Mood Boosters for Older Adults

We all find ourselves feeling blue from time to time, but for seniors, that cheerful smile may be more difficult to bring out of ourselves than it used to be. Our senior years will be filled with many changes, and not all of them will be pleasant. Loss of family and loved ones, declining mobility and functionality, and loneliness are all common for older adults.

You hear all the time about how exercise is important for physical health, but there’s a large amount of evidence that points to how important it is for mental health as well. Staying physically active is another way to boost your mood. Some research even suggests that exercise can be a way to naturally treat depression. This is partly because exercise releases feel good chemicals into your brain, such as serotonin.

What’s more, when you get your blood pumping, it stimulates your body and helps to reduce the sluggishness that comes with a bad mood. Where you choose to exercise can help affect your mood as well, a walk in the fresh air is a good way to perk up, or taking a fitness class can help you to feel more connected to your community.

A growing body of evidence has also shown that playing with a pet can also play an important role in mental health. Spending as little as fifteen minutes a day stroking a beloved pet can help to boost your mood naturally. Sometimes, all it takes to shake a foul mood is a little distraction.