I’m always on the hunt for ways to increase the “Happy” in life and because Endorphins are referred to as one of our “Happy Making” hormones, I had to look at ways to get the most out of these little “happiness makers.” Endorphins (along with Dopamine, Serotonin, and Oxytocin) are the 4 hormones that we most associate with happiness, and Endorphins in particular are special because they aid us when our bodies are responding to pain or stress.

Here are 4 easy ways to naturally increase the production of these hormones to enjoy their calming/stress reducing benefits! 

1. Activities: Good news here! Many activities that are already naturally incorporated into your day are also helping you increase your endorphin production. These include Exercise, spending time outside in the sunshine and laughing. *Bonus points if you exercise outdoors (with appropriate sun protection), and with a group of friends, for a triple dose of endorphins boosting action.

2. Getting Creative: Whether you enjoy observing or creating art, you can’t go wrong here. The act of creating or enjoying something you love not only increases endorphin production, but the act of being in the present moment of joy also decreases cortisol (the stress hormone). 

   • Create art or visit a museum

   • Listen to music or make your own

   • Poetry, crafts, anything creative!

3. Foods:  Probably the easiest way to increase endorphin production is through food. I’ve listed 3 common options.

   • Spicy foods - contain capsaicin, which tells pain receptors to signal an endorphin response

   • Chocolate - contains cocoa, which naturally triggers the release of endorphins

   • Wine (in moderate amounts) -also naturally triggers the release of endorphins

4. Self Care: Healing and relaxing modalities are great for stimulating endorphin release, from Acupuncture and Yoga to Massage, there are so many great ways to give yourself a little extra TLC. But you don’t need to spend money, because a hot bath and Meditation are also great for this!  

   For another bonus, why not add aromatherapy to the mix. Essential oils like Vanilla, lavender and sandalwood (just to name a few) are easy to acquire and great for aiding in stress relief.

There is plenty more I could say on this topic, but my favorite tips are the ones listed above, especially MEDITATION. Speaking of, who else is on a meditation journey with me? As always, I hope you will leave a comment and feel free to write about anything you’ve tried or would like to see in an upcoming post. I’m so grateful for you feedback! Thanks for reading 😃