Ideas to Lift Your Mood

Eating disorders can create a lot of stress and sadness in people’s lives. The secrecy and isolation can cause feelings of despair. However, we have to power within ourselves to change how we feel. With a simple gesture, we can begin to improve our mood. Now, by no means do the following ideas treat or cure eating disorders but, it could help you feel better every now and again, if even for a moment.

Smiling

Have you ever heard that if you are feeling sad or down you should just smile? According to this Forbes article, smiling will help improve your mood. A simple smile, fake or real, can boost mood and decrease stress. If you are reading this take a moment and smile. How does that make you feel? Silly, cheerful, encouraged. Smile with your mouth and your eyes to reap the full benefits.

Random Acts of Kindness

Taking this further, let’s talk about good deeds or random acts of kindness. This is another way you might be able to create a positive mood for yourself, and someone else too. The physiological response to acts of kindness is explained in this Huffington Post article. Kindness can come in many forms: it could be smiling at those you pass, holding the door for someone, giving a compliment, buying a stranger a cup of coffee. It could be a small gesture or a grand gesture – either way, it’s about doing something for someone else. Be creative with your good deeds.

This is just two ways to begin to decrease stress and create a more positive mood. As you are thinking about this, remember to love yourself first – smile! You’re worth it! And when you are ready, share a random act of kindness with someone else. It could make their day.