You may not recognise it, but there are several biological imbalances and environmental factors that could create bad mood triggers, affecting your mood as an offshoot of something else that’s not quite right. Days like International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on 20 March, serve to remind us that happiness is everyone’s birthright, something we should all be constantly striving towards. Read on and check if any of these ring alarm bells. Then start working slowly towards pouring into your happiness cup again.
10 Ways To Motivate Yourself To Hit the Gym After Work
Bad mood trigger 1: Food Intolerance
Food intolerances are responsible for a wide range of physical conditions including nausea and abdominal pain, but they can also affect your mood, causing irritability, mood swings, lack of focus, aggression, nervousness or hyperactivity. If you suffer from regular mood swings, try keeping a food diary – noting what you eat as well as any changes in mood – to see if you can identify a link.
Bad mood trigger 2: Your Home Decor
If you want to give your mood a boost, try changing your home decor as your surroundings can heavily influence your mood. While red can make some people feel irritable or hostile, yellow communicates happiness and blue aids relaxation, so try accessorising your home with colours that enhance your mood. Research has also suggested that hanging up soothing pictures – such as beautiful landscape paintings – can positively affect a person’s mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
While many of us dream of getting a promotion in work, the reality may not be as rosy as you think. A study by researchers at the University of Warwick has found that rather than improving quality of life for workers, following job promotion employees suffered from increased mental strain and there was on average a 10 percent decrease in people’s mental health.
Trigger 4: Your Bedside Lamp
If you regularly fall asleep reading or watching TV, this can have repercussions on your mood the next day. Research has shown that nighttime light can suppress the production of melatonin; a mood-regulating hormone which is only produced during darkness. So, try investing in some heavy curtains and make sure you turn off all lights at night to give yourself a happiness boost.
READ MORE: 5 Beginner Yoga Poses To Help You Sleep Better
Trigger 5: Nutrient Deficiencies
While depression can be caused by a number of things, symptoms can be worsened or improved by your diet. Deficiencies in vitamin D, the B vitamins (particularly B6, B12 and folate) and omega-3 fatty acids can all lead to feelings of depression and anxiety. Try introducing more foods rich in these nutrients into your diet to see if symptoms improve.
Trigger 6: Your Friends
You might think that spending time with your friends is a great mood booster; however, that could all depend on their mood. Research has found that emotions – both positive and negative – are contagious and easily passed from person to person, often without you being aware of it. Furthermore, you don’t even need to see your friends to catch their mood, as a study suggests that the emotions of Facebook users directly affect the emotions of their friends for up to three days.
Trigger 7: Late Nights
Many of us are aware that lack of sleep can contribute to a low mood; however, research suggests that when you go to sleep could be almost as important as how much sleep you get. According to a study published in , night owls are almost three times as likely as early birds to experience severe symptoms of depression, so try getting some early nights to boost your mood.
Trigger 8: The Pill
A study by researchers from Monash University has found that women who take birth control pills are twice as likely to be depressed as those who don’t. For some, certain birth control pills can also lead to mood swings, increased anger and loss of libido. If you think that your mood has changed for the worse since you began taking the pill, visit your GP to discuss the alternatives.
READ MORE: 4 Science-Backed Ways To Love Yourself – And Why You Should
Things That Are Making Team Happy Right Now
The team shares the little things that bring them joy amidst the pressures of the rat race!
Kelleigh Korevaar, Managing Editor
Nothing is better than the endorphin rush after completing a fitness event or race. I never thought I would buy into the hype but now that I’ve started I’m always looking for a new challenge and it’s bringing me so much joy (and motivation to work out). Next up: HYROX in Cape Town in July!
Pia Hammond, Creative Director
Getting away from the insanity that is Cape Town City Bowl and running into the bush with my tent, dog and husband in tow. That is what rejuvenates me and resets all the stress.
Kemong Mopedi, Deputy Editor
My literary love Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie released her fourth novel, titled in early March. I’m literally in reading heaven – do disturb!
Michelle October, Features Editor
My dog Moomoo brings me joy every day. Whether she’s making a new human fall in love with her or making a bee-line for seaweed on the beach, there’s always something to smile about when she’s around.
Chamain van Zyl, Digital Editor
Hands down, nothing beats being outdoors! Whether it’s a solo walk, cycling, running, yoga, chasing my kids, or snapping a thousand pics of wildflowers – fresh air is a must for me. A creature of habit? Absolutely. But science agrees – nature nurtures.
