What mood are you in right now? While that's an important question, the bigger question is why is this your mood? Science says that your mood can be affected by five factors. A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that your mood can be affected by your health, biological, and other related factors.
1. Your Health
Psychologists agree that if you are struggling with physical health issues, including everything from a toothache to a chronic disease, it can affect your mental health and mood. Some physical health issues directly impact your mood. Endocrine disorders directly affect the hormones that regulate mood. Other health issues that can affect your mood include:
Exercise
Diet
Sleep
Smoking
Exercising to affect your mood doesn't have to be a 60-minute workout. The key, researchers say, is to keep moving as much as possible. Take stretch breaks during the day, take a walk around the block instead of sitting in front of the TV, or dance your way across the kitchen when you're making dinner. Some studies show that exercise can improve mood as well as many prescription medications.
You've probably felt tired, sluggish, or crabby after overeating junk food full of salt and sugar. Doctors recommend eating healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats, like fish and avocados, to feel better and improve your mood.
Sleep and mood work together in a cycle. If you don't sleep well or don't get enough sleep, it can ruin your mood the next day. Your bad mood can then make it harder to sleep well at night.
Smoking cigarettes allow toxins to enter your body. Some researchers believe that these toxins may contribute to your mood. Researchers at Psychology Today magazine point out that almost half the people diagnosed with a mental illness, including mood disorders, are smokers.
2. Your Genetics
According to a study in Frontiers of Endocrinology, science has linked gene variants to how people respond to changes in the year's seasons and their biological, 24-hour clock. How seasonal change and time changes influence specific genes can affect your mood. Seasonal and time changes are scientifically recognized as affecting mood. MRI findings have confirmed these effects.
3. Abuse
Doctors and psychologists have found that any form of abuse, physical, sexual, or psychological, can lead to poor mental health that affects mood. Ongoing abuse can also lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since abuse is a framework for bad moods and mental health disorders, it's critical to get help if you are experiencing any form of abuse.
4. Your Social Life
Relationships, whether romantic or platonic as friends, and your social connections can affect your mood. If you are in a romantic relationship, you're probably aware that your partner's bad mood can make you feel upset too. Having friends to talk with and share good and bad moods with makes a difference in how you feel. Feeling alone and isolated often makes a bad mood feel even worse. Sharing your frustrations with a trusted friend can help improve your mood.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that happiness spreads through three degrees of separation among social connections. If you are happy, your friends' friends will also be happy. If you say something nice to the store clerk because you're in a good mood, you improve their mood. They may go home and say something nice to their partner or children. Your social life and who you spend time with can affect your mood.
5. Your Attitude
How you view life's challenges also affects your mood. Being optimistic, mindful, and knowing how to relax all play a crucial role in how you feel. There are many techniques to help you improve your attitude and mood, including:
Meditation
Yoga
Breathing Exercises
Creating a Gratitude Journal
Many people report improved moods when they learn to manage stress with meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. Creating a gratitude journal helps you focus on positive things and improve your mood.
If you're in a bad mood, consider what factors may be affecting how you feel. Taking steps to stay healthy, connected, and positive can all affect your mood.
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