Ways to boost your mood without spending a penny!

Life’s stresses have a way of getting us down, and there are so many ways to unwind to get serotonin levels spiking again. The problem is, many of these outlets, like shopping, eating out and getting a Swedish massage, will set the budget back a bit – or a lot! 

Take a deep breath and relax. With an open mind and the willingness to try new things, you can lift your spirits for less. Here are 8 ways to boost your mood without spending a penny. 

1. Take a walk in the woods

Nature has the remarkable power to soothe our minds and lift our spirits. Take a walk in the woods and you’ll come home in a far better mindset than you were in when you left. 

2. Eat more chocolate

Dark chocolate is a known mood-booster, and it provides other health benefits, too. Look for chocolate having at least 70% cocoa content, and the next time you need a mood lift, take a chocolate break.

3. Pet a furry friend

When life’s got you down, your pooch can provide the perfect pick-me-up! Give your pet a little extra love when you need to de-stress and you’ll feel your mood lift almost instantaneously.

4. Listen to music

Ready to jam to a mood lift? Researchers in the Nature Neuroscience journal reported that people’s brains released large amounts of dopamine when they listened to their favorite music. So when you’re feeling blue, tune into a playlist of your best songs and you’ll soon be smiling again. 

5. Take a bubble bath

When it’s been a long day at work and you just need to relax, there’s no better place to do it than in the tub. Let the warm, sudsy water wash the tension away and improve your mood. Extra points if you add scented soap and light some candles for a fully immersive experience. 

6. Meditate

Meditation is a powerful tool for finding inner peace. Sit comfortably in a quiet space and focus on your breath or a calming mantra. Free your mind and let go, allowing your thoughts to travel anywhere without judgment. 

7. Tune your brain 

Our brains operate in different states of mind at various times, each of which affect our mood. The good news is, you can easily tune your brain using a free audio that automatically tunes it to a certain state of mind. In general, most people find listening to alpha frequencies to be the most relaxing. A quick YouTube search will bring up free audios for you to try for an instant lift. 

8. Digital detox

Spending hours glued to a screen can leave you feeling moody. For a daily mood boost, challenge yourself to unplug from your devices for an hour or more each day. 

Use the tips here to boost your mood without spending a penny. 

What gets you out of a funk? Tell us about your free mood-lifters in our comment section.