How are you feeling?
What would your answer be today? At this moment?
I hope you are sitting somewhere comfortably and feeling content with this moment. Or maybe you’re giving me an epic eye roll because you’re too tired, too stressed, and too overwhelmed to even think how you are feeling.
But I’ve got good news! Yay!
First, it’s perfectly normal not to feel OK, all the time. It’s perfectly normal to have ups and downs and sometimes have a need for a little pick me up.
Second, I want to give you some easy boosts to elevate your mood so you can stop even for a moment and despite the fact that you’re stressed.
Inspiration
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but a lot of inspirational quotes are being passed around. It’s the thread of human connection that we are seeking others to cheer us up. With the abundance of motivational inspiration out there, it shouldn’t be hard to pick one (or a few) which will boost your mood.
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s hard to stay positive, and some inspirations may feel a little bit ‘cheesy’ to you at that particular moment but look for encouragement instead. Saying that you can make it, that you’re great at what you’re doing, and that the moment you’re currently experiencing will pass may be the inspirations you need at the given moment.
One of the most charismatic inspirational life coaches, Tony Robbins, teaches that you can manoeuvre the way you feel. Through mental work, persuasion, and change in your beliefs and their meaning, you can change the way you feel. This may be a higher level of work for a beginner, but you can still seek empowerment from inspirations to shift your mood from the state of stress to relaxed (or at least less stressed, if relaxed is too much of a stretch).
Choosing something straight to the point, maybe something with a ‘heavier’ message, can help you to elevate your mood. Remember that when you’re stressed, you often may feel agitated and irritated, so you don’t want to pick something that you can easily dispute because it doesn’t ring true to you.
Eat raspberry for comfort
Are you a stress eater? A lot of us use comfort or emotional eating as a coping mechanism. Your mood is closely related to blood sugar and if you are reaching for something to eat when you’re under pressure make sure it contains sugar.
But wait!
Let me explain it before you go on a shopping trip to get bags of Tam tams.
Food containing sugar affect the insulin production and the levels of glucose (sugar) in your body. You may have even experienced previously that you feel a little bit down or more tired when your blood sugar drops. To temporarily lift it, you can deliver sugar to your body, but in the most natural, unprocessed form there is. Research shows that berries contain a high amount of phytonutrients which are responsible for the protection of your brain from the impact of stress.
Eating some berries can help you to regulate the blood sugar and elevate your mood.
Get moving
One of the fastest ways to elevate your mood is to get moving. The more stressed you are, the more upset you are, the higher intensity exercise will work. When you put your body into motion, you’re changing the chemistry of your body, you’re delivering more oxygen to all your organs, especially the brain, you’re releasing hormones such as endorphins into your bloodstream, hence elevating your mood.
I know what you’re going to say. That you’re too tired and too busy to exercise, right? And especially if you’re stressed, you don’t want to go to the gym. But the good news is that your body is not that picky! For your body, any physical movement is exercise, you just need to adjust the intensity. Dancing to your favourite song in the kitchen for five minutes may just be enough for your body to change the chemistry and boost your spirits.
Pet somebody (or something)
You’re most likely petting your dog as you read, so this one is easy. Research shows that a close contact with animals can bring us joy, contentment, and meaning. And all those emotions will elevate your mood. Animals are humans’ closest companions and expect absolutely nothing in return for providing stress relief therapy to you.
However, if you don’t have any furry friends around, your next best thing may be to watch some in action on the internet. There are a lot of funny cats, dogs, ferrets, or sloths’ videos which just by watching them can make you laugh. And we all know that laughter is the best medicine and works on many levels, elevating your mood including.
Yell in a pillow
One of the most fun and maybe a bit peculiar ways to boost your mood is yelling into a pillow.
When you’re feeling stressed, your adrenaline levels increase, and you may often find yourself being easily distracted and nervous. To realise the unused hormones, you need to break the tension. Yelling not only will boost your moods but will feel cathartic. After the tension is gone and your adrenaline drops, you can re-assess the stressful situation and look for a more permanent way to de-stress.
Yelling into a pillow may not be your ‘thing’ but give it a go next time you’re stressed and don’t judge yourself. You will be surprised how easily you can pick yourself up again.
Conclusion
When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, your mood can be severely affected. It’s hard to keep smiling when you’re feeling like your world is spinning out of control. There are many excellent ways to look after your body and mind so you don’t get overwhelmed or stressed so easily, but those quick five mood boosts will help you to get going.
Look for something inspirational, something that empowers you and matches your level of the state, so you don’t dispute it. Having something stick to your computer or desk, so you have it handy when you’re stressed, can make all the difference.
Foods have an enormous way of influencing not only our organism but especially our moods. The day-to-day advice is to avoid sugar, but on the occasion when you want to boost your mood, eating some fruit containing sugar and a high amount of phytonutrients, like berries, can provide you with the comfort you need in that stressful moment.
By changing the chemistry of your body through movement, you rerelease endorphins into your bloodstream. Endorphins are our natural pain killers and will help you to boost your mood instantly. Don’t get bogged down with coming up with an exercise. Anything from skipping a rope, jumping, dancing, or going up and down the stairs will work wonders.
Animals can really make you feel important and can make you laugh. When you’re stressed don’t forget to pet your little companions.
Some old fashion yelling in a pillow may be the best way for you to put a smile on your face when you feel stressed. As well as it’s freeing, it’s cathartic and it can open up the doors to joy quicker than you thought.
Whatever boost you pick, or whatever the sweet combination of them for you will do the trick, remember that the way how you’re feeling when you’re stressed and overwhelmed is only in this moment and it can be changed.
So, what’s your way to boost your mood when you’re stressed?
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Having problems with boosting your mood? Go on: www.annadoktor.com.au to find out more about Anna Doktor Wellness Coaching and how I can help you to beat the overwhelm once and for all. Alternatively, send me an email at anna@annadoktor.com.au or call to have a chat to see how we can work together tel: 0498016440.