8 Unexpected Ways to Boost Your Mood Easily and Naturally

We all find we feel down at times, maybe due to facing a challenge in life or for a reason you can’t pinpoint.  Here are a few ways you may not have thought of before that could help you boost your mood today. 

 1. Make Your Bed

This habit will help keep your home tidy and make you feel good.  There are many reasons why drill instructors, organizing experts, and your mom agree that making your bed is the best way to begin your day.  They may not have realized the psychological effect it can have on you.  It will set the pace for your day with your first accomplishment, which will set you up for many more.  It only takes a few minutes but will set your mood for the rest of the day.  Then, upon reentering your room in the evening, you will get an instant mood boost from seeing the clean, well-made bed.  It prepares you for a good night’s rest, creating an inviting space to relax and head to dreamland. 

 2. Get Enough Sleep

Speaking of dreamland.  If you catch enough Z’s, you will likely be in a good mood the next day.  If you are sacrificing your sleep for productivity or time on your device, you will soon notice that your mood, among other things, will suffer.  You will feel more agitated, frustrated, sad, and angry when you don’t get enough sleep.  When you find yourself with less patience for your kids or those around you, try going to bed earlier so you will find a boost in your mood when you get up in the morning. 

 3. Eat a Bowl Full of Strawberries

Yum!  Ripe, red, juicy strawberries are my favorite fruit.  Did you realize that increasing your intake of these lovelies and others like oranges, lemons, bell peppers, and broccoli will boost your mood?  The thing that all of these have in common is vitamin C.  They are all high in vitamin C.  Not getting enough of it has been shown to lead to depression or fatigue.  Go ahead, eat a lovely juicy orange or a few more strawberries, and top them off with a little whipped cream because who can stay sad with a dollop of whipped cream in front of them? 

 4. Chewing Gum

Do you prefer mint or fruit-flavored gum?  It doesn’t matter which flavor gum you chew; chewing some may help your mental state.  A study found that participants who chewed gum twice daily for two weeks showed improved clarity, less confusion, and less anxiety than those who didn’t.  Be sure to grab a pack the next time you are at the grocery store, check out, and pop a piece in your mouth when you need a mood boost. 

 5. Use Words Wisely

There is incredible power in the words we speak.  We can use words to lift or tear down.  I bet you can recall with exact words something terrible or something equally wonderful that someone said to you in your childhood.  The terms of good can propel you to amazing things for the remainder of your life, and the words that tear down can hold you down for years to come.  Knowing the power of words, speak powerful, good, affirming words to yourself.  Pick an affirmation you need and speak it to yourself at least ten times today.  The power of those words will boost your mood, lift your spirits, and begin to set you on the path you need to be.  

 Some examples are: I am powerful.  I am wise.  I am strong. I have the power to change.  I am thankful for the beautiful things I have.  I am full of happiness and positivity.  The challenges I have faced make me a better person.  I am excited to see what the day holds.  I am exactly where I need to be.

 6. Eat a handful of Nuts

After 12 weeks of eating a diet rich in nuts, participants in a study were found to have produced more serotonin in their bodies.  Serotonin is a chemical produced by our body that has been called the happy chemical by many because of its link to boosting your mood and reducing depression.  Many anti-depressant medications contain artificial serotonin to help your body have the amount it needs to come out of the depression.  Serotonin has been linked to other health benefits, such as better sleep, controlling appetite, and improving cognitive functioning.  It is good to naturally increase this helpful chemical by adding nuts to your diet when feeling down.  Some other natural serotonin enhancers to add to your grocery list include kiwi, bananas, sour cherries, pineapple, tomatoes, and plums.

 7. Give Yourself a Massage

I remember at one of my college orientations, one of the professors gave us a mini-lesson on how to massage our shoulders to relieve stress.  He said we might need it for the many hours of studying we were about to embark on.  Researchers believe that massage may also boost serotonin levels in the brain.  Massage will also alleviate pain and tension, decreasing your mood when persistent.  If you don’t have a partner or are at work, a great way to relieve some of these aches and pains is to give yourself a little self-massage.  My favorite, and the one I was taught in college, is to find a knot or tender spot in my shoulder and pinch it tight for a few seconds.  Then, repeat as needed.  Check out this article for more ways of DIY Massage to boost your mood.

 8. Perform an Act of Kindness

Acts of kindness have been proven to increase pleasure, the love hormone, serotonin, and make you around a happier person.  On the flip side, acts of service have been found to reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and blood pressure.  The fantastic thing is you don’t even have to do the act of kindness yourself.  If you ever witness an act of kindness, you receive a mood boost yourself.  If you feel down, head out of the house looking to do an act of kindness.  If you can’t bring yourself to do something for someone else, sit in a crowded area and watch for someone else being kind.  Look for someone helping another person with a door or a package. It will help you feel better.  Maybe you will feel good enough to get up and do something kind for yourself. 

If you are in a bad mood today, try one of these different and unique ways to improve your feelings.  Tell us about the ones you have attempted to do or if you have another fun idea below. 

Then, complete one act of kindness by sharing this post with a friend who may benefit from it.