In this post I’ll be sharing some of my recently discovered healthy habits to boost mood and serotonin levels, naturally.
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Could we all use a little bit of a mood-boost lately?! I think it’s a collective and resounding “yes” from everyone.
Side note: This post idea has been subconsciously brewing over the past couple of weeks.
Last month, I felt called (almost aggressively pulled) to design a collection of nostalgia-inducing beaded accessories for my brand, TWG Designs. It literally wouldn’t let me sleep one night and I wrote down all my ideas on the spot. The next day I was already in full design and conquer mode. This is my favorite type of inspiration – the one that hits you so hard it’s nearly impossible to do anything else.
Once I was half way done with the collection, I began to feel my mood significantly improving. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why. Was it that I was drinking more water? Maybe it was just a good-strong-cup-of-coffee kind of day? Or could it be that I had gotten lucky with a string of really well-rested nights of sleep in a row?
It was LITERALLY a combination of everything. The cherry on top was a feeling of joy from designing something I was really excited, happy, and passionate about.
Moral: surround yourself with things and habits that lift your mood. even if it’s 0.001%. You’ll start to feel those serotonin levels rise. When we feel happy, we do better. When we do better, we feel happier. It’s a fun full circle/snowball effect that I think we could ALL greatly benefit from.
Here’s a list of some of the mood-boosting items/habits that have had significant impacts. No matter how large or small they seem. It’s the combination of everything that I think really helps deliver those happy-as-a-clam feelings:
1 – HAPPY FEET
This first one might seem extremely silly but buying these new smiley face house slippers from Yellow the Label has kept me ACTUALLY smiling more often. Since I work from home, I wear them all day long and they are a constant reminder that life is meant to be good and happy, and not to take things too seriously.
Pick up a piece of clothing or jewelry that invokes good feelings and wear it often/daily. The constant reminder will start having a lasting effect and you’ll notice the good vibes seep into the rest of your day even when you’re not actively looking for it.
2 – PASSION PROJECT
The new Beads + Baubles collection for my brand really had me feeling so happy and nostalgic about growing up in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Colorful beads and pops of cute smiley faces… I mean, you couldn’t be down or grumpy around these even if you tried. But, beyond the beads, I think what truly makes this a mood-boost is that it’s a project I felt really passionate and excited about.
If you haven’t already, try something fun and new that invokes feelings of joy. It doesn’t have to be your job or a side hustle. Even just a hobby or weekend project can help. For some reason, nostalgic feelings usually bring us joy because we think of “happier” or “simpler” times. But, we can trick our brains into those same feelings now by just participating in a fun project that takes us there.
3 – SWEAT SESSION
I’m usually one to roll my eyes at those who say “20 minutes of exercise a day is good for your mind and body, blah blah…” but here I am saying those exact same words!
I recently got a new spinning bike and it has (finally) made me excited to work out again. For a while I felt super unmotivated to work out beyond a 45 minute walk every so often. It was starting to take a toll on my mental (and of course physical) health.
For me, the spinning bike and some youtube spin classes set to music is all I needed to get my booty up and excited. I have been consistently spinning around 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week for the past month and while it’s not a TON of exercise, I still guarantee it’s helped boost my serotonin.
Tip: just find one thing that makes you excited to move. If you don’t love working out – dance around, water your garden, do anything that makes you sweat and get your heart rate up.
4 – COFFEE O’CLOCK
This is going to sound beyond basic, but finding a new coffee recipe, and making it an afternoon “ritual” has also helped boost my mood significantly. Not only is it something fun for my taste buds, but I also find myself really looking forward to my 3pm coffee break.
In my case, it’s just a simple combination of cold brew and vanilla flavored oat milk creamer… really, nothing revolutionary. But, it’s the idea of trying and discovering something new that really helps me have a little kick of happiness every afternoon.
If you feel stuck in a rut, add something new to your food/drink routine and watch it amp up your mood for the rest of the day.
5 – DOING NOTHING… BUT OUTSIDE
In a recent post, I talked about the importance of sometimes accepting the act of just “doing nothing.”
This is usually easier said that done, especially when we feel like our to-do list is miles long and everything is of utmost importance. But, I’ve started doing 10-15 min “nothing” sessions outside. Even if you think it doesn’t, this fits easily in your day. Replace the 10 minutes of scrolling you’d be spending on social media. Yes, we somehow always have time for that.
Instead, wherever you are, go outside for a break and just sit – doing literally nothing, no music, no podcast. I make it a point to avoid even looking at my phone. This helps clear your mind. You’ll start hearing sounds and seeing things you’ve never noticed. Just taking a few minutes to zone out and forget about stressors or deadlines is a form of meditation without the “pressure” to actually meditate, if it’s just not something you’re into.
Why do this outside? The extra benefit of natural vitamin D from the sun (even on a cloudy day) is so good for upping those serotonin levels.
Hopefully this helps encourage some new healthy habits to boost your mood. Reminder: even just a 1% increase is better than zero.
Xx Laura
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