Let’s explore some ways on how you can improve your dull mood naturally.
How often does it happen that you wake up feeling low and dull in the mornings which otherwise are supposed to make you feel fresh and happy. Sitting in your bed, you put in a lot of thinking to what made you feel like that but there’s nothing that you can point out to. This feeling not just spoils your morning, but your mood for the entire day and with that negativity cloud hovering over your head, your activities planned for the rest of the day get affected too.
Imagine the impact on any of the important tasks that you might have lined for the day like a meeting, presentation or may be an interview. Do you think you will be able to perform well and give in your 100% with myriad of thoughts and all the bickering around.
Let’s see what could be the possible reasons for our moods going all crazy. The reasons could range from emotional, physical, professional, technological to trivial like
1. Insufficient Sleep
Any individual requires 6 – 9 hours of sleep to navigate smoothly through the day. If this minimal requirement is not met, one is bound to feel low, irritated, lethargic and drained.
2. Poor Nutrition
Our body needs a balanced diet to be healthy. If you are omitting out foods like Green leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, fish and dairy from your diet for any specific reason then you are not getting enough of minerals like Calcium, folate, Magnesium, Iron etc, Omega Fatty Acids and Vitamins that help in mood regulation.
3. Monotonous Routine
They say – Change is the only constant in life. A monotonous routine i.e. doing same activities each passing day, is a big time thrill killer. Hence, it becomes important to have slight changes – may be a different job, a different attire, furniture, food, thought process and so on.
4. Stress – Personal, professional, financial, health etc.
We definitely live stressful lives. Peer pressure, promotion, managing work deadlines, health concerns, finances, Loss of loved ones – all affects us.
5. Smartphone Bingeing
The constant social media notifications, emails and hyper connectivity is not always great for our mood. We get stressed, connected but aloof.
6. Indoor
We travel in air conditioned and closed vehicles, live in houses with little air and light ventilation and stay away from nature in concrete jungles. We live suffocated lives thus, the repercussions on mood and health.
Understanding the Effect
Insufficient Sleep and nutrition, routine maladies, technological bingeing etc, all these lead to stresses in our body. When stressed, our brain signals the adrenal glands to release hormones like norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol and dopamine.
Norepinephrine and Epinephrine act as stress hormones and neurotransmitters. They are responsible for keeping us alert, focussed, improve mood and concentration. In an event of a stressful situation, they cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. which leads in more oxygen intake for energy generation required by the body in the event.
Cortisol is another stress hormone that regulates various vital functions in the body like maintaining blood sugar, salt and water balance, blood pressure, regulating our sleep-wake cycle, mood etc. In stressful situations, it ensures that the body’s energy gets allocated to the relevant functions required for fire fighting.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and pleasure hormone. It plays an important role in memory formation, movement coordination and cognition. It is released when one experiences pleasure (be it sexual, a reward or an addiction), helps in being attentive (also awake) and promotes creativity.
Excessive stress can actually create an imbalance of these hormones thus causing an increase or decrease in their secretion that might lead to various ailments like Cancers, Parkinson’s disease, Diabetes, Depression, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Cardiovascular Diseases, Obesity, Blood pressure including Mood Disorders.
Is it possible to maintain a balance of these hormones naturally?
A bad or a dull mood is something very obvious but how wonderful would it be, if we can have some foolproof ways through which we can brighten and lighten ourselves !!!
Yes, It is possible to maintain a balance of these hormones naturally. How? In the following ways:
- Try Exercising
- Get some diet focus
Exercises
Exercising helps in improving mood naturally.
When one performs any kind of exercise, even as low as 30-60 minutes, brain releases BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) protein considering it a moment of stress. BDNF is vital for brain’s health. It promotes brain cell growth, repair and ensures a smooth transition of signals between them. Hence post exercise you feel relaxed and happy.
Exercising not just causes the release of BDNF but also Endorphins that contribute to minimising pain and triggering positive feeling.
Exercising also helps with :
- Inducing confidence and positivity which helps in controlling stress levels.
- Triggering fitness by strengthen bones & muscles
- Keeping a better sleep cycle.
- Helping to fight cardiovascular diseases
- Making you active and energetic
Nutrition
You are what you eat. So true! Eating a balanced diet is a great way to be happy and improving mood naturally. Have a diet that’s rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Probiotics, B-Vitamins, Vitamin D and Selenium. Take fresh and whole foods. Go for Intermittent Fasting. Avoid Sugar and processed foods.
Soak in some sun
Apart from food, natural sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D. Natural light and a well ventilated space has been found to induce feelings of happiness and positivity in individuals.
So, now you know why any form of exercise keeps you away from stress and helps to fight depression. One more reason to enroll yourself into exercise routine and stay fit and happy.
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