How to Increase Your Happy Hormones

Did you know the body has over 50 hormones? The chemical messengers travel throughout the bloodstream, affecting our overall well-being and mood. We’re all hormonal. Whether it’s from moody hormones (estrogen and progesterone) or happy hormones (serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin), hormonal fluctuation can cause a rollercoaster of emotions that make or break your day. 

So, let’s keep the feel-good hormones flowing. Simple, everyday activities such as exercising, meditating, getting a massage, listening to music, experimenting with aromatherapy, and getting a good night’s sleep help to naturally increase our happy hormones—serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.

What Are Happy Hormones?
The following hormones are known to increase happiness and pleasure...

• Serotonin is the “happiness hormone” that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, and memory.
• Dopamine is the “feel-good” hormone associated with pleasurable sensations.
• Oxytocin is the “love hormone” that heightens bonding through physical affection.

How to Boost Your Happy Hormones
Here are some easy ways to boost your feel-good hormones:

1. Exercise Physical activity controls weight, improves brain health, reduces the risk of disease, strengthens bones, and improves our ability to do everyday activities. Plus, fitness increases happy hormones, so the more you move, the happier you’ll feel.

For maximum happiness results...

• Work out with friends to increase oxytocin and serotonin levels.
• Play or hike with your pet to boost oxytocin levels.
• Exercise in the sunshine to maximize serotonin levels.
• Move for 30 minutes (or more) to release endorphins and serotonin.

2. Meditate Meditation reduces stress, increases serotonin, and improves sleep, providing restorative peace of mind at the end of a hectic day. Whenever your mind starts racing, find a quiet space, get comfortable, and try these meditation techniques.

3. Massage No surprise, human touch boosts all the happy hormones, especially when given by a partner vs. a massage therapist.

4. Music Listening to music promotes an instant mood boost, which increases serotonin production. For maximum happy hormone results, turn up the tunes and dance, dance, dance to the beat.

5. Aromatherapy Essential oils reduce stress and improve your mood, which increases serotonin and dopamine levels. Try all three AROMAFLORIA collections—Stress Less, Muscle Soak, and Sleep Ease—to lift your spirits with a variety of heavenly scents.

6. A good night’s sleep (7-9 hours) Restful sleep restores hormonal balance throughout the body. In contrast, lousy sleep disrupts dopamine levels, resulting in a lousy attitude the next day. Make sleep a priority.

• Go to bed and get up around the same time every day.
• Create a restful environment (reduce light, screens, and noise).
• Decrease caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening.

Conclusion
Serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin promote happiness and pleasure. You can increase these happy hormones naturally with simple, daily activities.