How to Keep Your Spirits High

We all have good days and bad days. But what if we keep having bad days in a row? How can we keep our spirits high?

We all have days when we don't want to get out of bed. We just want to curl up on the couch with a coffee, maybe a muffin or two, and binge Netflix the whole day. And that's totally okay. We need slow days to recharge our mind and body.

But having such slow days for longer periods of time can dampen your mood. Did you know that?

I used to spend days on end huddled up inside my house, only going out when I ran out of groceries or to get food. I used to go straight to my couch after work and binge Netflix or read my books, and then go to bed. Wake up the next day and do the same thing. For weeks.

“Reducing your exercise, social interactions and mental and physical stimulation in turn reduces your happy hormone levels. And this leads to a dampened mood over time.”

And I started feeling really down. I would feel more lethargic as the days went by. I would be in a low mood. And I was confused because I thought I was doing what I loved by being inside the comfort of my house, with my TV and my books and my sugary snacks. Doing what you love is supposed to make you happy, right? So why wasn't it making me happy?

As it turns out, reducing your exercise, social interactions and mental and physical stimulation in turn reduces your happy hormone levels. And this leads to a dampened mood. Well, damn.

So I started a small routine of stuff to help lift my spirits and keep them high. These are just some everyday things - they don't take too much of your time and honestly we don't really give much importance to them in our day-to-day lives.

I'm not doing all of these things every day. But I make sure that I'm doing at least one thing each day.

Here's what I started doing.

1. Run or walk 30 minutes a day

2. Go on dinner dates with my husband

3. Dress up and go out for coffee or shopping

4. Read my favorite books

5. Eat more fruits and veggies

6. Listen to music more

Two weeks into this routine and I'm slowly getting my energy back. I still have moments when I feel down, but these low mood swings are shorter now.

So if you've been feeling down lately, try these little things. Trust me, they make the biggest difference! They will help you to keep your spirits high!

Love,

Yasho.