5 Tips for a Happier Life Take Your Sunshine Vitamin Vitamin D increases serotonin, the mood neurotransmitter. It boosts your immunity, promotes healthy neuro-muscular functions and helps protect you from some forms of cancer. The easiest way reap the benefits of this nutrient is to spend 15 minutes in the sun a few times a week. Be mindful that sunscreen will prevent you from getting adequate vitamin D outdoors; try skipping sunscreen for just 15 minutes. If the weather isnt cooperating, get your vitamin D from milk, egg yolks or supplements (1000 units per day.) Learn more about the health benefits of vitamin D. Cut the Caffeine Coffee increases anxiety levels, especially if youre getting more than 300 mgs a day. Increased anxiety means increased irritability. Try substituting your coffee with green tea. It has 1/4 the amount of caffeine found in coffee - and its a young tea, which means it packs some powerful antioxidants. You dont have to cut caffeine completely, but if youre having more than 300 mgs a day and find yourself fighting headaches and fatigue when you try to cut back, you may be physically dependent. Get help kicking your caffeine habit with Dr. Ozs Caffeine Detox Challenge. Express Gratitude Take the time to truly savor the good things in your life; things others have done for you, things youve done for others and all those small acts of kindness that make you smile. A written expression of thanks helps prohibit us from taking things for granted. So sit down with a steaming mug of green tea and express yourself. Practice Acts of Kindness Its the little things. Its not what you say, its what you do. These expressions may be cliches, but there is truth in their message. By practicing small acts of kindness, you will perceive yourself and others more positively. Youll also appreciate your good fortune in comparison. Pick 1 day a week and carry out 3 small acts of kindness. Research suggests that this provides a longer-lasting boost to the giver than practicing random acts of kindness spread out over the week. Just Smile Even when you dont feel like it, the simple act of smiling makes you feel better. A response called facial feedback indicates that, when you smile, you send a signal to your brain that says, I am happy. Additionally, if youre smiling, youre likely to seem more approachable and happy to others - and people are more likely to smile back.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 23:24:45 +0000
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