20 Natural Ways To Boost Your Mood

Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Lori Geurin

Are you feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities? Or, looking for tips to improve your outlook on life? Here are 20 natural ways to boost your mood and reduce stress right now. Simply start by trying the ones that feel the easiest. Then you can add more mood-boosting activities later when you’re feeling more relaxed and your spirits are lifted.

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20 Natural Ways To Boost Your Mood

1. Go outside.

I work from home in front of my laptop most of the day. And I’ll admit I’m not the best about taking breaks. So I set alarms on my phone that remind me to get up, stretch, and go out in the fresh air.

And you know what? I always feel better after I do. It’s like the refreshing break I didn’t even know I needed.

Sunshine feels so good and makes me happy!

Even if it’s a cloudy day, spending time in nature reminds you to breathe in the fresh air. Clear your mind by listening to the birds chirping. And take in the beauty all around you.

2. Practice gratitude.

Keeping a gratitude journal highlights all of the good things in your life. When you focus more on the good, stress becomes more manageable.

In fact, research has shown that people who are more thankful experience many benefits, including greater happiness.

Curious about how this works? Here are 20 easy ways to express gratitude.

Related: 10 Proven Benefits Of Gratitude

3. Color or doodle.

Coloring isn’t just for kids and can be so therapeutic. All you need is a coloring book (I love this one with stress relieving designs.) and some crayons.

Or, try doodling on a piece of paper until you feel more at ease.

4. Eat something good.

Real food is good for the body and soul. The vitamins and minerals in healthy foods can boost your mood and have you feeling better in no time.

They don’t call it comfort food for nothin’. So grab a healthy snack and watch what happens.

There are so many healthy foods that boost your mood and energy, including:

• bananas
• oats
• leafy green vegetables and fruits
• coffee
• nuts and seeds
• berries
• fatty fish
• dark chocolate

Related: Top 20 Healthiest Fruits You Can Eat

5. Play a musical instrument.

If you can already play one, that’s amazing! If not, consider learning.

Creating music is one of the best ways to express your feelings and improve your mood. When I was younger, if I was feeling angry or sad, I’d play the piano and sing until I felt better.

6. Move your body.

This is one of the best ways to improve your mood and energy because when you work out your body releases feel good hormones.

Exercise has an antidepressant effect.

And, it’s all-natural.

In fact, a study found that exercise and antidepressants were equally effective at treating severe depression.

Walking is a great place to start. But, most importantly, look for an activity you enjoy so you’ll want to stick with it.

You might like:

• lifting weights
• jumping on a mini-trampoline
• Pilates
• yoga
• a kettlebell workout
• Crossfit
• jogging
• swimming
• dancing
• free YouTube workouts

or many more.

Related: 20 Inspirational Health And Fitness Quotes

7. Simplify your life.

Embracing simplicity can reduce stress and improve your health and happiness. Just ask Marie Kondo.

Easy ways to start living a simpler life include:

• picking up clutter
• cleaning out closets and drawers
• creating a simple capsule wardrobe that makes choosing your outfits a cinch

8. Take a nap.

Sometimes you simply need to rest and recharge. It’s amazing what a power nap can do for your body and your mind.

9. Try deep breathing.

This is one of the best things you can do to relax your body and boost your mood naturally. And best of all, you can do it anywhere!

Deep breathing is known to lower stress and promote relaxation.

Practice breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this 4 or 5 times, throughout the day.

Notice how you feel before and after.

10. Have fun!

Be spontaneous and seize the moment. Break out of your normal, boring routine and shake things up.

Here are 30 fun things to do at home.

11. Watch funny videos.

You know the ones.

Or maybe cute pet videos are more your thing. If so, watch those. Who can resist those cute little puppies and kittens?

Watching fun videos are great for relieving stress! And while we’re on the subject of puppies…

12. Get a pet.

Owning a pet has many health benefits, including increased oxytocin (the happy hormone), and less stress.

Playing with your pet is fun and relaxing. Not only do they bring joy to your life, but you can bring happiness to theirs too.

13. Do something.

Getting stuff done can put you in a better frame of mind.

Think about it. When you procrastinate, it causes stress and anxiety.

But, tackling your to-do list like a boss and getting things done helps you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Not sure how to start?

14. Set priorities.

Decide what’s most important right now and do that. The rest can wait.

This is one of the best ways to simplify your life and eliminate the overwhelm.

15. Take a bubble bath.

Now that you’ve done all the things, it’s time to rest and relax.

And while you’re unwinding in your calming bath, light some candles, read a book or listen to your favorite music.

16. Have a good cry.

Some people tend to hold their feelings inside. (You know who you are.) But releasing those suppressed emotions can feel so good.

Even the research supports crying as a mood-booster.

So, cry me a river and let those feelings out.

17. Be kind to yourself.

Some people are much nicer to others than they are to themselves. If that’s you, then listen up!

Learn to give yourself grace and don’t be so hard on yourself.

No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. You are exactly who you are for a purpose.

There are many simple ways to show kindness – both to yourself and others.

Want to find out what to do when you say something you regret? Learning these essential strategies will help you forgive yourself more easily and flip the script on negative self-talk.

RELATED: 50 Ways To Be Kind To Others: Simple And Free

18. Discover a new hobby.

Trying a new activity is the perfect way to get your mind involved in something new.

Here are 100 low-cost hobbies to get you thinking.

19. Pray

No matter what your spiritual beliefs may be, prayer is powerful. Research has shown that prayer is helpful for people with depression and anxiety.

Praying with hope can bring a sense of calm and peace to your life. It’s made a huge difference in mine.

20. Take a social media break.

Being too plugged in to every thing that happens in the world can cause stress and anxiety.

Taking frequent breaks from the internet and social media is not only healthy but encouraged.

Get our FREE 30-Day Social Media Detox Challenge? Lower your stress, find more free time, & boost your health with the FREE printable calendar.

Related: How To Do A Social Media Detox Challenge To Feel Better

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Summary – Simple Natural Ways To Boost Your Mood

Life isn’t always easy. It’s normal to have times when you want to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head.

Just know that these are only short-term challenges. Things will get better and these times are only temporary, so remind yourself of that if you forget.

I hope these natural tips help boost your mood when you’re feeling stressed or down.

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If you liked these simple ways to boost your mood, you’ll want to read:

• 50 Fun Fall Activities To Try This Year
• 10 Things Mentally Strong People Do
• 8 Ways To Improve Communication Skills
• 10 Fast And Healthy Sheet Pan Meals To Simplify Your Dinner Time
• Suicide Prevention: Risk Factors and Warning Signs
• 7 Ways To Be A Better Communicator
• 50 Unique Ways To Share Fun Facts About Yourself

What helps improve your mood? Share below!