3 Simple Mood Hacks That Will Instantly Transform Your Day
While there are no surefire ways to improve your mood, I want to share three hacks I use to stay buoyant. While a health professional should address significant mental health challenges, there are some tactics you can use to improve your sense of well-being. Today, I share 3 of my hacks for improving mood.
1. Get Sufficient Sleep
Ask my nurse Melissa, and she will explain that I am in a better mood if I get adequate sleep of seven to nine hours.
My wife and children would agree.
Of course, I am not alone.
Studies consistently demonstrate that individuals who are sleep-deprived have increases in negative moods.
Photo by Isabella Fischer on Unsplash
Irritability? Check. Frustration. Yep. Sadness? Of course.
Moreover, sleeplessness is a symptom of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression.
Partial Sleep Deprivation Affects Mood, Too
University of Pennsylvania researchers discovered that even partial sleep deprivation can negatively impact your mood.
Here are their findings:
Individuals who were limited to only 4.5 hours of sleep per night (for one week) reported higher levels of stress, anger, sadness, and mental exhaustion.
The good news?
When the study participants resumed normal sleep, they had dramatic mood improvements.
How much sleep do you get?
Hopefully, seven to nine hours of zzz’s.
2. Move
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am my hospital’s Forrest Gump.
I walk before work.
You will find me strolling during the noon hour.
The author walks in the Seattle area.
I often write about the physical benefits of moving.
I should share more about the mental health upsides of movement.
3. Ikigai
The last item on my top three list is ikigai.
Have you heard of this invaluable Japanese concept?
Here’s what I previously wrote about the topic:
Life’s GPS: Navigating Your Ikigai
In Japanese, iki (生き) means “life,” and gai (甲斐) describes worth or value.
My ikigai is my life purpose or my bliss.
Ikigai brings me joy and inspires me to get out of bed daily.
In summary, ikigai is a purpose for being.
Each morning, I take a moment to remind myself of my ikigai.
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