Whether you’re crashing hard after overdoing it on Easter candy or you just have a case of the Mondays, there’s no need to suffer through your day. What you need is a boost of your “happy hormones” - dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. These are some simple, but specific ways to trigger the release of these neurotransmitters.
Dopamine - According to Harvard Health, “Dopamine is most notably involved in helping us feel pleasure as part of the brain’s reward system. To boost it naturally, try:
- Celebrating your wins - Recognize the small accomplishments to help your body release dopamine. Even something as minor as checking off something on your to-do list can be a positive reinforcement.
- Dance to upbeat music - Make a playlist full of tracks that make you happy and shake off that stagnant energy.
- Treat yourself to a shopping spree - A little retail therapy can definitely trigger a dopamine rush. While you can’t always buy new clothes or home decor when you’re feeling down, it will do the trick.
Serotonin - This hormone is “responsible for boosting mood, as well as a host of other functions,” Harvard Health reports. Think of serotonin as your body’s “mood stabilizer,” and increase it by:
- Getting outside - Soaking up some sunlight is one of the easiest and best ways to support your serotonin levels. Even spending 15 minutes in the morning sun will help give your serotonin and mood a boost.
- Meditate - Focus on deep breathing, visualization and staying in the moment to increase serotonin.
Oxytocin - According to Harvard Health, oxytocin’s “main function is to facilitate childbirth,” but our bodies also make it when we fall in love and when we get frisky with our partner, which is why it’s nicknamed the “love hormone” and the “cuddle hormone.” To boost oxytocin naturally:
- Cuddle with a loved one or pet - Physical touch and intimacy will increase oxytocin production, but it doesn’t have to be romantic. Snuggling with your kids or pets can do it, too.
- Join a local community - Feeling loved, supported and connected can also boost oxytocin. Try volunteering, joining a book club, or going to yoga class to give that sense of belonging.
Endorphins - These are the “body’s natural painkillers,” Harvard Health explains, and they’re released in response to pain or stress. Endorphins can relieve pain and “create a general feeling of well-being” and these are two ways to trigger it:
- Exercise - Working out is the best and easiest way to get these “feel-good” chemicals flowing.
- Watch something funny - Beyond a good sweat sesh, laughter is another great way to encourage the release of endorphins.
Source: Vice