10 Natural Mood Boosters For Mental Balance and Positivity

When it comes to getting through the day---and week---keeping a balanced, positive mood is one of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being. But between hectic schedules, work obligations, dinners to be made and ongoing to-do lists, it can feel downright impossible.

The good news is that we’ve found some simple, fast, and effective happiness hacks to help you get through your week … no matter how pressed for time or energy you are. Here are 10 of the best natural mood boosters you can put to good use to keep you feeling positive no matter what the day brings.

BONUS: Take this short quiz to find out if your serotonin levels could use a healthy boost.

#1. Smile

One of the easiest and fastest ways to instantly relieve stress is to flash your pearly whites. A big smile that fully engages your eyes and mouth can reduce stress and encourage positive thoughts and emotions -- it has even been shown to improve blood pressure. [1]

Next time you're stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other type of stress, hold your face in a smile for a few quick seconds. It might feel a little awkward, but don't feel self-conscious. Not only will this "fake it 'til you make it" technique give you a true psychological lift, it may help your heart health as well.

#2. Just Add Essential Oils

Essential oils are a powerful, relaxing tool for stress relief.

Not only are they wonderfully fragrant, the use of essential oils in aromatherapy is well-known to invigorate your senses while also offering very real health benefits through the olfactory nerve in your nose.

Try using the following essential oils in an oil diffuser at the office, in a warm magnesium bath at home, or keep a vial in your car or purse for easy access to a better mood during the day:

Peppermint
Spearmint
Lavendar
Geranium
Rosemary
Ylang-Ylang
Jasmine
Bergamot
Diffuser

#3. Breathe, Deeply

What if you could reduce your stress and find balance in just 5 minutes a day?

In that small amount of time you could also develop new mental and physical habits that bring your everyday thoughts and emotions back to a healthy balance.

There is no right or wrong way to meditate, so you can start with this simple 5-minute breathing technique or meditation app when you feel like you’re losing your happy mood. Or even easier, set a timer for 5 minutes, close your eyes, and concentrate on breathing deeply through your nose.

Related: How to Be Happy

#4. Move More -- Just a Few Minutes is Enough

Sedentary behavior and working in stuffy offices all day are closely linked with increased risk for depression

Simply taking a moment to step away from the task at hand and take a look around in another environment can help to lower your stress levels, boost your heart rate and offer other health benefits including a reduced risk of dementia, hypertension, weak bones and more. [2]

When you take a walk, take a break to stretch, or work out your body churns out a flood of feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins have a natural painkiller effect in the body and are the best known natural mood enhancers -- all it takes is a little movement!

#5. Use Music to Correct Course

Listening to music is well-known to be one of the best natural mood enhancers. Music is also a way to boost the production of dopamine, a feel good brain chemical associated with enjoyment, reward, and pleasure. Next time you're listening to music and find yourself in a positive, upbeat mood, make a mental note of the tracks you're listening to, then try putting them on during those days when you're feeling low.

#6. Socialize

People who spend multiple hours per day socializing are 12 times more likely to he happy, this even holds true for introverts. [3, 4]

When we spend time around the people we like, our brain releases the "love hormone" called oxytocin. This chemical and neurotransmitter is crucial in the bond-forming process, and according to a study from the University of Rochester, this chemical release from social interaction "has effects on the body that are more powerful than cigarette smoking... the magnitude is that strong. [5]

#7. Serotonin Precursors

Serotonin Brain Food™ contains a range of nutrients to naturally increase the brain's production of serotonin, the "happy hormone." Formulated with L-Tryptophan and a specific blend of natural precursors and cofactors, this is a potent, natural solution to balance stress levels, reduce anxiety, and support a positive mood.

#8. Dopamine Precursors

When you need a positive boost and inner drive to accomplish the day's tasks, try Dopamine Brain Food™

Designed to help you accomplish any task with better clarity, Dopamine Brain Food™ contains a combination of natural neurotransmitter precursors including L-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine---amino acid precursors to dopamine, both of which must be present to create this essential feel good brain chemical.

#9. Vitamin D3

You may not realize it but vitamin-d deficiency is associated with negative moods, and is one of the most common causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Sunshine exposure and food sources are common sources of vitamin D, but supplementing with a high quality, 5,000 IU serving of vitamin D3 is the easiest way to restore levels of this essential nutrient for health and well-being.

#10 GABA Supplements

GABA Brain Food™ is one of the most effective mood enhancing supplements because it directly increases the brain's most important calming neurotransmitter -- GABA. GABA Brain Food™ contains the natural ingredients like L-Citrulline, rosemary extract, and grape seed extract that work to enhance GABA's absorption and bioavailability in the brain.

Relief Is Here

When you're weighed down by negative thoughts and emotions, it can feel like relief is an eternity away. Thankfully, there are many effective ways to gently nudge your brain chemistry back to a balanced, positive state in just minutes.