HELPFUL HINTS FOR FAMILY LIFE 3 tips for boosting your mood

As a new initiative uses colourful floral displays to brighten people’s rail journeys, here are a few more ideas to quickly boost your mood.

After two years of the pandemic, the current cost of living crisis and the Ukraine war, it can be hard to see the brighter side of life.

So, a lovely new initiative is trying to bring a splash of colour to people’s lives through bright floral displays at major railway stations across Britain. Network Rail, which is running the scheme with the mental health charity Chasing the Stigma.

Here are a few more ideas to lift your spirits…

1. Go for a walk or try another physical activity

If you go for a walk when it’s sunny, even better. But the physical activity will release endorphins, and just getting some fresh air can help make you feel better. Of course, more vigorous exercise is great, but if you don’t fancy that, then just getting moving is much better than doing nothing. If you don’t even like the idea of walking, think of an activity you do enjoy – it could be anything from gardening to an active computer game, or volunteering outdoors, says Mind.

2. Get a pet – or at least stroke someone else’s

The majority of pet owners (87 per cent) say they’ve experienced mental health improvements from owning a pet, according to HABRI. Studies show that human-animal interaction increases oxytocin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of calm, comfort and focus, decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and lowering blood pressure.

3. Dance

Music is known to stimulate pleasure and reward areas in the brain. Add to this the feel-good hormones, endorphins, that are released during physical activity, and the fact that studies show dancing can improve wellbeing, mood and body image. Turning the music up and dancing around your kitchen is bound to lift your spirits.