Seven Tips To Brighten Your Mood

Don't let the cold weather blues get the best of you! Some specific foods, a little exercise and some great company may be just what the doctor ordered to keep your outlook sunny in the winter.

Winter is definitely here, and that means many of us are getting comfy in our big sweaters and spending a lot more time indoors and sedentary. Not only can the lack of activity and sunlight make us feel less motivated to do just about anything, but it can really put a damper on our mood. Here are some of SupermarketGuru’s suggestions for staying happy and healthy this winter:

1. Soak up some rays: Many studies have shown that sunshine is an effective and natural energy booster. If you live where there is sunshine (as sporadic as it may be in the winter), take advantage! Get outside for a bit and just enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Go for a walk or a run, and you've got yourself a double dose of mood-lifting activities!

2. Get moving! Exercise releases endorphins and will help give your mood a lift. You will feel good about yourself, and if it was part of your resolutions to be more active, then you can also invoke a sense of accomplishment.

3. Sleep! Getting enough sleep is key to a good mood and good health. Make it easier on your body by waking up and going to sleep as close to the same time as possible every day. A consistent routine will make the morning alarm a little more manageable. On the same note, sleeping too much can make you groggy, so try to get adequate sleep, but don't overdo it. 

4. Get together with friends. Arrange to have coffee or a meal with friends. Invite them over! Surrounding yourself with people who love you, don't judge you, let you be you (however silly, childish, or ridiculous that may be), and who you know you can't stay in a bad mood around, is an easy way to have fun. There's nothing quite like friends, because you know they will be there for you, especially when the rain starts to pour.

5. You time. Carve out space in your day for you time. Make it a point to do something that makes you happy and makes you release whatever else is happening around you. If you have to schedule it in, do it. Eventually it will become routine, but it is a necessary part of your day, and it is well deserved.

6. Laugh. At yourself, at a movie, read the comics, watch the comedy channel. Laughing is a great stress reliever and the easiest way to get you smiling. Learn not to take life so seriously and have a little fun. Friends often come in handy for this one too!

7. And of course don’t forget good nutrition. Work on eating more whole unpackaged, unprocessed foods! Try to get more vitamin D rich foods like sardines. Omega-3 rich foods are also mood boosters. Try flax, chia, walnuts, salmon, and mackerel. Switch to complex carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, oats and even legumes and leafy greens to provide the body with steady energy, therefore balancing your mood.