8 Ways to Boost The Happy Hormones in Your Brain
In each human brain, there are a large number of hormones that play a role in regulating our appetite, growth, and mood. While all hormones are produced naturally, there are ways you can encourage the production of specific hormones in order to boost your mood and happiness.
Which Hormones Make You Happy?
Serotonin: Serotonin has a lot of tasks in the human body. The hormone regulates appetite, sleep schedules, learning and memory, along with other bodily functions. When you elevate levels of serotonin, you are stimulating your entire body’s well-being.
Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone closely associated with the reward center in the brain. Its presence impacts the motor sensor system and a general “feel-good” feeling.
Endorphins: Endorphins are hormones that can help minimize pain, stress, and anxiety in the body by blocking natural pain sensors.
Oxytocin: Oxytocin is an essential component when it comes to forming meaningful, trusting, and lasting friendships or relationships. It is known as the love hormone and is an essential component of reproductive health.
How to Increase Happy Hormones
1. Get outside
One of the only vitamins we can absorb without ingesting anything is vitamin D. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, our body naturally turns the sun’s rays into a vitamin our body can use. Elevated levels of vitamin D can help increase serotonin levels in the brain, which is why you feel so great after being in the sun! Just make sure to wear sunscreen.
2. Hug your loved ones
Hugs, physical closeness, and kissing are all stimulants of oxytocin. While aiding the building of trust in a romantic or platonic relationship, the higher levels of oxytocin are sure to elevate your mood and promote positive emotions.
3. Listen to music
Listening to your favorite song and singing along stimulates dopamine production in your body. Your body feels this as a reward and will release the dopamine hormone into the bloodstream. Bonus points if you are dancing, too! Dancing can release endorphins in your body as well.
4. Get exercise
Getting exercise does so much for your body, both mentally and physically. While your body is healing from a workout, it releases endorphins, which is why a great workout is an awesome way to reduce stress and anxiety.
5. Balance your diet
Healthy hormone production starts in the gut, not to mention that eating just about anything increases dopamine levels in your body. It's important to feed your body the right amount of vitamins and minerals it needs to carry out proper functions.
6. Laugh!
Everyone knows that nothing feels better than laughing so hard with friends you end up gasping for air. Why does that feel so great? Because your body is releasing endorphins with each laugh. Next time you're feeling a little down, maybe check out a comedy show or funny movie with some friends!
7. Meditate
Meditating regularly can aid in reducing stress by consistently taking you back to the moment rather than worrying about the future or the past. Meditation can do wonders for your brain’s serotonin and dopamine production. While meditating, the body produces a larger than average amount of serotonin, which can increase your memory and learning ability. Studies show that meditators had a 65% increase in dopamine, which remains even when regular meditators aren’t meditating.
8. Have a good bedtime routine
Getting great sleep promotes hormone regulation and allows your body more time to heal and mind rest. By going to bed regularly, you are sending signals to your serotonin receptors and regulating circadian rhythms. Good sleep also impacts your body’s dopamine levels. Having a good nighttime routine is essential to getting a good night's rest. Turn off your electronics about a half hour before you plan on going to bed and aim to get at least seven hours of sleep a night.
Looking to increase your mood? Book your first appointment at The Calm Mind with happiness expert and life coach Ashish Singh, and start feeling great today!