Just Your Best

by: Danielle Ternyila

Serotonin is a natural chemical in our bodies that affects so much in our daily lives from our moods and emotions to sleeping and dietary patterns. It is naturally regulated in your body, which does a good job at doing all these little things to maintain your health. You pass your bowels, feel your emotions, rest well and more with the help of serotonin, but in the spirit of doing your best, let’s talk about what this chemical does for our happiness and how to hack it when you’re stressed.

Studies have demonstrated that people with depression, anxiety, or insomnia have lower levels of serotonin overall. We are familiar with how healthcare professionals can treat depression with anti-depressants; these are used to help improve serotonin levels, but there are a number of ways you can feel the impact of a serotonin boost naturally too.

Naturally increasing your serotonin levels is a great way to handle the onset of stress or a mix of emotions. I use techniques like these when I am having a bad day, get in a bad mood, or just feel overwhelmed; these are tricks you can do at home, in the office, or on the road to boost your happiness and overall mood.

My go-to recommendation for how to increase your serotonin naturally is through exercise. A quick workout can be exactly what you need sometimes! Feeling stressed? Walk it off! Feeling down? Lift your spirits at the gym.

What serotonin does for our health is incredible and so impactful, so use these tricks when you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unwell. What our bodies are capable of is amazing, but we also have to make sure we are doing our best too. Incorporate these serotonin tricks into your daily life to see an overall improvement in your health and well-being.

Exercise

This doesn’t have to be as tough as it sounds; you actually do more cardio than you’d think in a day already! Consider adding more routine into your day, like a 15-minute morning workout or a weekly gym visit with your bestie to gossip and pedal your hearts out. Exercise is the perfect way to naturally boost your serotonin and feel good.

Ever heard about a “runner’s high”? That’s the serotonin boost you get from working out, which is released with endorphins and other neurotransmitters that creates a euphoric-like feeling! If you’re not up for a run, there are plenty of ways to workout that would be great for you. It’s easy to work into your routine when you find something you love, so if you don’t know what that something is yet, then keep trying new things until you find it.

Exercise doesn’t have to be “work” either, right? Sometimes my favorite ways to get active is meeting a friend at a local park for a walk or I’ll take my dog for a hike. Some days the best exercise is singing and dancing around the house while cleaning on a Sunday! When in doubt, dance it out, or do some laps around the mall.

Shopping is my cardio

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Diet

Junk food is going to bring you down, and I’m sure we can all recognize that feeling. There are foods that can boost serotonin, though, which are far better for your diet! Try poultry and eggs, spinach, milk, and nuts, for a few ingredients to help boost your serotonin naturally.

My favorite, though: dark chocolate boosts serotonin! Yes! That’s right, there is a healthy excuse for eating a piece of chocolate – but don’t go crazy! Dark chocolate is one thing, but when you add in all the crap loaded into candy bars, we are talking about something completely different, and junk food will have the opposite effect.

Soak in the Sun Light

Good old vitamin D is a great tool for boosting your serotonin and mood. Step outside on your lunch break, or be even more productive and go for a walk on lunch. The sun is good for your soul, and you’ll be feeling good and refreshed in no time, especially if you were having a rough morning in the office to start.

Stress Management

It shouldn’t be a surprise that stress can ruin our moods and put a damper on the day, but when this is managed in a healthy, balanced way, you will feel better. Keep stress to a minimum by prioritizing your happiness and staying focused on your goals. On a deadline? Stay ahead of plan.

Sex

This is a known driver in serotonin and dopamine, but your doctor probably isn’t going to remind you about it every visit. (Actually, I don’t know how many real people have openly discussed this in my life.) But like serotonin, dopamine is another “happy drug” in the body that is released through intercourse, particularly the orgasm. It’s a weird topic to talk about, but I will never forget what my college professor of Human Psychology and Sexuality class said years ago… “Smart people masturbate.” Meaning: you can use this to boost your happy vibes too, and my professor thinks you’re “not smart” if you don’t take advantage of this natural mood enhancer.

Fur Babies! (Or your favorite cuddly beardie)

This was actually a fun topic I wrote a paper on in college with sources that demonstrated college kids who had pets with them in college experienced less stress than those without or who had to leave pets at home. Spending time with your cuddly family members is just the best way to relieve stress: they love the head scratches and attention, and you always love the feeling you get when you are solely focused on them!

Your dog (or cat, no judgement) doesn’t have to be a service or therapy pet to help you with your health! Spend time with them, enjoy every moment with them. My family is a big fan of reptiles and all sorts of animals, and they are just like little family members who love you, let them help you relax. Maybe take your pup on a walk to get yourself exercising too! If you catch yourself talking to them along the walk, don’t worry; I do it all the time, and no one will say anything about it!