3 Simple Steps To Boost Your Mood
Hi guys, Welcome to the summer season. Holy crap it is so hot right now where I live, in North Carolina. I know other parts of the country are experiencing heavy heat waves too. Stay hydrated and wear your sun protection. It’s personally not my favorite season but, I always look forward to a fresh new season so i’m making the best of it. Today, I am sharing a few of my go to mood boosters that really work well for me. They are easy, simple, and don’t cost anything really.
We all have those days where we feel off. Maybe it’s from anxiety, stress, or just life in general. Whatever the root cause, solutions are what we are all looking for in those moments. I am one moody girl. Hello, Capricorn sun, Virgo moon and Cancer rising. Some days I wake up feeling refreshed, productive and ready to take on my day. Other days, I feel icky, tired, unproductive, in my head and certainly not on my A game. I have found some tools over the years that help me reccaiberate my mood (most of the time). These tools are free, simple and can be done through out your busy day week.
—THE ART OF BREATHING—
We take our daily inhales and exhales for granted. It’s something we do every moment of everyday. It’s just automatic, we do it and don’t even think about it. HOW we breathe is what makes all the difference. I take 10-15 deep breaths in and out. Controlled and intentional. I try to do this a couple times a day. I actually set an alarm on my phone as a reminder. Deep breathing clears the mind, stimulates the lymphatic system, reduces stress and brings you calmness. Think about it, when we are stressed or in an anxious situation, we STOP breathing. We clench up and hold our breathes. We stop the flow of oxygen. Your breathe is always with you. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to utilize it and take a few moments to breathe intentionally. Wim Hof breathing exercises are short and sweet. They give you the guidance so you can learn the technique. I typically listen to his quick beginner 10 minute course.
P.S his videos are an AMAZING way to start your day! Use this time to be in the moment, be still and collect your thoughts.
—HIGH FREQUENCY TUNES—
I love to listen to music or a podcast on my commutes, long walks, and tidying around the house. Lately, I have been tapping into high frequency music, specifically 528 HZ. Which is known for its connection to the vibrations and frequencies in the nature world. When I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed, I turn to these sounds to balance my mindset. I also like to incorporate these tunes during my stretches, blogging sessions, and house chores. This is what I am currently listening to. You can find all different types high frequency music on Youtube or Pandora. High frequency sounds release emotional blocks, support deeper meditations, increase focus and motivation, reduces stress and anxiety, and improved confidence.
—STRETCHING YOUR BODY—
If you can do this outside even better. But simple daily stretches do so much for the body and the mind. You can literally stretch in the comfort of your bed. My mom has been an avid stretcher for years and she does majority of hers in bed, before she gets up for the day. She is in her 60’s, in fantastic shape and super flexible. By tending to your muscles daily, you are working and stretching them in a controlled manner. Overtime you will see how much more flexible you feel. I do some type of stretching routine every single day. I have a 5-10 minute routine and a 20-30 min one outside (weather permitting of course) and, when I have the time. The stretches I do are specifically for me. Just stretch. Spend a few minutes tending to the muscles that do so much for you through out your day. I don’t watch any videos or subscribe to any specific classes. I have in the past and sometimes I like a trainer led course, but on a regular basis I use the tools I have learned and acquired to do what works best for me. I have a post a bit more on stretching here too.
I have had a few stressful moments over the past couple of weeks and I know it is something we all deal with, unfortunately. There are tools out there to help manage your mood. These are just 3 that I use in my day to day, that I have found very helpful. I look at it as an act of self-care. These things are important to me and how I want to feel. I prioritize these steps into my schedule with the help of adding them to my reminders on my phone. It doesn’t happen every day, of course, but doing that definitely helps me be more consistent.
Let me know if you start adding any of these steps into your self-care routine. Or if you already do something similar, comment below. See you next week guys.
XO,
Charlene
