When you’re having a bad day, or are feeling down, the best way to increase your happiness, may be to exercise. Hear me out on this one!
There is a strong link between exercise and an improvement in mood and well-being. Give it a try. Go for a 30 minute walk whenever you’re feeling depressed and unhappy. You’ll notice your mood starting to increase throughout the walk. When your walk is over, you’ll probably notice that you’re feeling even happier.
The increase in happiness and well-being after exercise is because of two mechanisms in our body:
Endorphins and other mood enhancer chemicals are released – exercise causes the release of brain chemicals like endorphins and other mood enhancers. This happens just a few minutes after you work out and the effect can last for a good 12 hours.
Reduces Stress – exercise also helps reduce the levels of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in the body. That means you’ll instantly feel less stressed.
For best results you want to exercise a few times per week. Take some time during your lunch break to go for a walk, or fit a quick workout in before you head to work in the morning. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re getting the blood pumping by moving around. To make exercise “easier”, I recommend picking activities you enjoy that you will stick with.
In addition to the everyday mood booster you get from exercising regularly, there are quite a few additional long term benefits. Exercise is good for your health and you will start to get fitter and even slimmer and more toned if you stick with it. This in turn will improve how you feel and how you feel about yourself. That added confidence can be a great additional mood booster.
One last thing I want to say about exercise. If possible, take your exercise activities outdoors! Fresh air and sunshine add to a feeling of well-being. Come up with some simple things you can start doing right now. Maybe it’s going for a walk each afternoon. Maybe it’s taking up jogging. Maybe it’s signing up for a yoga or Pilate’s class at your local community center, or maybe it’s joining a basketball team. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do as long as you make it a goal to get more active and move around. Switch it up and plan a group hike for the weekend, or dust off your bike. There’s a lot of fun ways to move around and enjoy the world around you.
Would you be interested in an exciting, unique, and fun way to experience happiness? If so be sure to check out Experience.Happy – our newest coloring adventure, a 5 senses immersive coloring adventure! Each month, we’ll present to you a different topic on something that will make you happy.