How Your Mood Affects Your Health
Over the last couple of months, I’ve shared several ways to improve your mood including smells, food, and using your mind. But can changing your mood really help your health? Being in a better mood can help you do more than just feel better; it can make you a healthier person, too.
I know that my good mood helps me do all the little things I need to do more quickly and easily, and that brightens up my whole day. Everything after that is a piece of cake. It's great to think that something as simple as improving your mood can have incredible health benefits later in life. Here are three ways that a good mood can affect health.
- Laughter really is the Best Medicine: I’ve said that a good laugh makes everything feel better, but do you know why? Laughing releases tension and reduces stress hormones, which in turn helps blood pressure and lowers your risk from heart disease. Laughing even burns calories! Who knows—maybe gyms should have an open mic night?
- Exercise When Happy: It’s hard to exercise when you are down, even though it can help your mood. But how can exercising while happy help your health? When you are happy you feel you can do almost anything: including harder exercises and a more intense workout.
- Thank You is a Magic Word: We have talked about how turkey can affect your mood, but what about giving thanks year round? Feeling thankful for your life, family, or me time can help your immune system and speed along recovery. Feeling grateful makes you feel connected and reduces stress. So how does your good mood affect your day? Do you work better or relax more?
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