Are you feeling the post-holiday blahs? Do you struggle with irritability and a general bad mood? If so, you’re in the right place, because I’m going to share 5 proven ways to boost your mood every day so that your kids can see your smiling face.
I’m sure it’s no secret, but a parent’s irritable, bad mood can have a negative impact on their child’s mental state. As it turns out, it’s also not good for your own health. Anger elevates your blood pressure. Arguments slow healing time. Chronic high levels of stress is linked to various diseases. Let’s be real, though. Modern motherhood offers us plenty of stressors, and there are lots of reasons we could choose to be sour. How do we kick the bad moods and set a joyful climate in our homes?
Get the Right Nutrition
I hate to even type that out because I know it’s so obvious and has been stated a billion times, but are we heeding this advice that we’ve heard so much? Most of us aren’t. In my opinion, we get sort of glassy eyed when we hear advice so simple as exercise and eat well, and many moms think there simply isn’t enough time for that. After all, we’re stretched to the max already, and there’s barely time for a good hot shower most days, much less the time and mental space to get in a workout or plan and prepare nutritious meals. I get it! This is really a mindset issue though, and we need to prioritize this most basic form of self-care, caring for our bodies and minds. If it’s important enough to us, we can find the time to make it happen. It’s a choice.
So start small. Vitamin B12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood. Make sure you’re getting enough B vitamins and consult your doctor if you think you may be deficient.
Write
Thoughts have a powerful effect on our moods, and if we have negative or worrisome thoughts on loop in our minds, it can cause chronic mood problems. For years, practitioners have journals, logs, and other writing forms to help people heal and move past their limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns. Try a daily practice of writing. Release your negative thoughts onto paper. This can help you see the problem more clearly and help you identify patterns. From there, you can work on replacing those negative thoughts with something more uplifting and positive.
Just as importantly, if not more so, is writing daily about what you are grateful for. We’ve all heard about the benefits of gratitude, and yet this is another area that most of us just aren’t prioritizing. Life is created in our daily habits. When we change our habits, we will see real progress toward becoming the parents and people we want to be.
Dance
When you’re in a sour mood, you don’t exactly feel like doing a little jig, but that’s exactly what you should do to feel better! According to Psychology Today, dancing is an effective way boost mood and self-confidence. No wonder those Zumba goers are always smiling! Another bonus – dancing requires focus. If you’re focusing on your steps, you’re not focusing on your problems. It’s almost like meditation!
Get a Houseplant
There are five plants that have been proven to boost your mood, according to PureWow. Lavender, aloe, English ivy, basil, and peace lily each have properties will help your mood take a positive turn. Any houseplant will provide benefits, however, as they clean the air, reduce toxins and release oxygen. This is a simple hack, and you can take care of it on your next Target run!
Call a Friend
Are you having meaningful conversations on a regular basis, or are you relying too much on likes, tweets, and quick texts to communicate with people? A study out of the University of Arizona found that meaningful conversations (as opposed to small talk) make people happier. Also not surprising is that the study found that the happiest people spent 25 percent less time alone than unhappy people. Our connectedness matters! The next time you’re feeling blue, engage in a meaningful conversation with a friend, preferably face-to-face.
Smile
Even when you don’t feel like smiling, forcing a smile onto your face can trick your brain into happiness. According to NBC News, “a smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones including serotonin and dopamine.” Basically, smiling can trick your brain into thinking you’re happy, which releases chemicals that make you actually happy!
I encourage you to look for reasons to genuinely smile, though. Sure, faking one will do the trick, but seek out reasons to smile. Look at old photographs. Take a walk in nature (which also boosts your mood). Watch a funny video clip. Ask your child to tell you a joke. Life gets tough sometimes, but if we look hard enough, we can also find the joy needed to boost our moods.