In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the worldwide prevalence of depression and anxiety increased by a whopping twenty-five percent – which means stress, anxiety, fear, and sadness gripped the planet.

Mental disorders like the above take a massive toll on a someone’s health and wellness and significantly impact their level of happiness.

Humans need help, and we need it now.

Find ways to eliminate stress and anxiety in your life, or at least – drastically reduce it.

We all have our off days, but when those days start to outnumber the rest, that is when you need to recognize that there is a problem. If you need some extra advice for boosting your mood and freeing your mind on your bad days, read on for seven simple steps to instantly feel better about life!

1. Go Outside

Being outside in the great outdoors can do amazing things to your mind and body. There are multiple mental and physical wellness benefits associated with spending time outdoors. Being in nature is restorative and promotes faster psychological stress recovery – increasing coping skills for everyday things.

If you can’t get outside, bring the outside indoors. Indoor plants strengthen our mental capacities and increase focus.

When you feel overwhelmed with life, pack up your tent and head outside – even camping in your backyard can boost your mood and improve your mental outlook.

2. Pet Your Furry Friend

Having a pet companion can help to ease anxiety and boost self-confidence. Pets are great listeners, and they love unconditionally. If you’re feeling isolated or lonely, pets are a fantastic source of happiness and joy.

Do enough research before you commit; pets are a lifelong commitment and deserve the best. If you cannot offer them safety, protection, care, and love – get fish rather.

Studies have shown that pet owners are far less likely to suffer from depression than people without pets. Pets boost your mood and enhance your life.

3. Get A Massage

Mental health and wellness are vital components of living a happy, fulfilling life. Massage therapy offers benefits for many mental health conditions, including anxiety and stress.

Getting a massage can relieve symptoms of depression, improve sleep, and leave you feeling invigorated by boosting the serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain. By going for massage therapy regularly, you will notice a difference in your general state of mind, as well as decreased inflammation and reduced muscle tension.

4. Go For a Haircut

When done in the right headspace, haircuts can be an effective means of self-transformation. The perfect haircut can boost your confidence and give you a new lease on life. Studies have shown that cutting one’s hair can help a person get through a life-changing period, such as a breakup.

Changing your physical appearance to boost your mood gives you a sense of control and simultaneous emotional release. Even a simple trim can work wonders at helping you redefine your identity.

5. Use Essential Oils

When inhaled, scent molecules in essential oils work wonders to treat multiple ailments – including bad moods. Those molecules travel from the olfactory nerves and make a beeline directly to a person’s brain. That is where they have a noticeable effect on the emotional center of the brain known as the amygdala.

By using the right essential oil body spray, you can instantly boost your mood and your energy levels.

6. Curate The Best Playlist

Music makes such a difference when it comes to mindset and state of mind. Don’t be fooled into thinking that angry music makes people angry and sad music makes people sad because that’s not how it works, well -not exclusively, anyway.

Sometimes angry music calms people, and sad music centers others; it’s all about what you want to feel, when, and how deeply. Curate the top ten list of your favorite happy songs and keep adding to that list.

Music is one of the most powerful tools for adjusting your attitude and outlook.

7. Smile

When all else fails, a smile will never disappoint you. You’ve heard of the saying ‘fake it until you make it’ – and there has been no truer instance where this phrase can get used.

The simple act of smiling will make you feel better in seconds. It might not make a world of difference to your immediate circumstances, but it will help the bad things seem less bad – even if it’s just for a brief moment. We all deserve that.