5 Instant Mood Boosters
Rainy days happen–even to the most cool, calm and collected of individuals–but having the right tools at your fingertips can help you stay balanced and boosted through any storm.
Here are my top 5 natural mood, energy and brain boosting tips:
Get outside for a walk - great for reducing anxiety, separating yourself from the chaos of everyday life (work, EMFs, kids, chores, etc.) and reconnecting with Mother Nature is one of the fastest ways to calm the entire body. If possible, go for a walk in the woods or find an area adorned with trees–there’s a symbiotic relationship between plants and humans. And, all you need is 10-15 minutes! Studies have shown that a 12-minute walk has positive effects for several HOURS afterward.
Pro Tip: chase the sunshine on your walk. For most people, 15-20 minutes of sun exposure provides a megadose of easily-absorbable (mood-boosting) vitamin D. Although peak hours are 11am to 1pm, getting your sunshine before 9am may be even better: natural light hitting your eyelids sends a message to the brain that helps regulate your circadian rhythm. This simple hormone rebalancing tip offers sleep support, enhanced energy and more!
Eat a square (or two!) of dark chocolate - this yummy treat provides a concentrated dose of antioxidants, magnesium, iron and brain-boosting fats along with a slight amount of caffeine. Dark chocolate is a natural dopamine (feel-good brain chemical) booster and true superfood that I personally include in my diet EVERY single day.
News Flash: not all dark chocolate is created equal. I recommend sourcing organic, at least 70% cacao content dark chocolate that contains less than 10g sugar (and preferably no more than 6g sugar) per serving. Enjoy up to 1 oz. per day to prevent 3pm crashes or in place of sugar-laden desserts. Alternatively, you can add cacao powder to your next berry smoothie and/or top with cacao nibs for a seemingly “too good to be true” breakfast option.
Mix up a greens powder in water - easily-absorbable greens in their dehydrated, powdered form, such as spirulina, wheatgrass and chlorella, are packed with chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals–nutrients that energize, detoxify, boost immunity, alkalize, support weight loss and MORE!
How To: simply add an organic greens powder to a Blender Bottle with filtered water. Shake well, then drink for an instantly hydrating pick-me-up.
Add adaptogens - known for their ability to help rebalance the body during periods of high-stress, adaptogens are a class of herbs and medicinal mushrooms that have a unique ability to “adapt” to what your body needs at that specific time.
How To: varieties such as ashwagandha, maca and cordyceps (mushrooms) can be incorporated into your supplement regime, morning coffee or smoothie for adrenal support, hormonal recalibration, immunity, energy and improved brain function.
Put pen to paper - while it’s great to have an arsenal of tools to help change your state (see tips 1-4), it’s also important to sit with–and actually feel–your feelings. If you notice negativity, zapped energy, depression and/or anxiety arise, instead of suppressing and stuffing these feelings away, bring awareness to them. Reflect on the events leading up to this emotion: who did you just interact with? What did you just eat? What activity did you just engage in?
Do It: get out your journal and write about anything that comes to mind. Putting pen to paper will help you process your thoughts and release their intensity. I recommend doing a “brain dump” for at least a few minutes every night (or during the day as these intense, possibly overwhelming, thoughts, feelings and/or emotions arise).
All humans go through different seasons of life. Yes, that’s right, even spiritual health gurus have bad days! Although going for walks, eating greens and dark chocolate, taking adaptogens and journaling can certainly help, if you are feeling depressed or anxious on a regular basis, I encourage you to reach out to friends, family or professionals who can provide you with customizable tools that will help YOU, specifically, recalibrate.
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