Supercharge Your Happiness Hormones
Need a happiness boost? Engaging in activities like working out, laughing, and tuning into music can supercharge and boost feel-good hormones in the body!
Articles on the biology of happiness and just about every happiness handbook out there praise these natural four mood boosters. But first, let’s break these down a bit. Hormones are like determined messengers searching for specific receivers in your body. These receivers, hanging out in your nervous system, welcome these hormones, essentially turning them into signal carriers known as neurotransmitters. Happy hormones are like your body's positivity promoters. They're on a mission to boost your brain and body's happiness quota.
Serotonin: This multitasking hormone and neurotransmitter plays a role in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and digestion, and even boosts learning and memory. Some common effects of low serotonin levels include depression, increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, irritability, appetite changes, digestive issues, low energy and fatigue and reduced libido.
Endorphins: Your body's natural painkillers, endorphins, step in when life gets tough, be it stress or discomfort. Plus, they throw a party in your brain when you indulge in enjoyable activities like feasting or sweating it out.
There are both genetic and non-genetic factors that can contribute to endorphin deficiency. Some conditions associated with endorphin deficiency are anxiety, depression, chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, and sleep-wake issues.
Dopamine: The brain's ultimate pleasure ambassador, dopamine reigns over your reward system. It's the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasurable sensations, learning, memory, and more. Low dopamine in the body can cause a number of problems, including changes in mood, memory, sleep, and social behaviour.
Oxytocin: Dubbed the "love hormone," oxytocin isn't just for childbirth and bonding; it's the trust and empathy booster that thrives on physical affection and tight-knit relationships. Oxytocin deficiency can present in various ways, including poor communication, irritability and inability to feel affectionate, heightened anxiety, feeling little joy in life, and sleep disturbances.
We want to help you supercharge those happiness hormones! If you need a happiness boost, use these tips to increase your brain's production of key mood hormones.
1. Find The Light- Give your serotonin a sunny boost.
Step outside and soak up some natural light—it's like a mood-boosting elixir! Studies reveal that basking in the sun's UV rays can kickstart serotonin production. Take a breather for 15 minutes a couple of times a week, and embrace the great outdoors. If you're bored of the same old backdrop, mix it up and explore a new corner of your city or visit a nearby park.
2. Exercise - Working out doesn't just pump up your muscles.
Scientists have been digging into the fascinating connection between exercise and brainpower for several decades. And here's the indisputable, no-nonsense nugget of wisdom from all those studies: Working out doesn't just pump up your muscles; it's a full-blown brain makeover that makes you feel good right away and acts as a long-term investment in your wellness.
Ever heard of the elusive "runner's high"? Exercise isn't limited to endorphins; it's a triple threat. Not only does it unleash endorphins, but it also cranks up your dopamine and serotonin levels, elevating those happy vibes!
Exercise such as Yoga has been known to increase oxytocin. The first study to identify the effects of yoga and oxytocin was published in 2013. It determined that students showed a significant increase in oxytocin levels during yoga and social bonding. This is perhaps why we are also drawn more to practising together in a yoga class than on our own.
3 Laugh- Yes, laughter really is the best medicine.
Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Laughter is a potent elixir for kicking anxiety and stress to the curb while giving your mood a turbocharged lift courtesy of dopamine and endorphins.
So, hit that 'share' button on that video or meme that makes you smile, or tune in to a comedy special with a pal. You’ll even bring in the oxytocin with that shared experience and connection!
4. Music- Play that funky music.
Sure, you might crank up the tunes just for the fun of it, but here's the kicker: music isn't just about enjoying the beats. It's your mood lifter, focus enhancer, and motivation amplifier. When you groove to your favourite beats, your mood gets a glow-up, and serotonin production gets a boost.
For a dopamine kick, seek out those spine-tingling instrumental pieces. They're like brain fireworks and boost your dopamine levels. Are you a musician? Performing music is a full-on endorphin fest, especially with others! Check out this article that explores what researchers figured out about the qualities in a song that make listeners feel better. This is the playlist packed with 715 songs guaranteed to change your mood.
These hormones boost your well-being and provide health benefits that lead you to live a happier life — if you know how to harness them. So, try some of these out! Tune into your body and notice how different activities make you feel, both in the moment and the hours afterward.
Need some support? Don’t hesitate to book a consultation with one of our Benchmark Counsellors online here!