There seems to be no end to national misery at the moment, I have actually started to dread opening a newspaper or listening to the news.
This virus has to be taken seriously and the measures undertaken are the barest necessary to try to contain it and control its spread.
I do realize this and share in the concern that all of us feel at this time, but the fear and anxiety can be destructive in their own way too.
It’s enough to make you want to pull the bedclothes over your head and hide away from it all.
But don’t despair!
Whatever you do don’t let all of this bad news and misery affect you and your health, today I want to show you the perfect half dozen ways to keep yourself chipper in the face of such adversity.
1. Eat Happy Food.
You could be forgiven for thinking that indulging your passion for sugar rich chocolates, cakes and sweets would lift your mood – but actually too much sugar can act as a depressant. Your are better off searching for those foods which are rich in an essential amino acid called tryptophan.
It is converted in the body into the natural feel good chemical serotonin, so a diet rich in it will help you sleep, lift your mood and help regulate your appetite.
Food sources of tryptophan include red meat, dairy products, nuts, seeds, bananas, soybeans and soy products, tuna, shellfish, and turkey.
2. Positive Thinking.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the woes and troubles of our lives that we forget to look at the good things around us. Many of us quickly move on from celebrating our successes, or won’t allow a warm glow of satisfaction for a job well done – but it is important.
Be careful of doing too much self praise though as researchers at University College Riverside in the US found that people who wrote down five things they were grateful for, or were proud of, once a week were happier than those who did the same three times a week.
3. The Power of Love.
Having someone to hold onto can be the trigger to a long, happy and joyful life, as long as you are open and honest, caring and loving to them and they do so in return.
Feeling loved promotes the production of endorphins which are natures pick me ups, and their effects can be long lasting, helping to reduce pain as well as build a stronger bond between the couple.
At this time where we can’t get close to all of our loved ones, just picking up the phone or using one of the online technologies to tell them that you love them is a powerful remedy in itself.
4. Music for the Soul.
Another well known way to get a natural high is to listen to your favourite music, and it really doesn’t matter what your personal taste extends to either.
Whether your favorite style is Vivaldi or Velvet Underground it has the same effect on the body when you hear it, which is to cause the release of Dopamine. Scientists at McGill University in Montreal have found that music-induced pleasure generated a surge in intense emotional arousal, including changes in heart rate, pulse, breathing rate and a general lifting in mood.
5. Keep Moving.
Taking regular exercise is never a bad thing for keeping yourself fit and healthy, but it also has a dramatic impact on how you feel.
Once again activity causes a release in endorphins which as I have already said help brighten even the darkest heart, but there is also another very good reason to break out the Lycra.
If you set yourself a target, say walking up and down stairs ten times, which you manage to achieve you will get a tremendous sense of well being – and this may also increase the endorphin high.
I say ‘may’ because researchers are not sure whether it is the success or the activity which causes the chemical release, but either way physical motion can provide a natural hit of energy which will lift your spirits.
Many academics are citing this factor as being behind the latest news that cancer sufferers are more likely to survive if they take regular exercise.
6. Exercise Your Funny Bone.
Don’t be afraid of getting a few laughs in as the act of guffawing actually does you good.
Whatever it is that tickles your fancy, make sure you take time to enjoy it. With so many shows available on DVD and Netflix and TV catch up services, there has to be something out there to make you laugh. Give it a go.
So, you see, there might be a little light at the end of this particularly dark tunnel; I hope that you are not hiding under the bedclothes right now because with a little positive action on our behalf we can all get a little happier – and goodness knows we need it right now.
