Everyone suffers from anxiety or low mood at some point in their lives. For the majority of us, these are acute episodes that tend to pass. However, for others, anxiety or depression can turn into a chronic state of existence. This has a detrimental impact on every aspect of your life; your relationships, your job, your family and even your finances. Anxiety can be difficult to manage as it is a hidden condition. It’s not like a broken leg; people can tell you are suffering because of the plaster cast you are adorning. Anxiety also has a stigma attached to it. While there is no shame to suffering with your mental health, a decade ago people did not talk about their feelings and their mental well being so much. And if you did, you often received the response of, ‘Pull yourself together,’ or ‘Look on the bright side,’ as if your suffering meant nothing.
Fast forward to the early twenty first century, and mental health is taken so much more seriously and is on a par with our physical well being. Some people may not even realize that they are suffering with anxiety until they reach a crisis point. This is why you should never ignore a low mood. While it may not escalate into a chronic condition, this doesn’t mean that you cannot take some action to improve your mental well being. Take a look at this ultimate guide to help lift your mood and keep your mind positive, healthy and happy.
Vent
When we bottle up our emotions, we risk them exploding out of us in an unhealthy way. Some people punch walls, others hurt themselves, and others make foolish decisions. To prevent your emotions from getting the better of you, it’s vital that you have an outlet to vent through. Get your pals over for a coffee and have a good chat. Venting about your boss who sets you unrealistic targets and makes your day a misery can help offload those negative emotions. Anger is a powerful emotion and can be deadly if you keep it bottled up inside. Rage with your friends, share experiences and have a great catch up. Talking is hugely beneficial when it comes to lifting your mood. You will get to talk to people on your wavelength. You may even be able to offer your own advice to others – this can take your mind away from your own all-consuming issues.
Venting doesn’t have to be to another human being. Another great way to unleash your emotions is by doing something physical. If you love exercise, get yourself down to the gym and pummel a punchbag, work up a sweat on the cross trainer, or do a Zumba class. These high intensity workouts enable you to focus on other more positive things. Get your earbuds in and listen to the music that calms you down. For some, this is easy listening tunes, whereas for others it might be heavy metal. Whatever works for you! Exercise also releases your happy hormone and endorphins. These chemicals in your body create a more positive and warming glow counteracting your anxieties, stresses and anger.
Laugh
When we suffer with anxiety, we can find it difficult to find the positives and the fun in any situation. You may find yourself watching a TV show that you usually find hilarious only to not even crack a smile. You can begin to feel cold, immune to fun and isolated. To nip this in the bud, you need to surround yourself with your nearest and dearest. These individuals will act as your support network and will help you get through. They’ll be the ones that will help you to smile and laugh again. They may pop over with food and help to lift your mood by telling you anecdotes from their day. This sense of normality can help you feel warm and lighter once more. Regaining your sense of self and worth can be challenging but it is those people around you that will empower you to succeed. Being in a low mood is not fun for anybody, so cling onto those people around you.
Eat Well
A healthy diet is key to lifting your mood. An existence based on candy, chocolate and fast food will make you feel sluggish, lethargic and unhappy. You may put on weight, feel unhappy with your appearance and struggle to sleep. This can make it a challenge to break the anxiety cycle. While difficult, you need to revolutionize how you eat, sleep and live.
Consider the range of supplements you can take, that are wholly natural, to naturally boost your mood. Buying kratom wholesale could be worthy of your consideration. Taken in very small doses or made into a tea, this South Asian leaf can have natural mood boosting and anxiety relieving effects. Couple this with a newfound love of vegetables, lean meats and little sugar in your diet, and you could lift your mood naturally. Consider learning how to cook. If you can barely even boil an egg, get yourself to an evening class and start learning how to bake bread, make a pasta bolognese and rustle up something in a slow cooker. These life skills will empower you to make better food choices which will benefit your well being, both physically and mentally. Losing weight, seeing your skin become clearer and finding yourself with more energy is a fantastic way to lift your mood.
Meet New People
If you are feeling a little isolated, it can be a challenge to meet new people. However, by talking to new people and finding things in common with others, you can lift your mood. It can be nerve-wracking putting yourself out there, but the benefits can be huge. Think about joining a local group such as a book club to help you find a common interest. If you adore film and cinema, see if there’s a local movie club that you could join. For others, learning a new skill could allow you to meet new people who are also in a slightly vulnerable situation. You might want to link up and chat about how difficult you are finding your latest Japanese lesson, or guitar practise. Whatever it is that you want to learn, there will be others like you after the same experience. Be bold and put yourself out there. At the very least, you can say that you have tried it.
Get Outdoors
While you might not be a gym bunny and you cannot bear the thought of physical exercise, there is nothing wrong with heading outdoors to soak up some natural light. Sunlight powers us physically and mentally. It helps regulate your body clock giving you some much needed shut eye, and it can be beneficial to your Vitamin D levels providing you with more energy to power through your day. Being closer to nature is also proven to lift your mood. You don’t have to be a tree hugger or bird watcher to feel these benefits. We are hardwired to be close to nature, so by walking around the block or by finding ten minutes out of your day to sit in the park, you will be naturally boosting your mood.
Clean
If you have a home full of clutter, the chances are that your mind will be cluttered. It isn’t easy to feel stress-free when you can’t find anything in your home or you feel too enclosed. It’s time to go on a cleaning and decluttering spree. There’s nothing more exciting than clearing your home and clearing your mind.
Go room by room and begin storing away those things you want to keep such as sentimental items, but don’t necessarily want to see every day. Try to be ruthless. If you haven’t used something in twelve months, get rid of it either by selling it on eBay, donating it, or throwing it away. When you can see clearer wall spaces, natural light enters your living spaces easier, and you no longer have mountains of kids toys in your kitchen, your mind can feel a little less busy too. This will lift your mood and help you feel more comfortable in your own home.
Relax
It’s vital that you take some time for yourself every single day. This may only be ten minutes if you have a houseful of kids, a busy job and a manic social life. These ten minutes should be spent doing something that relaxes you, whether this is having a long hot soak in the tub, reading a book or meditating. By doing something relaxing, you can let go of the negative energy that has built up during the day. Your blood pressure will lower and your mind will become clearer. Feeling uptight is common, but by doing something that is naturally calming to you, you will begin to feel more relaxed.
Consider this guide to help lift your mood. It doesn’t matter whether you are going through an acute episode of anxiety or whether you are chronically stressed, use some of the ideas in this guide to help boost your mood and live a more positive existence.
1 comment
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