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Making simple changes in your life cannot only help to boost your mood, but it can also help to prevent depression. While antidepressants can be used to treat symptoms of depression, they do not necessarily treat the causes.

Diet, exercise, natural light, and fresh air can all have a positive effect on mood and energy levels. So whether you start eating more oily fish, take up yoga or install home skylights to get more sunlight, there are various ways you can lift your mood, the natural way.

Do more exercise

Research has shown that a workout can boost your mood for up to 12 hours. This happens because exercise boosts levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain and it is even shown to be as effective as antidepressants. Even doing just 15 minutes of exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and cortisol levels, so make sure to work this into your routine.

Yoga is a great form of exercise as it combines meditation and relaxation techniques. This has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, which can both contribute to depression.

Get enough sleep

Sticking to a regular sleep schedule is important, even on the weekends. Not enough sleep can make depression worse, so if you know you need to get more sleep, it’s time to start making changes to your lifestyle.

The amount of hours of sleep needed each night to function optimally varies from person to person, but most adults need between 7 and 9 hours. Make sure you go to bed and get up at the same time every day and avoid taking naps to improve your sleep routine.

Let the light in

Exposing yourself to sunlight increases vitamin D levels and can help to boost your mood. Make sure you open up your curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun in. Morning sunlight offers the most benefits, so be sure to brighten up your bedroom as soon as you wake up.

Do not get much sunlight through your windows? Try installing office or home skylights to receive maximum natural light and ventilation to the room. Tubular skylights are the most cost effective way of bringing natural lighting into any room, as well as much needed ventilation.

Breathe in fresh air

A great way of giving yourself a natural mood boost is to step outside and breathe in some fresh air. It will give you a chance to refresh your mind and feel more awake.

If you don’t have much time during the day to step outside, make sure you keep your home and office well ventilated. Tubelights are an ideal solution for boosting your mood as they let the sunshine in and keep your space well ventilated.

Eat the right food

Certain foods have been shown to help easy anxiety, reduce stress, and even fight depression. Dark chocolate is known to reduce stress hormones, carbs promote the production of feel-good chemical serotonin, and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help lower the risk of depression.

For a mood-boosting nutrient that our body doesn’t produce, try eating oily fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna, which give you omega-3s. Not only has it been shown to lift mood, but it is also thought to alleviate depression. If you are not a big fan of fish, try having canola and olive oils, walnuts and flaxseeds instead.

Take a huge step in making your home a place of good vibes with the tips above. Check out our wide range of home skylights that will let in all the good natural light that you need to improve your mood throughout the day.