Do You Need A Mood Boost?

My Mood

Amid so much disruption in our routine, I have seen myself and my friends lagging the positiveness we all need to live life the best way we can. Adults and kids use words such as anxiety and depression to describe how they feel these days.

But how can we be happy as social beings while keeping 6 feet apart? We all need social interaction, and being deprived of the company of people we love has been hard.

Being Social, Doesn’t Mean Being Connected All The Time!

I was reading a study from UNC, and they found out that people who spent time on social media or talking to people via chat before the survey had negative emotions.

So, I ask you: How do you feel after scrolling down pages of FB or checking all the updates on your friends’ Instagram pages? Happier than before you started it?

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs — WANT TO DITCH THE ANXIETY and MY 5 RULES OF WELLBEING, being close to positive people boosts our mood and improves our sense of wellbeing.

Even though we cannot travel or meet people face-to-face as we used to do, interacting, and communicating with friends in a way we can see and hear them helps according to this survey.

Early in my life, I learned different types of communication media work well for different things. Fast interactions can be done via chat, while more serious conversation should be live ( now via video calls ). So, why do we avoid the same strategy for our personal lives? Why do I feel reluctant to call people and rely more on apps such as WhatsApp? 

Yes, people are busy, but they may not pick up the phone and answer the call if they can’t. 

The fact is many of us are still feeling misplaced and lonely during the pandemic. We keep adjusting our expectations in terms of interactions, hoping we will have our lives back after the epidemic. But is it possible?

I have been forcing myself to continue to be loyal to some of my routines. Routines make me feel in control of things, so they are essential for me. But this is a hard task.

I am very grateful for my trainer, @AlineHealthCoach, who keeps on my tiptoes and away from my stubborn pain and continues to visit me regularly. With all the emotional stress around me, I need to keep the endorphins coming.

Find Silence Within Myself

I have been praying and meditating more than usual. Since my best friend is sick, I have pushed things to my limit and started to flare up again.

I keep relying on outlooks to give me the strength to face all the odds with an optimistic attitude. Breathing and being still for a few minutes, are a couple of them.

I included a Spotify playlist of meditation songs and mantras for relaxing and praying if you want to give a try.

In a nutshell, if you need an extra nudge to stand up tall and boost your mood, try this:

• Create time to exercise. We all need the extra boost of happy hormones.
• Create a routine to keep you grounded and in control of your life
• Choose to talk live to your friends instead of exchanging chats. Focus on positive topics.
• Try to brighten someone’s day. Doing good feels pretty good.
• Explore a spiritual path: religion, prayer, meditation, yoga. Feeling centered makes everything easier. If you understand Portuguese, check Gabriele Sridevi, my meditation guru. She is awesome.

Soon, when all is well, you’re going to look back on this period of your life and be so glad that you never gave up. – Brittany Burgunder

At this point, if the heaviness in your heart is too much, look for help now. Mental health is critical for a fulfilling life.

Yours truly,

Hope