Natural, Healthy Ways You Can Boost Your Mood and Improve Your Well-Being

If someone has a bruise, sprain or broken bone, you can see it right away. But it's harder when someone is struggling emotionally or mentally. When it comes to your overall well-being, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Your mental health contributes to multiple aspects of your everyday life, including your mood, your digestive health, and your overall quality of life. While there may be a misguided belief among some that emotional ups and downs happen mostly to angsty teenagers or those going through a midlife crisis, seniors can also experience mental health concerns, especially after trauma of some kind. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 20% of people over age 55 experience anxiety, depression or mood disorders. While these conditions can sometimes feel overwhelming, there are ways you can help keep your mental health in check. This blog post will discuss how to improve your mood and energy.

Your Mind Regulates Your Mood

An important factor in the quality of your mental health is your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps with everything from regulating your mood to aiding regular digestion. Having the proper level of serotonin can help promote good sleep, regulate appetite, stimulate learning, and help promote positive feelings. That’s why it’s important not to dismiss the importance of your own mental health and learn natural ways you can boost your mood by increasing your levels of serotonin. This will help your body function the way it’s supposed to.

4 Ways to Boost Your Mood

When it comes to improving your mental well-being, what are your options? Here are four simple things you can do at home to naturally increase your levels of serotonin and boost your mood.

1. Have a Morning Routine. By following a routine each morning, you’ll set a positive tone for the day before you even get out of bed. Your morning routine can be as simple as stretching, eating a healthy breakfast, and brushing your teeth.
2. Eat Mood-Boosting Foods. A variety of healthy, delicious foods — like bananas, berries, spinach, oats and citrus fruits — that actually help boost your mood. By adding some of these foods into your everyday diet, you’ll naturally be able to enhance your mood.
3. Drink Water. When your body is dehydrated, it can cause you to feel agitated and fatigued, and can even be life-threatening. By drinking plenty of water each day, you’re helping your body function properly, boosting your mood, and improving your digestion and immune health.
4. Let the Sunshine in. Sunlight has many benefits. By opening your blinds to allow the natural light into your environment or spending a few minutes in the sun, you can make a big difference in your mood. A few minutes of natural sunlight can also help ward off seasonal depression and improve your quality of sleep.

If, after trying these four simple tips, you’re still struggling with how to improve your mental well-being, seek the advice of your physician or speak with a counselor. Your mental health is too important to ignore.

Boost Your Mood at Grace Ridge Retirement Community

At Grace Ridge Retirement Community, we understand the importance of your mental health and offer many ways for residents to boost their mood and enhance their overall quality of life. Members of our senior living community enjoy an enriching lifestyle complete with opportunities for personal growth, physical improvement and spiritual development. You’ll have the chance to choose from a wide variety of social activities and opportunities that interest you, including:

• Being part of a club
• Attending one of our on-campus programs
• Joining others in spiritual fellowship
• Taking a class at Western Piedmont Community College
• Going to Phifer Wellness Center — a 26,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center — which features a heated indoor swimming pool, yoga, racquetball courts, personal trainers, massage therapists, and cardio-fitness
• Golfing, dining and socializing at Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club
• Volunteering

Please contact us at 828-263-4810 today to learn more about all the opportunities available for you at Grace Ridge Retirement Community.