Six Ways to Improve Your Mood

It’s normal to feel down or anxious sometimes. Between work, caregiving, finances, and relationships, among other sources of stress, life can be busy! But there are ways to support yourself in improving your overall mood. These ideas can also support other areas of your health. Be sure to ask your doctor if you’re feeling down and you can’t figure out why, or if you have any health concerns.

Are you looking for the fastest way to get happy? Exercising is right up there. It doesn’t just relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety. It also increases levels of endorphins, which are natural chemicals in your brain that tell you to be happy.

It doesn’t really matter what you do to get active. Brisk walking is often simplest because you can do it anywhere, but swimming, cycling, raking leaves, dancing, and playing tennis are also good choices. Anything that gets your heart rate up can work.

If you’re super stressed or busy, you may think you don’t have time to get the benefits. But, it only takes a few minutes of exercising to get mood-boosting benefits. For extra bang for your buck, exercise outdoors when you can. Being in nature and seeing sunlight both can make you happier.

Laughing is fun. It’s also healthy. That’s what your mind probably tells you after you experience something funny, and that’s what science says. Like exercising, laughing increases levels of endorphins in your brain. It also reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. The result can be that your overall mood improves.

Has it been a while since you had a good laugh? It can take a bit of effort to find your ability to laugh again if you’ve been so stressed out or down that you haven’t had the chance. But you can find something funny. Here are some ideas.

• Read a favorite comic strip.
• Watch a comedy show on television or your favorite streaming service.
• Get together with friends and play silly games. Ideas are a dime a dozen when you search online. The trick is to let yourself go with the flow and enjoy the experience.

Laughing regularly can improve your average mood.

Sometimes when there’s too much going on, we only notice the negative things. Or we feel that things in life are a burden. Practicing gratitude is a simple way to turn that around and improve mood. As you go through your day, you might try to point out to yourself what makes you grateful. 

Before you’re in the habit of practicing gratitude throughout the day, it might take some effort to get started. It can help to set aside 5 minutes each day to think of what you’re grateful for. 

For extra benefits, you can integrate gratitude into a daily routine. For example, in the evening, you might meditate, do yoga, or wind down with a book. Afterwards, it can be your special time to practice gratitude. That way, you can go to bed relaxed and happy, which can also set you up for a good night’s sleep.

Learning that dark chocolate is healthy could be enough to boost your mood on the spot! It’s not only good for satisfying cravings. It also has antioxidants and flavanols, which support production of a natural brain chemical called serotonin. Chocolate has magnesium, which is necessary for normal mood regulation.

These are some other foods that contain magnesium or B vitamins that are necessary for normal relaxation and energy production. 

• Blueberries
• Wheat bran
• Asparagus
• Leafy greens
• Pumpkin seeds

To double up on the mood-improving benefit of healthy foods, why not eat them with a friend? Socializing can reduce stress and help you laugh.

Are you familiar with the good feeling that comes when you do something nice for someone? Well, it’s not your imagination. It’s science! Research shows that your brain gets happy when you help someone. And it doesn’t have to be that much to get an effect.

Whom can you help? Actually, it can be anyone. And, it may be even more helpful for your mood if it’s someone you don’t know. So, any of the following are good choices.

• Helping your significant other with some of the housework that isn’t usually your responsibility. 
• Giving a friend a ride.
• Helping a neighbor with the lawn or groceries.
• Volunteering at a community event, such as making sandwiches for needy people.

It may sound crazy, but it works. Helping others really does help yourself.

Remember the mood-improving benefits of healthy foods? What if you could get a variety of nutrients in convenient patches? The Mood Stabilizer Vitamin Patch Pack has been put together with an emphasis on providing specific nutrients that support normal mood, as well as nutrients to support normal sleep and energy.*

These are the patches in the Mood Stabilizer Patch Pack.

• Sleep Aid Vitamin Patch.* It has magnesium, as well as melatonin, a natural sleep hormone, and L-tryptophan, which allows for normal feelings of well-being. Getting enough sleep is critical to having a normal mood throughout the day.
• B12 Energy Plus Vitamin Patch.* With B12 and other B vitamins, this patch supports normal metabolism. Plus, vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to higher risk for depression.
• Vitamin D3/Calcium Patch.* This patch has vitamin D and magnesium. Both of these essential nutrients are needed to prevent depression and allow for normal relaxation.
• Omega-3 Vitamin Patch.* Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for normal mood regulation.

Just use the patches for eight hours at a time and discard them. Then apply a new one the next day. You can use multiple patches at once, as long as your doctor agrees.

Don’t you want to do everything you can to be in a stable mood that’s often happy? There are many natural ways to improve your mood, and they can also make you healthier. The Mood Stabilizer Vitamin Patch Pack by PatchAid is a natural option that contains nutrients linked to normal energy, sleep, and mood.* Ask your doctor before using any nutritional supplements, and be sure to let your doctor know if your mood worsens or you have any concerns about your mental or physical health.

*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. PatchAid patches are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone with a medical condition should seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner. Individual results may vary.