When was the last time you felt happy? Sad? Excited? Nervous? Perhaps that’s a bit of an intense start for a Sunday morning.
All of our feelings, our moods, our emotions, are influenced by our brains and our guts. Chemical reactions take place, synapses fire, hormones and neurotransmitters are released, and this is the basis for much of what we feel.
So while we might not be able to control external factors that influence our mood, we can control physical and mental stimuli that impact what’s going on inside us.
Most people know that exercise makes you feel better. Even if you hate every second of it, and you’re miserable about going for yet another jog, afterwards, annoyingly, you DO feel better. That’s because exercise compels our brains to release endorphins from the pituitary gland. These endorphins act as a natural painkiller and instil a sense of well-being. It’s like you’ve hacked your brain.
Exercise also makes your body release serotonin, the happy hormone (technically a neurotransmitter, that doesn’t have the same ring), as does spending time in bright sunlight. Serotonin comes from both the brain and the gut, and it’s actually the chemical targeted by the most common antidepressants. Find ways to up your serotonin production, and you’ll naturally feel better. Simple, right?
If you’re stumped about where to start, don’t worry! We’ve put together a guide on our Instagram.
