Every now and then, we may find ourselves descending into a bad mood. This might be triggered by your overbearing boss at work, fractured relations with your family, or your weight might be getting you down. However, this mood tends to be acute and we naturally find our equilibrium once again. For some people, a low mood becomes chronic and can have a detrimental impact on their lives. This could lead to mild depression, a refusal to leave the home, and becoming socially isolated. If this sounds like you, there are ways that you can lift your mood. This requires you to be proactive and willing to be solution minded.
Boosting your mood is a lot easier said than done. Plenty of people will tell you to ‘cheer up’ or say to you that ‘things aren’t that bad’ and ‘there are always people that are worse off’. However, this doesn’t help when you are struggling to get up in the morning, and you don’t want to leave the house. It’s time to take a step back, reflect and focus on yourself for a little while. Take a look at these three simple ways to boost your mood and have a more positive mindset once again.
Yoga
When you consider heading to a yoga class, you might think that you’ll be greeted by a bunch of dreadlocked hippies that chant and enjoy incense a little too much. However, yoga has come a long way since its emergence in the 1970s. Yoga classes are run by professionals, many of whom have qualifications and are regulated. Find a class that takes on beginners and will take you slowly through a range of postures and breathing exercises to help boost your mood.
This might mean requesting a one to one session if you aren’t keen on joining a class with lots of people. Yoga is a fantastic way of focusing your mind while increasing the strength of your core and helping you find some peace with breathing exercises. You might not think that it’s too sweat inducing, but you will be shattered after your hour long class because of the focus you have given to the activity. Yoga is often prescribed by doctors now, in conjunction with mindfulness, as an alternative to medication. Those people who struggle with depression often find great solace in being able to focus on the present and worry less about the future.
Get Fit
Being more active can boost your levels of dopamine and serotonin. These happy hormones alongside endorphins can lift your sense of well being. It doesn’t matter what body shape you are, whether you need to lose a few pounds, or whether you just want to tone up, heading to the gym can be a great way of focusing your mind away from your stress and worry.
Consider getting in touch with a personal trainer and designing a custom training plan to help you reach your goals. If you want a more pert bottom, consider a glute workout. If you want to train for an endurance event, get on the treadmill. And if you want to have fun, get enrolled in a Zumba class. The gym doesn’t have to be scary. Rope in a pal, and you can have some company when exercising, making your trek to the gym a more sociable activity.
Do Something New
It doesn’t matter what this new thing is, but by changing up your routine and doing something new, you can give yourself something different to look forward to during the working week. If you want to play the piano, get enrolled in a class. If you fancy learning a new language, take part in a taster session. And if you think you might be a talented golfer, head down to the driving range. There are so many hobbies that you could partake in, that there must be one that takes your fancy.
Doing something different gives your brain something else to focus on. This means you have less time to worry and panic about feeling low and down. You might meet some new people, extend your social circle and find yourself making friends rather than staying indoors.
Boosting your mood needn’t mean heading to the surgery and seeing your doctor for tablets, although if you are feeling particularly low, a doctor can help you find a solution. Instead, you can try these methods first in an effort to feel lighter, brighter and healthier. Be proactive and try new things, talk about how you are feeling and boost your mood starting today.