In a busy world, we often forget that our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that the two are deeply connected, and that taking some time to care for our minds as well as our bodies might be just what we need to flourish. Two of the best things we can do for our mood and stress levels are to eat wholesome, nourishing foods and to stay active, but at times, we might need something extra to get us where we need to be. Below are several mood-boosting activities and supplements to help you de-stress and center your emotions.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the act of letting go of the past and future and focusing on the present moment. This practice can foster a sense of control and help to ground your thoughts, preventing anxiety and negative thoughts from taking over. A general tip for practicing mindfulness is to act with intention and focus on your five senses. In addition, remaining aware of physical sensations such as breathing, your heartbeat, and your body’s movements are key to shifting your focus into the current moment. 

To help you get started, many people suggest the 5-4-3-2-1 method: think of five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. It is also helpful to many people to lie or sit in a comfortable position and take the time to focus on each part of their body individually, from head to toe. Like the 5-4-3-2-1 method, this helps you focus on your senses and live in the present.

Meditation is a method for achieving mindfulness that has been practiced for centuries, records of meditation dating roughly back to 5,000 BC. Methods of meditation vary across the disciplines, but all of them with the goal of releasing your thoughts and allowing yourself to exist free of judgment. Often, people say meditation clears the mind, but that is not entirely true. Thoughts will still enter the mind, but people who are meditating choose not to engage with them, letting the thoughts freely enter and exit the mind.

Yoga is another popular way of practicing mindfulness that has stood the test of time. There are several different styles of yoga, and each contains moves ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced. What all yoga has in common is its focus on the body and breathing, which encourage mindfulness. To learn more about yoga, check your community for local classes – many of them are beginner friendly!

Lastly, incorporating aromatherapy in your mindfulness activity is a great way to engage your senses and help you focus on the present moment. Essential oils can be inhaled out of the bottle or off of a dry cloth, put in a diffuser, or mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the skin or mixed with bath water. You can also add a drop or two to your shampoo or conditioner for a relaxing shower. Some of the best essential oils for stress include lavender, clary sage, chamomile, and frankincense. We also recommend Garden Essence Oils’ Composure and Tranquility blends. 

Herbal Teas & Supplements

Many people have successfully improved their mental health with the help of herbs and other natural supplements. Some herbs that are good for stress and mood include chamomile, kava kava root, lemon balm, valerian root, ashwagandha root, rhodiola root, skullcap, saffron, and St. John’s wort. 

Some great herbal formulas that we recommend include Dr. Christopher’s MindTrac, Relax-Eze, and Valerian Nerve, as well as Herb Pharm’s Anxiety Soother, Good Mood, and Anxious Moment Spray. Similar formulas made for children include Dr. Christopher’s Kid-e-Trac and Herb Pharm’s Herbal Hug.

Herbal supplements can be ingested as teas, extracts, capsules, or powders or made into salves, fomentations, or poultices. Teas are a great way to take advantage of herbal benefits because the hot water is soothing to our bodies and the ritual process of brewing tea is calming to many. Below are several of the teas we recommend for stress and low mood.

Several mushrooms have been found to have healing properties, and that includes healing of the mind. Mushrooms known to help with stress include reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps. Like herbs, mushroom supplements can be found in the form of teas, capsules, extracts, and powders. 

Some homeopathic remedies have been found to help ease stress. Below are our recommended homeopathic products.

• Bach - Rescue Remedy Spray
• Bach - Rescue Pastilles
• Bach - Red Chestnut
• Bach - White Chestnut
• Boiron - StressCalm

Other notable supplements that help boost mood include magnesium, vitamin D, and probiotics.

Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, these herbs, mushrooms, and supplements can make a huge difference in your mental health. We encourage you to do your own research and talk to an herbalist to determine what supplements are right for you.

General Self-Care

You can never go wrong with taking a moment out of your busy day to treat yourself. Whether that is indulging in your favorite healthy meal or snack, taking a long bath or shower, or unwinding with a relaxing hobby, it is so important to listen to our bodies and minds and give them what they need. 

For those of you that love a good soak, we recommend enhancing your bathwater with Epsoak Soothe+Calm epsom salts, the Dr. Christopher’s Relax-Eze Fizzy Bath Bomb, or some magnesium flakes. 

For some relaxing skin care, be sure to try some magnesium cream or magnesium lotion, lavender flower water, rose water, or a bentonite clay facial mask.

We live in a fast paced, ever-changing world, and it is more important now than ever to focus on our mental health and well-being. Along with taking the proper steps to care for your physical health, the supplements and activities outlined in this article will be of great help in improving your stress levels and your overall mood. Whether you take up meditation or yoga, try a new supplement, or take a moment of your day to focus on yourself, your body and mind will thank you.