Everyone wishes they could feel good all the time, but simply feeling good is often easier said than done.
Luckily, you can use a few natural mind and body “hacks” to more easily and frequently tap into feelings of contentment.
Here are some everyday feel-good habits you can take advantage of.
Read on for our concise guide on everyday feel-good habits.
We’ve partnered with Olly® to bring you this guide on everyday feel-good habits.
Over the years, many researchers have looked at how stress and anxiety can negatively affect health and well-being.
While you may not be able to eliminate all stress from your life, researchers continue to discover ways to help manage it, including:
- Progressive muscle relaxation. This practice involves directing your attention to your body and its sensations, while tightening and releasing muscles in different areas.
- Spend some time in nature.
Research from 2017 suggests that being around trees and green things can help people feel good naturally. - Take a cardio break. Research from 2013 suggests that doing 20 to 30 minutes of cardio can help with stress. Even a 10-minute walk can make a huge difference. Even better, take that walk in nature.
- Yoga. Practicing this type of exercise can lessen stress and anxiety. According to a
2011 study , yoga interrupts stress by producing an effect that’s opposite to the flight-or-fight response. - Meditate. This may reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). This practice may help you focus and remain present.
- Take slow, deep breaths. Deep breathing can help lower blood pressure and heart rate.
- Snuggle your pet. Pets could be beneficial for your mental well-being, decreasing stress and anxiety and increasing levels of feel-good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin.
- Artistic expression. Some people manage depression and anxiety by expressing themselves through art, writing, or music.
- Chat with friends and loved ones. According to a 2001 research review, studies say that socializing is associated with mental wellness.
- Laugh. Laughing to relieve stress may sound like a joke, but there is
science behind it.
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There’s a reason we refer to someone in a bad mood as having gotten up “on the wrong side of the bed.” Sleep can have a strong effect on how you feel, in both the short and long term.
Without enough sleep, the brain can’t function properly. Most adults need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, according to the
However, sleep quality matters, too. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep — the deepest stage of sleep — is when dreaming occurs, and getting enough of it helps your brain process emotional information.
If you’re sleep deficient, you may have trouble:
- making decisions
- solving problems
- coping with change
- controlling your emotions and behavior
The
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- Try to keep the same sleep schedule on weeknights and weekends. Limit the difference to no more than about an hour.
- Use the hour before bed for quiet time. During this time, avoid strenuous exercise and bright artificial light, such as from a TV or computer screen.
- Avoid eating heavy or large meals within a few hours of bedtime.
- Spend time outside every day and be physically active.
- Limit naps during the day to no more than 20 minutes.
- Make bedtime “me” time by developing an enjoyable, calming bedtime routine. For example, take a hot bath before bed.
Read more about deep sleep, its benefits, and how to get it.
Some people have discovered that using CBD oil is an effective way to improve their mood.
Studies on CBD have focused on several areas, including anxiety, pain management, and sleep. Unlike cannabis, CBD does not get you “high.”
Body aches and pains can become routine. Taking steps to manage them may help improve your quality of life.
Roughly 50 million Americans, an estimated
Progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, exercise, and a healthy diet are an important basis for pain management. Other natural remedies and some over-the-counter and prescription medications may also help.
If you have regular aches and pains, speak with a healthcare professional about how to manage them.
“Flow” is a term scientists have coined to describe the feeling of deep enjoyment you get when you’re fully focused on and immersed in an activity. Think of it as being in the zone.
To achieve flow, you need to be doing something that requires focus and challenges you just the right amount. Like a professional athlete or dancer, you have a goal to meet, but you concentrate more on the process as it happens rather than the end result.
Exercise routines, crafts like knitting or woodworking, strategy games, and any activity that requires concentration can result in flow. Choose an activity you enjoy and dive in.
It may not always be easy to get yourself feeling good. Luckily you can try a few techniques to influence your body, mind, and environment to help you achieve a feeling of contentment.
Self-care is an important part of the feel-good recipe. Consider how you can prioritize yourself more often and carve out time to relax and do the things you love now, not later.
The more you practice these feel-good habits, the easier they’ll become.