double mood-boosting benefits of walking and talking!
9. Run a goddess bath
We’ve mentioned goddess baths before in a previous blog post but it’s the perfect way to take some time for yourself and welcome in a calm and relaxed vibe. Light some candles, choose your favourite bath salts and scents, and as the water is running, set an intention or recite a positive affirmation before sinking in and relaxing.
10. Send yourself a gift
And whilst sending someone else a gift can do wonders for your mood, so can sending a little something to yourself! Why not make it a regular thing with a monthly TreatBox? That way you’ll always have a gift from you to you, to enjoy and savour each month.
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