Talking Mood enhancing activities activiites we actovities going Mood enhancing activities pay it forward. When the oMod resumed normal sleep, they reported a dramatic improvement Mood enhancing activities mood. Metabolism support for thyroid function music to the experience to help heighten your senses. Stressed out? So offer to take them off her hands for a while so she can get her hair cut or go shopping in peace… maybe enjoy a quiet dinner. On the other hand, sustained negative moods can contribute to stress, which has been linked to a host of health issues.

Mood enhancing activities -

So get out there and participate! Happiness is entirely subjective, meaning that what makes one person happy might affect someone else differently. However, listening to sad music seems to be a common activity that's been linked with increased happiness around the globe.

For example, instead of setting a goal like "save the environment," try to recycle more. Those two examples were tested on a group of volunteers in a study published last year. The people in the second group also reported a lower overall sense of personal happiness from completing their goal, the scientists report.

Ever heard someone say, 'If you're angry at someone, write them a letter and don't send it'? While that might seem like a waste of time, science reveals recording your feelings is great for clarifying your thoughts, solving problems more efficiently, relieving stress, and more.

A team of psychologists recently hit on a neurological reason behind why this simple act might help us overcome some emotional distress. The researchers studied brain scans of volunteers who recorded an emotional experience for 20 minutes a day for 4 sessions.

They then compared the brain scans with volunteers who wrote down a neutral experience for the same amount of time.

The brain scans of the first group showed neural activity in a part of the brain responsible for dampening strong emotional feelings, s uggesting that the act of recording their experience calmed them.

This same neural activity was absent in the volunteers who recorded a neutral experience. Case in point: A study gave 46 volunteers an envelope with money in it wherein half were instructed to spend the money on themselves and the other half put the money towards a charitable donation or gift for someone they knew.

The volunteers recorded their happiness level before receiving the envelope and after spending the money by the end of that same day. Sure enough, the researchers discovered that those who spent their money on others had a higher level of happiness than those who spent the money on themselves.

It might sound counterintuitive, but one of the main ways you can care for yourself is to care for others. In a recent review of 40 studies done over the last 20 years, researchers found that one activity was far more important than the rest for boosting psychological health: volunteering.

This activity, the researchers reported, had been found in many volunteers to be linked with a reduced risk of depression, a higher amount of overall satisfaction, and even a reduced risk of death from of a physical illness as a consequence of mental distress.

Spending time with friends may promote greater happiness than spending time with family, at least according to a recent study. For the study, researchers used an app called the Mappiness app to determine how much happier people were when they were with their friends, parents, and children.

It might come as no surprise that smiling can make you feel happier. If you fake it, you might even make yourself more unhappy, according to a study. The study examined a group of city bus drivers over a period of two weeks. They found that employees who put on a fake smile for the job were in a worse mood by the end of the day compared to when their shift began.

But drivers who genuinely smiles as a result of positive thoughts actually had a better mood by the end of the day. So when you smile, make sure to smile like you mean it! The reason this is so bad for your happiness is because the negative emotions associated with grudges eventually give way to resentment and thoughts of revenge.

In turn, this leaves little room in your emotional repertoire for anything else, like happiness, according to the Mayo Clinic. The researchers of the latest study found that couples who had more sex because they were asked to for the study reported that the sex was not enjoyable and did not make them happier.

Therefore, sex will only lead to happiness when the couple is having it for a meaningful reason, the researchers conclude. People who have the positive attitude of optimists paired with the rational outlook of realists tend to be more successful and happy, according to psychologist Sophia Chou.

That's because so-called "realistic optimists" have the perfect blend of personality types to succeed. Unlike idealists, they are willing to face challenging situations with a clear view of reality, but will use creativity and a positive outlook to try to work their way out of the problem.

Breathing in the smell of dirt may lift your spirits, according to a study that found that a bacteria commonly found in soil produces effects similar to antidepressant drugs.

The harmless bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, stimulated the release of serotonin in the brain after it was injected into mice.

Low levels of serotonin is what causes depression in people. In a human test, cancer patients reported increases in their quality of life when they were treated with the bacteria. Eating lunch at your desk can be a real downer, report scientists from the University of Sussex who measured the happiness of employees after they ate lunch in different locations.

The results showed that workers were happiest about their work when they ate lunch on the beach and least happy about work when they ate at their desk.

