Boost Your Mood
We are now fully entrenched in 2025. The days of resolutions and fresh beginnings are behind us, and we’ve reached the point in the year where motivations stagnate, new habits seem harder to keep, and we may find ourselves in a funk. We are waiting for the time change, anticipating spring break, and looking ahead to the end of the school year and summer bliss. It’s in this in-between time, where we simultaneously wallow and hope, that we may find ourselves craving a mood boost.
Though anytime is a good time for mood boosting activities, this particular season calls to us to show kindness and grace and look for ways to raise our spirits and recharge for the rest of the year to come. My go to mood boosting tip is to spend time with family and friends who lift me up. I get an extra boost when I dedicate at least an hour a week to gather with my favorite people to eat, laugh and connect.
Coronado is the perfect community to get out and explore the culinary delights the Island has to offer while catching up with friends and family. My husband and I have challenged ourselves to visit every Coronado restaurant at least once. Each week, we pick a new restaurant, and we take an hour away from our responsibilities to try new food and reconnect. It has proven to be a weekly favorite activity and a lasting mood boost. We both look forward to our time together, as well as the process of planning where to go, exploring foods to try, and having uninterrupted conversation.
This approach may be extreme for some, but it has been the best mood boosting activity for us, especially during this time of year. Taking time out of the usual routine and exploring new restaurants brings a sense of adventure, introduces new flavors and provides the perfect backdrop for connection. Good food makes us feel good. Good conversation activates our brains and boosts our mood. This is truly a winning combination. However, mood boosting activities don’t have to be extravagant. Often the best ones are simple and easy. Some of our other favorites include the following.
Listen to music that makes you happy. Curate your unique mood boosting play list and push play when you feel unmotivated and lethargic. Music can instantly make you feel better. As a bonus mood boost, dance like no one is watching and sing at the top of your lungs.
Get enough sleep. We are in the season of rest, and our bodies need adequate rest. Try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day. Sneak in a power nap if you feel tired during the day. Getting enough sleep is the foundation of a good mood.
Laugh! Laughter really is the best medicine. If you find yourself feeling melancholy, watch a funny video, read a funny book or put on a comedy. Smiling and laughing is an instant kick of endorphins that is sure to bring a boost!
Spend time outdoors – and especially in the sunshine! Our bodies really do need a regular dose of vitamin D, and even 5 short minutes soaking up the sun can give you a good dose of pep. Take it further and go for a walk on the beach or in the woods to find peace, quiet and to take time for yourself and to connect with nature and improve your mood.
Do something that makes you feel special. My go to is to place fresh flowers on our kitchen table. They smell amazing and are beautiful to look at. Just a quick sniff or glance instantly makes me feel better. Find something that makes you feel special and do it. You will feel better for making the effort.
Should you choose to do something big, like meeting friends at a restaurant, or something simple like soaking in some sunshine, find a mood boosting activity and treat yourself to the benefits. Mix it up, keep it fresh, or stick to your old favorite, but use these tips to stave off the winter blues and keep your mood positive and uplifted.
Safe Harbor Coronado provides comprehensive mental health services to youth and families in Coronado. Through a range of programs and counseling services, Safe Harbor Coronado empowers individuals to build resilience and emotional well-being while fostering a stigma-free environment for help-seeking behaviors. Safe Harbor’s programs are available to all members of the Coronado community, regardless of financial means. For more information about Safe Harbor Coronado, their programs and services, visit www.safeharborcoronado.org.