Formulas for Happiness

Now I know what you are thinking. With a title like “Formulas for happiness,” this must be some guru nonsense. If we had found the ultimate solution to happiness, someone would have bottled it a long time ago. So I am not saying that this post will contain the ultimate secret for happiness, I am just suggesting a few different things that might help you turn your bad mood around. Not all of these options may work for you, but if something helps it is always worth a try!

Grounding

Grounding is a way to reconnect to the earth. This could be as simple as going outside and walking on your bare feet or wading in the ocean. It helps to lower your blood pressure and helps relieve stress. 

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Connecting to nature

Even simply looking at nature can reduce your stress. If you can’t go out for a hike in the woods, try keeping potted plants in your office and home. If you can’t handle plants because of allergies, try picking art pieces with nature scapes to hang where you can see them in a moment of stress. 

Click Here to Learn About the Benefits of Walking

Smiling

The song put on a happy face comes to mind when I think of smiling. Even when you don’t feel like smiling, doing so can help release endorphins into your body which will make you feel better. Smiling is also contagious. If you smile at someone else, they may just smile back which will make you feel better as well. Smiling also helps with productivity because smiling produces a positive attitude. When you have positive emotions, you are invigorated which makes you want to be more creative which in turn benefits your work environment. 

Listening to music

I am always surprised how much show tunes affect my mood. I believe it's because most musical theatre songs have such great beats that you instantly want to dance. Whenever I get depressed I try to turn on some Andy Grammer because almost all of his music is upbeat and can drag me out of my bad mood. Music can also help to psych you up, why do you think baseball players pick the songs that they do when they go up to bat? If you want to take it a step further, try singing with your music. 

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Theatre

This is one close to my heart, but theatre can have so many benefits to your mental health. First of all, you get involved in a community like no other. Truly, there is nothing like being thrown together with a group of people for three months with as much intensity as putting on a show. You are encouraged to be your complete natural self when off stage because everyone puts on a face for the character. When you come off stage, you can’t help but revert to who you are. 

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Dance

Dance helps you in so many different ways because there are so many different styles of dance. If you need to relieve some stress or anxiety you can channel that into expression. Dance also helps to build your strength and flexibility which in turn can help reduce pain and stiffness in your body.

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Written by Sharla Ball