Are you in a bad mood? Or have you had an exhausting day? Sometimes, this feeling can leave you unmotivated to do your usual activities. You may need a mood booster. A mood booster refers to anything that can help you feel happier and more motivated.
Mood booster does not always have to come from people you love, but also can come from enjoyable activities, including morning running. What are other mood boosters? Explore more below!
What Is a Mood Booster?
The term “mood booster” comes from English, where “mood” refers to your feelings or emotional state, while “booster” means something that enhances it. So, it can be concluded that a mood booster is anything that can help improve your mood, making you feel happier and more joyful and restoring your spirits after experiencing a difficult situation.
If you are feeling down, one way to manage your mood is to find the right mood booster.
For example, your manager asks you to present the company’s sales report. But you forget to prepare it, so your boss reprimands you for it.
This situation may ruin your mood and leave you unmotivated throughout the workday. To lift your mood, you decide to treat yourself to your favorite food, and your mood improves after eating it.
Things That Can Be Mood Boosters
The illustration above is one example of a mood booster. There are also other examples that can help improve your mood, including the following.
1. Listening to Music
The first thing you can do is listen to music. Research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has found that music can play a positive role in improving mood and supporting emotional well-being.
The study also found that people with depression who received music therapy showed greater improvement compared to those who underwent general therapy. Therefore, if you are in a bad mood, listening to your favorite music can be a great way to lift your mood.
2. Taking a Nap
The next mood booster is taking a nap. Did you know that taking a short nap when you are in a bad mood can help improve your overall mood?
A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research stated that people who get adequate sleep are less likely to experience a bad mood compared to those who do not get enough sleep.
Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) also explained that the benefits of taking a nap include helping improve mood, boost alertness, and increase productivity in adults.
NSF also suggested that if you want to lift your mood, take a nap for 20–30 minutes. This duration is enough to reduce drowsiness and restore your energy.
3. Talking to Friends or Family
Simple things such as talking to friends or family can also be an effective mood booster. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can help ease your stress or emotional burdens.
If you are having a bad day, do not hesitate to send a message, make a phone call, or have a video call with your friends or family!
Read also: What Is Self-Healing? The Meaning and Tips to Do It
4. Spending Time with Your Loved Ones
Another way to lift your mood is to spend time with the people you love. You can meet your best friend, partner, sibling, or parents when you are in a bad mood. According to research, hugging and spending time with loved ones can make you feel loved and reassured that everything will be fine.
Hugging and spending time with your loved ones can also help you breathe more easily and lower your blood pressure. The hormones oxytocin and dopamine may also be released when you spend time with your loved ones.
5. Playing with Your Pets
Some people keep pets, such as cats and dogs. This can help them lift a bad mood by spending time playing with them.
6. Exercising Regularly Rutin Berolahraga
Exercise is another powerful mood booster when you have a bad day. Why is that? Because exercising can help stimulate the brain to release endorphins, hormones that can promote a positive mood and happiness.
In addition, other benefits of exercise include improving heart health and overall stamina. It is recommended to exercise at least 150 minutes each week. Regular exercise can also promote better sleep quality, helping you feel more positive.
7. Eating Your Favorite Food
Many people enjoy their favorite foods when they are feeling down. You can also try this approach. For example, you can eat chocolate, vegetables, and fruits.
It is important to note that chocolate contains compounds that may support the body in releasing endorphins and serotonin. Both hormones can help reduce anxiety and stress, helping lift your mood. However, high consumption of sweet foods and drinks is also associated with depression.
Additionally, consuming fruits and vegetables is beneficial for overall health and mental well-being. This is because research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry stated that people who frequently eat vegetables are less likely to experience depression compared to those who frequently eat fried foods and sweet foods.
This is related to increased serotonin levels in the brain when an individual consumes fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants.
8. Drinking Water
Chocolate is not the only thing that can help boost your mood. Drinking enough water can meet your daily fluid intake in the brain, allowing your brain to think more clearly and relieve stress.
In other words, staying well hydrated can help you feel calmer and maintain your mood throughout the day.
On the other hand, dehydration may affect your mood or cognition, as well as short-term memory. Some research even suggests an association between dehydration and delirium.
Therefore, make sure to drink at least 8 glasses per day. Choose the best drinking water like AQUA glass that can preserve its purity to the moment you drink it. As a pioneer of high-quality mineral water in Indonesia, AQUA remains committed to protecting water sources and preserving the natural mountain minerals.
So, choose your drinking water carefully by selecting AQUA as your hydration companion for any activity.
That is the explanation of what a mood booster is and how it can improve your mood. You can find mood boosters in even the simplest things.
If you have tried the tips above and are still looking for a way to lift your mood? Try taking part in the TikTok challenge #AQUADULU. You can make videos as creative as possible to have a chance to win prizes worth millions. Boost your mood! Join the challenge today!
