Recently, our little team of four received appreciation from our boss for completing a project successfully. We did it in record time and with inputs from everyone; nobody felt like they carried the project on their shoulders alone and everybody felt a rush of happiness with its completion. And this feeling stayed with us for days. Truly, whether it’s receiving a compliment at work, watching our children succeed in school or celebrating our siblings’ achievements, little rewards and victories have the power to fill our hearts with happiness.
While all of us experience happy and memorable moments in our lives, we often find ourselves eagerly anticipating these joyful moments, hoping they’ll bring us happiness. But must we really wait for these external events to feel joy? The truth is, happiness doesn’t have to be limited to those special occasions. Our bodies naturally produce happy hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins, which play an important role in regulating our mood and promoting feelings of wellbeing. By understanding and activating these hormones, we can be happy everyday.
With a few changes and regular practices, we can usher in more joy and make happiness a regular part of our life rather than it being a series of fleeting moments. Join us as we explore certain dopamine release activities and learn how to increase happy hormones.
Says Dr Kelly McGonigal, health psychologist and lecturer at the prestigious Stanford University, “When you exercise, it increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid — these are all brain chemicals associated with feeling happy, feeling confident, feeling capable, feeling less anxiety and stress and even less physical pain.” She explains, rather succinctly, how simply exercising can help us feel happy and boost our mood and wellbeing. Indeed, many of us can vouch for the great feeling post exercising, whether it’s running, walking or doing yoga.
Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to release happy hormones. When we exercise or practice yoga, our body produces endorphins, which are known as feel-good hormones. Even a short walk or just a few minutes of stretching can boost our mood and reduce stress, making us ready for the challenges of the day ahead.
Exercise is truly one of the simplest ways to brighten our day.
Imagine having a long day at work and coming home to a comforting head massage from your mom. It’s relaxing and soothing, isn’t it? Getting a massage can really do wonders for your mental state. The gentle pressure and calming touch involved in a massage helps release oxytocin, a hormone that promotes feelings of relaxation. In fact, regular massages can help reduce feelings of anxiety and improve your overall wellbeing, making you feel grounded and happy.
Massaging is a simple and effective way to unwind and add more joy to your day.
It may sound not-so-exciting but give meditation a chance! Sure, it can be a little difficult in the beginning. A lot of us find sitting still or concentrating to be challenging. Others fear they might get overwhelmed by the thoughts that come to their mind. But meditation is a powerful tool if we want to find inner peace and joy in the long run.
Meditating helps us feel calm, reduces stress and enables us to focus on the present moment. And with time, we keep getting better at meditating and mindful breathing. Studies show that meditation can increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that contributes to feelings of happiness.
Simply a few minutes of mindful breathing or meditation has the power to cheer us up.
To boost your happiness, try incorporating small habits like exercising, spending time with loved ones and practising gratitude in your daily routine.
Happy hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins are chemicals in the brain that help regulate our mood.
Small acts, like completing tasks on your to-do list or treating yourself to a sweet snack, can lead to feelings of joy.
Even a few minutes of meditation can be beneficial. Start with 5 to 10 minutes each day and gradually increase the time.
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