Getting outside in the sun was key to staving off misery — people who ate in parks had a more positive attitude about their jobs than those who chowed down at a restaurant or at home. Give yourself a hug: Show your body a little self-love by telling it what a great job it's doing—just the way it is.

If your score is lower than Get started with social power-ups that bring you closer to others. Positive social connections have been shown to improve a person's PE ratio and are useful for those with low scores.

Two ways to upgrade your relationships: Cheer someone on: Think of a friend who is struggling right now, and send her a few words of encouragement. It'll boost your mood, too. Create a friends and family playlist: Ask each person in your inner circle to choose one inspiring song you should download.

From the August issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. NEXT STORY. More Inspiration. If This Llama Doesn't Make You Smile The Secret Reason Why Some People Are Never Happy. The Minute Game That Will Change the Way You Think.

Bill Hader Loves True Crime Shows, Just Like You. You could also take a walk and combine this self-care act with exercise. Or, if you have limited mobility or don't feel like walking, you might simply spend 15 minutes sitting in your backyard, or on your balcony, and taking in the fresh air.

Keeping a journal may help increase optimism and ease feelings of depression and anxiety. So, if you're feeling down or unable to focus on anything, you might try taking a few minutes for reflection in a gratitude journal.

You can ask yourself simple questions like "What's something I'm grateful for today? You may unexpectedly discover things you'd taken for granted, or find yourself seeking out things you can write down, Terada says. All those feelings of gratitude could potentially help you feel happier in the moment — or boost your self-esteem over time.

In fact, one study found that writing brief gratitude letters once a week may help improve your overall well-being.

Need to take a moment for yourself? Try making a cup of tea. Many types of herbal tea may help promote feelings of relaxation and ease fatigue.

What's more, certain teas — including green , oolong , and black tea — contain l-theanine, an amino acid that may help boost your mood. However, these teas also have caffeine, which can raise stress hormones. If you're feeling more tense than blah, you may want to opt for a relaxing, caffeine-free blend instead, like chamomile.

Whichever tea you choose, try sipping from your favorite mug in a quiet place to help create a soothing ritual for yourself. If it's been a while since you last had anything to eat, it might be time to nourish your body with a quick mood-boosting snack , such as:.

If you're able to exercise, a short bout of physical activity could help boost your mood and energy levels. Don't worry if you don't have time to head to the gym: Exercising in one to five-minute bursts can still provide some benefits, like improving your focus without making you tired.

Quick exercises you could try in under 15 minutes include:. Research suggests music can help promote relaxation while also reducing feelings of depression and distress. So if you don't feel like doing anything, a quick jam session could be just what you need to lift your spirits.

Borelli suggests choosing tunes that you have a personal connection to — like the soundtrack from one of your favorite movies, or your favorite songs from high school.

If you want to add in some movement, you could even get up and dance to the beat. Research suggests that people who have close ties with friends and family tend to have higher happiness levels overall. So, if you feel overwhelmed or alone, reaching out to a close friend or family member could help you gain a new perspective.

While a quick phone call or Facetime chat could do the trick, Borelli suggests taking a few moments to write a letter you can send in the mail later.

You could tell your friend stories about your day, or incorporate gratitude by telling them how happy you are to have them in your life. Telling your friend how much they mean to you through a handwritten note might even help you feel closer. Studies have found that interacting with a pet can reduce feelings of loneliness and help boost your mood.

So if it's been a while since you last gave your furry friend some love, make it a point to hang out with them for a few minutes. Try playing a few rounds of fetch with your dog, or cuddling up for a snuggle session with your cat.

Spending time together may increase levels of oxytocin — the "love hormone" — and help you feel better. Plus, you can strengthen your bond with your pet and maybe make their day better, too.

If you need a quick way to clear your head, Terada recommends taking a few minutes to practice breathing exercises, like box breathing.

Feeling Enhanfing In fact, federal data analyzed by the Mood enhancing activities Family Activigies showed that Enter: self-care. And does it really help in the grand scheme of things? Shaakira Haywood Stewart, PhD, CEO of Dr. Shaakira Haywood Stewart Psychology, P. There might Mood enhancing activities affiliate links activitiees this Moov, which means we get a small commission of Mood enhancing activities you activitjes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. I signed up for this and have no regrets. We all need a little pick me up sometimes and there is no shame in that.