9 Tips to Boost Your Mind and Body

By: Scott Bea, PsyD • Posted on July 05, 2019

Healing ways to boost your mood may be simpler than you think. You can learn to make yourself feel good. Often when your mind feels good, so does your physical body. For today’s multi-tasking women, that’s good news! Dr. Scott Bea, a psychologist and psychotherapist, shares his top healthy living tips that will help both your mind and body feel better, helping to boost your mood and lead a healthy lifestyle!

1. Get moving

No question about it. Exercise is one of the best way to lighten your mood and get more energy. Cardiovascular exercise, weight training and yoga are all good ways to boost mood. 30 minutes on most days of the week is all you really need!

2. Get out into the sun

Not enough exposure to sunlight can contribute to depression in some individuals. Try to find time each day to be out in the sun, and, remember your sunscreen. Mood lights with 10,000 lux of light used inside for 30 minutes in the morning may be helpful and can be purchased on line.

3. Eat right

Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day and include grains, vegetables and fruits. These are simple ways to make healthy choices. Choose lean protein to help you stay satisfied longer.

4. Get the sleep you need!

Getting enough sleep will greatly enhance your mood and enable you to feel your best. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Prior to electricity most people slept 10 hours!

5. Express yourself

Always try to find positive ways to express your feelings. By talking to a family member or friend, your physician, or writing in a personal journal, you can share your good news, as well as resolve negative emotions. At the same time, try to limit complaints.

6. Stay positive

Smile! Often how we choose to look at things can determine how we feel. Choose to maintain a positive attitude. Try to always look at the glass half-full, instead of half-empty. Remember, laughter is the best medicine. Keeping a daily, gratitude journal is a systematic way to maintain an awareness of that which is right in your life.

7. Get it done!

You’ll feel an immediate lift of mood if you take care of that nagging task that you’ve been wanting done. Clean out that closet, return that item to the store, or put that photo album together. Put it on your schedule and make a commitment to it. You will feel good when you “Just do it!”

8. Prioritize YOU

Make sure you are on your list of priorities. Take time each day to care for your body by getting to the gym, eating healthy, or even going to the spa. Any pampering will make you feel good.

9. Helping others, helps you!

Volunteering, making a donation to your favorite charity, or writing someone an encouraging note are ways many women like to help others. It seems like helping someone else always makes you feel better. This wisdom of the ages has become science. We now know that giving produces very positive brain chemistry.

So if you’re feeling blue or unhappy, try out these nine tips to feel better. These tips will teach you how to boost your mood, both mentally and physically, in a healthy way. Focusing on gratitude helps to reframe negative feelings. If these tips or other things you try don’t seem to change how you are feeling, talk to your physician for additional help. Having a strong relationship with your health care clinician will enable you to get the resources you may need.

Be Strong. Be Healthy. Be in Charge!

-Scott Bea, PsyD

Scott Bea, Psy.D. is a practitioner of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and concentrates his clinical practice on anxiety and mood disorders. Dr. Bea is a psychotherapy trainer and supervisor in the Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, Dr. Bea is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.

Dr. Bea received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida Tech in 1986. He graduated following his internship at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. He has authored a variety of professional articles about anxiety conditions, psychotherapy, tinnitus, and training primary care physicians to make appropriate psychotherapy referrals.

women's health, Dr. Scott Bea, mood, healthy living

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