Maintaining Balance With Happy Hormones

Oct 28

What if I told you, you can control your emotions?

by LEAH HAMDOUN ★ OCTOBER 28, 2020

In college, we are constantly overwhelmed with our school work, social lives, and overall mental well-being. The inevitable busy schedule college life throws at us causes immense stress, which can lead to a plethora of side effects, such as acne, low energy, and overall poor mental health. Creating a daily routine that works for you, all while balancing your social life and academics definitely takes time and is not easy. However, we at UGirl are here to help and teach you about the science behind controlling your emotions! Take a deep breath, let your mind take a break, and check out these ways to keep a positive and healthy mindset.

So, what exactly are happy hormones and what do they do?

Serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins are what we call “happy hormones.” They’re the hormones that promote positive feelings like pleasure, happiness, and even love.

Now let’s talk about the specifics of each one:

Serotonin promotes happiness, optimism as well as satisfaction.
Dopamine regulates your mood, motivates you, and is associated with happiness.
Oxytocin causes you to have a wave of positive emotions, a wave of love.
Endorphins minimize discomfort and are a natural painkiller.

Some tips & tricks to boost your mentality:

Go outdoors!
Going outside and exposing yourself to the sun is proved to increase both the production of serotonin and endorphins. Lay in the sun, go to the park with friends, or bike around campus before the cold weather really sets in! The sun is a powerful influence that will boost your mood and make you radiate positive energy!
Exercise!
Other than having major health benefits, working out causes your endorphin levels to increase drastically, specifically your dopamine and serotonin levels. This will allow your mind to destress, all while boosting your mood. Whether it be going to the gym, or simply walking around campus, it’s unbelievable how just a little exercise can improve your mind and body substantially.
Laugh!
Joking around with friends or watching a funny TV show/movie will reduce your stress levels and boost your mood when you’re feeling down as your dopamine and endorphin levels are increased. Incorporating small things into your daily routine that make you happy will make all the difference in your mental well-being. Wake up every morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and smile for 60 seconds. It’ll make your day a whole lot better.
Listen to music!
Improve your dopamine and serotonin productions by listening to music you enjoy! Listening to your favorite music across a large range of genres actually affects the hormones inside your brain, instantly putting you in a good mood.
Go out with a loved one!
Make good use of oxytocin, the love hormone, by being with someone you love physically or even just emotionally. If you’re of the legal drinking age, you can enjoy a nice glass of wine with them for an extra mood boost since alcohol leads to the release of endorphins and produces feelings of pleasure and reward.
Meditate!
Meditation will improve your sleep and reduce your stress by, you guessed it, releasing more dopamine and endorphins in your body! Alongside meditation, manifestation recalibrates your mind and sets your intentions and what you already enjoy doing in your daily routine, as well as what more you want out of it. This simple activity attracts what you desire and what you wish to achieve by subconsciously believing it will happen!

With 2020 being such a crazy year, there’s no way to know what will happen next, so use these tips to better yourself and the environment around you. Be in control of your own emotions by making some time for yourself and focusing on your happiness. Remember to always think positive and make sure you're putting your well-being and mental health first!

Sources:

https://www.happify.com/hd/13-proven-ways-to-project-positive-energy/

https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone#affection

https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/13/health/endorphins-exercise-cause-happiness/index.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/love-hormone

https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/serotonin

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness

https://www.happify.com/hd/13-proven-ways-to-project-positive-energy/

Cover photo credit: Pinterest (tabatha-lynn.com)

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