Types of Happy Hormones
There are four main hormones which you can hack to increase your overall happiness.
These include; dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphin. These hormones can be hacked by doing simple actions which include being in the outdoors, meeting up with friends and family and exercises.
Dopamine is one of many chemicals in your brain that when realised can improve mood and helps you feel good, it is known as the ‘feel good’ hormone. Lack of dopamine can be caused by high stress, low sleep and high amounts of saturated fats in your diet. Dopamine is associated with reward systems, pleasurable sensations and memory.
Oxytocin is also known as the ‘love hormone’ which can be increased by physical attraction. Oxytocin plays a larger role in women than it does in men happiness. It also can reduce stress and anxiety levels.
Serotonin is a neutraliser which works on regulating mood levels and happiness. It works on decreasing worries and concerns. Serotonin is one of the simplest hormones to hack, it is as simple as going on a walk or having a full 8 hours of sleep.
Endorphins are the most common hormones talked about, they are produced to help us when we need to respond to pain or stress. Endorphins also improve your sense of wellbeing and are realised during pleasurable activities.
Dopamine: completing tasks, exercising, being in the outdoors, listening to music, getting a massage or eating a nourishing meal.
Oxytocin: physical affection, playing with pets, looking after children, romantic dates, yoga classes, meditation classes, giving someone a compliment or by hugging someone
Serotonin: being out in the sunshine, getting a good night sleep, celebrating wins, laughing with friends an d family, running, swimming or high cardio exercise in the outdoors
Endorphins: eating, exercising, stretching in yoga or pilates, genuinely laughing.
Dopamine can be hacked by completing tasks such as finishing tasks on a to do list, doing self care activities such as reading, skin care, having a bath or relaxing and watching a movie with family. Eating food is something not all believe can increase dopamine, but believe it or not it does, almonds, animal products, chocolate (especially dark chocolate), fruits and vegetables. Finally celebrating the little wins is a small activity that can increase you happiness, this is because it not only boosts your confidence but it also provides you motivation to continue another task so you can celebrate another win. This can also be seen as tricking your brain into wanting to work more by celebrating each task completed.
Secondly serotonin is another hormone that works with your mood in your brain. Serotonin is known as a ‘neutraliser’ as it helps regulate a steady mood as well as your sleep, learning abilities and appetite. Serotonin can be increased by mediating, running, having exposure to sun, walking in nature and swimming. Being out in the sunlight can increase serotonin by when sunlight enters your eyes it stimulates a part of the brain to release serotonin. Running and swimming increases serotonin because the motor activity of running or swimming by increasing the heart rate serotonin is produced throughout the body.
Finally meditating increases serotonin by decreasing stress levels and anxious thoughts.
Oxytocin is also known as the ‘love hormone’ as it can be increased by physical affection. It helps promote trust, empathy as well as bonding relationships. You can simply increase your levels of oxytocin by playing with pets especially cats or dogs and playing with children. These activities both increase oxytocin as it creates a bond and realises the same feel good hormone mothers and fathers get when spending time with their baby. Giving compliments also increases oxytocin levels as sharing kind words makes you and the other person feel good which not only realises oxytocin but it also boosts confidence based on how the other person responded to the compliment.
The fourth and final hormone which can be hacked is endorphins. These hormones are the natural pain relievers in the body which helps you deal when stressed or in discomfort the endorphins try to kick in to bring stress levels down.
Essential oils, watching comedy, eating dark chocolate and exercising increasing your endorphins.
