Boost your mood NOW!

Try these at-home self-help tips to make you feel happier and calmer

- NATALIA HARVEY WATER LUBOMIRSKI

Prioritising well-being our health and is paramount, especially at a time when the majority of us are panicking about money worries. Forget expensive therapy sessions, you can reduce stress and boost your mood at home with these tricks - and you don't have to spend a penny!

Eat a stress-free salad

Boost your mood in a few bites by adding a drizzle of olive oil to some avocado. This combination is sure to help you feel more chilled thanks to a dynamic duo of stress-busting nutrients. Magnesium in the avocado helps regulate neurotransmitters in the brain so that the release of the stress hormone cortisol is suppressed. Meanwhile, the olive oil is rich in omegas 3 and 6 that boost brain serotonin - high levels of which have been linked to lowered stress, reduced anxiety, and an overall better mood.

Sing in the shower

Blasting out a tune in the shower makes us happier, according to a study*. 'Singing improves our mood because it really forces us to be mindful with our breathing,' says psychological therapist Michael Padraig Acton. 'When we're belting out a tune, we simply have to breathe more deeply. This increases oxygen levels, slows our heart rate, and decreases our blood pressure, as our blood vessels relax.'

Be good

Being a better person could improve your mental and physical health, according to a study by Harvard University. Those who reported behaviours and personality traits linked to a good moral character were up to 50% less likely to suffer from depression.