Learn about the many practical steps you can take to better regulate and boost your mood in the detailed post below.
Table of Contents
1. Get the help you need
Before we look at the practical and common sense things we can do to boost our mood, it is worth noting that this advice might not work for those with serious mood and mental health conditions. Indeed, in many cases what people need above all else is diagnosis and support from a qualified medical/psychological professional. Then they can choose to move on to more practical emotional regulation supports like the ones listed below once their mood has been stabilized.
To that end, if you have been struggling with low, or rapidly changing moods for 3 weeks or more it’s a very good idea to seek help from either your primary care physician or a mental health charity that can help you with advocacy and how to broach the subject with your doctor.
Additionally, how we do things matters just as much as what we do. With that in mind, if you choose to follow any of the advice below, remember to start slowly, and be compassionate with yourself. Otherwise, you could end up adding just another stick to your arsenal with which to beat yourself.
2. Get outside in the sunlight
When we are struggling with our mood it’s easy to stay inside where it feels at least a little safer. However, denying ourselves natural sunlight can further aggravate a poor mood. This is because our bodies require natural sunlight to manufacture Vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial to several important functions in the body, not least in regulating our moods. Indeed, studies have shown that Vitamin D has the power to boost your mood in a large number of cases.
Of course, not all of us can get outside for the recommended 15-20 a day due to a whole range of issues from disabilities, to mental health issues such as OCD and agoraphobia. In such cases supplementing your diet with vitamin D can help maintain a positive and regulated mood.
3. Manage your money better
Struggling financially can be one of the most stressful things a person can go through, which in turn can have a massive effect on mood. Indeed, worrying about whether you have enough money to cover the bills each month can create a great deal of anxiety and intrusive thoughts, as well as feelings of hopelessness.
The good news is that taking control of your finances and learning how to better manage your money, can help relieve a great deal of this stress. There are several effective strategies you can use to manage your finances easily. One is to make a simple spreadsheet at the beginning of each money so you know what your incoming and outgoing will be. Another is tracking your spending throughout the month, something that you can use a receipt scanner to make even easier. Oh and if you’re wondering which receipt scanner is best, just check out the linked post. Then you’ll be able to stay on top of your finances and so your mood is stress-free.
4. Learn to meditate
Another great way you can boost your mood is to learn the very useful skill of meditation. There are a range of different types of meditations available, but one of the most popular right now is a skill known as mindfulness. Being mindful is all about being present with your current experience, and when we inevitably lose that presence, to notice it and bring the focus gently and compassionately back to the body or breath.
Now, if you are expecting instant bliss through mindfulness meditation you may be disappointed. Bliss may appear, as will many other experiences and emotions, however getting to a blissful state is not the goal of this type of meditation. Instead, the purpose of mindfulness is to strengthen our mental de-fusion skills. That is to allow our thoughts and sensation to pass through our consciousness without fusing – getting attached to them.
This skill of mental de-fusion can be very useful in the long term for boosting mood because it means we get better at not listening to all the negative voices in our heads, and carrying on with the things we value in life.
5. Move that body
Last of all if you want to boost or better regulate your mood then moving your body can be a great idea. Usually, people will state that it’s because exercise releases endorphins, but that’s not the only reason that moving your body is a good idea. After all, there are many different types of movement from running, to boxing to yoga, and all can also act as an excellent release of tension and toxins in the body, which can work wonders for the mood.
Boost Your Mood
By taking steps to boost your mood, you’ll find yourself in a better frame of mind, equipped to take on the challenges the universe throws at you, and able to enjoy life.
Check out the mental health section of the blog for more.
This is a contributed post.