7 Ways To Boost Your Mood

Mental health typically doesn’t get the same attention that our physical health does even though it should. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on people’s mental health. According to a recent poll, 50% of Canadians reported worsening mental health since the pandemic began with many feelings of worry and anxiety. Here are 7 ways to boost your mood.

Having habits and a mood-boosting routine can help a lot when it comes to mental health

1. Do something you love

Carve out time each week or each month to do something that brings you joy. Be intentional about this time and make it something that’s scheduled and that you don’t let slide. Having this time every week to do something that you love gives you something to look forward to each week. Even if you’re still staying at home most of the time, there are lots of ways to do something you really enjoy at home.

2. Find your inner child

If you have kids, this one should be easy. Find your inner child and play pretend, dress-up, play with Lego, colour or whatever it is that brings out your inner child. Naturally if you have kids and you see your kids loving every minute of whatever you are doing, you’ll be happy and treasure that moment. If you don’t have kids, there’s no reason why you can’t find your inner child as well.

3. Laugh

When was the last time you had a good laugh? Laughter has positive effects on your mental health and immune systems. It lowers the production of stress hormones like cortisol. So how are you going to laugh? Watch reruns of your favourite comedy, watch standup comedy, let yourself be ticked. Video call a friend who always has a funny story to tell.

4. Exercise

It’s no secret that exercise helps to increase the production of serotonin in your body, which makes you feel mentally lighter. Getting your heart pumping and breaking a sweat will easily get you in a better mood. Creating a habit of movement can be anything from walking, yoga, cardio or dancing, all of which are great options.

Go for a walk or do a quick workout from YouTube or an app to get mood boosting benefits of exercise. Exercise is a great way to boost your mood.

6. Journal

Keeping a journaling is no longer something that only teen girls do. It’s become a very common practice and has a number of health benefits. Journaling for only 15-20 minutes a day three to five times a month was enough to lower blood pressure and improve liver functionality.Writing down your thoughts and feelings can give you an overall greater sense of well-being and happiness.

7. Talk to someone

Mental health can be very serious. Talking to a professional like a therapist can make a big difference to help you overcome some anxieties. If you’re not ready to talk to a professional but have a close friend or family member that you can confide in, talk to them. Sometimes, expressing yourself about what is going through your mind can help you feel better even if it doesn’t change the reality of a situation.

Regardless of living through a pandemic, there will always be a lot going on in the world that we cannot control. Two things we can always control are our attitude and our effort. Which one of these mood boosting tips will you be trying? Try any or all of these 7 ways to boost your mood.

If you feel you need to talk to a professional regarding your mental health, you can search on Medimap for a mental health clinic or walk-in clinic.