We have all heard of endorphins and we know that they somehow make you happy but what exactly are endorphins and how can you get more of these mood-boosting endorphins roaming around our bodies?
Think of endorphins as happy little chemicals that get sent around your body to help reduce pain and trigger ‘feel-good’ vibes. When you are feeling grumpy, stressed or anxious then it is probably because your endorphin levels are running low. So here are a few things you can do to help boost your endorphin levels and make you feel happy!
Pop a piece of chocolate into your mouth
Hooray – an excellent excuse to have a piece of chocolate! Chocolate contains cocoa which has mood boosting substances such as phenthylamine. Phenthylamine also happens to be the same chemical that makes your brain feel like you’re falling in love – ooh la la! Just remember the higher the cocoa content the better (aim for 70%+).
Laugh (out loud!)
When was the last time you laughed so hard that it made your sides hurt? You probably felt on top of the world and that’s because all your chuckles were sending feel-good chemicals all around your body. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine, so grab a comedy movie, host a game night with friends or look up some funny you-tube videos and get giggling!
Get moving/ jiggling/twerking
And before you sigh, this doesn’t have to mean running a marathon or doing a killer cycle session at the gym. Any sort of movement that will lift your heart rate will cause your brain to send out endorphins. Dancing while listening to your favourite tunes or going for a chatty walk with a friend are a great way to boost your endorphins.
Catch some rays
Those of us in the northern hemisphere will know that it is not always easy to find a sunny spot in the middle of winter but when the sun does come out you should be soaking up these rays! Just 20 minutes in the sun (i.e. a quick lunch or coffee outside) will allow your skin to absorb UV rays and stimulate a production of endorphins!
Take a whiff of some vanilla or lavender
Taking a good sniff of vanilla or lavender has been linked to unlock endorphins and reduce stress and anxiety levels. These essential oils can be dabbed on your pulse points (temples, neck and wrists) or you can spritz a little on yourself throughout the day.
At Mio HQ, we personally love to spritz (or douse) ourselves with Mio Liquid Yoga Space Spray which is full of lavender and other delicious essential oils which helps get us through the day!