Things to do to BOOST your mood

Eat 2 fruits a day

There is a reason why they say, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Fruits have natural sugars, vitamins and nutrients that boost your immune system and can help keep your metabolism steady. Nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B, dietary fibre and folate (folic acid) are nutrients that we don’t get enough of in our diet. To help maintain healthy blood pressure, sugar levels and concentration, 2 fruits a day can certainly go a long way.

Plan Ahead

Having things in place can reduce a lot of stress. By planning your week ahead, you will have a clearer idea of what to expect and what has to be done. You can do it on a Sunday or Monday morning, although I prefer to do my planning on Sundays while I sip my morning coffee. Check your calendar to ensure you are aware of appointments, kids’ activities or meetings to attend. Also make a list of calls to be made or appointments to be scheduled so that you don’t miss a deadline. Ask your children if there are any projects or tests to prepare for in the week to come. It is never convenient for anyone if a project has to be done from start to finish the night before it has to be handed in. Fill up your car before it’s almost empty. This can save you time so that you don’t have to stop in the morning on your way to work when you are already in a rush. You know how Murphy’s Law works. Buy your electricity and water for the week ahead. Put the shopping bags back into the car after you’ve used them, so they are available for your next trip. This will ensure you don’t have to spend more money on bags when you have a whole cupboard full at home. Do meal prep. You can cook rice or even make a slow cooked meal, portion it and freeze it. You can take it out the night before and just prepare vegetables on the side. Dinner then only takes about 15-20 minutes but a home cooked meal beats take out any day.

Clean up

I love having a clean car. If my car is dirty on the outside or full of sand on the inside or even just dusty on the dashboard I don’t feel as fabulous as when my car is clean. The same goes for your desk or workstation. If you are someone that clutters, try to go through your stuff every now and again to reduce it. After a while it can overwhelm you subconsciously and put a damper on your mood. So, clean out what can be cleaned out and feel the relief and empowerment for your day.

Greet your loved ones before heading out the door

Our loved ones are the most important people in our lives, yet we so often rush so we’re not late but in the process neglect to properly greet our spouses, kids, family members or friends which can leave an almost empty or rejected feeling for them and even for you. The reality is, you don’t know if it was the last time you could have greeted them. Life is too short to neglect each other. Rather run to your car if you are late but never rush saying goodbye. Feeling loved and giving love boosts your mood tremendously.

Prepare the day before

Preparation is the key to success. In the famous words of Benjamin Franklin “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. It’s the small things that make your life run smoothly. Pack the kids’ lunches the night before. Check the weather forecast for the next day. You would definitely want to be prepared with a light jacket or umbrella if you are going to need it. Select your wardrobe the night before. Pack your gym bag and plan your route if you are going in a new direction or to make sure you know where to go to ensure you won’t be late.

Take your vitamins

Our bodies have to constantly keep up with life’s high demands, yet we are not always giving our body what it requires to function optimally every day. The quality of our food these days doesn’t provide us with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Therefore, supplements are very beneficial and important to keep you healthy and boost your system. You want to have longevity, play with your grandchildren one day, stay on top of your game at work and be there for your loved ones for as long as possible right? Eating healthy and exercising is a good start but it’s not enough. Vitamins can help you feel good and stay healthy for as long as possible.

Walk in nature

Being in nature is healing for the soul. Just hearing the birds sing, walking barefoot on the grass, seeing the stars, hearing the waves of the ocean hitting the shore, climbing mountains or even just taking a walk on a farm or in a forest will help you escape the noise and pressures of life. Breathing in the fresh air is a blessing and we often forget how good being in nature can be for you. Make time to be in nature as often as you can.

Wake up 10 minutes earlier

A lot of the time our mornings are rushed, and we feel overwhelmed and irritated before the day even starts because we overslept or ran out of time. Waking up just 10 minutes earlier can be so valuable and life changing because you can start your days in a more peaceful and relaxed state. It might take a while to get into the habit but as soon as you get used to it and feel the benefits it will be a wonderful habit to have. Encourage yourself to get up and you feel perfectly fine within 10 minutes of waking.

Change the music that’s playing

Music has a big impact on our mood. Sometimes you need that power song to get you fired up or to relax or to help you heal a broken heart. The wrong music at the wrong time can also affect your mood negatively. When listening to the radio in the car, be conscious of the music playing. When a song starts to make you feel irritated, unhappy or feel any emotion that you don’t like, change the music. The quicker you can change it the quicker your mood will adjust as well.

Do a good deed

Giving always feels better than receiving. There are many ways to give that don’t always involve money. You can make a cup of tea or coffee for someone or listen to someone who needs an ear. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Visit an old age home and sing them a song, read a poem or just go and talk to the elderly. Pay the tollgate fee for the person behind you. Buy or take lunch for a colleague, give your old clothes, toys or anything that you don’t use in your home to someone in need. Giving inspires the heart and brightens up someone else’s day. Now that’s a mood booster!

Give a compliment

A sincere compliment can change a person’s life. By complimenting someone, you magnify their strengths, not their weaknesses and that is powerful. Can you imagine the kind of world we would live in if we compliment each other more than we criticise each other? Like Joyce Meyer says, “It very inexpensive to give a compliment”, so let’s give compliments away and make a difference in someone’s day.

Stay hydrated

In our busy lifestyles we often neglect drinking enough water and that could affect the way we feel, our concentration, our physical performance and our appearance. Water is life and therefore not drinking enough water can ultimately harm you. Our bodies are full of toxins and free radicals from the foods we eat and the air we inhale. Not drinking enough water can result in poor skin health, which can lead to acne, wrinkles, or dry skin. Water can enhance your physical and mental performance. Waiting until you are thirsty is not good enough because you can become dehydrated without feeling thirsty. Try to drink at least one glass of water per hour every day, so that you will get about 8 glasses of water throughout your work or school day.