Times are hard. Disruptions to daily life coupled with strict new rules and regulations means many of us are, unsurprisingly, feeling a little under the weather. But there are plenty of steps that can be taken at home to help improve your mood, besides re-watching favourite box sets and stocking up on sweet treats!

Serotonin is a hormone produced in the body which signals to the brain when we’re feeling happy and there are plenty of ways to stimulate the body’s production of this important hormone. From getting more sunlight and listening to music, to spending time with friends and family and eating healthy foods, for those in the know there’s always a way to enjoy a natural pick-me-up.

One of the quickest and most effective ways to help your body produce serotonin is to break a sweat and many forms of exercise will even allow you to incorporate some of the other serotonin-boosters previously mentioned into your workout, too.

The five exercises below are particularly effective for stimulating the production and release of serotonin. For those extra serotonin boosts, try these exercises outside in the sunshine and pop some headphones in so you can listen to your favourite uplifting tunes while you work-out. If you’re fortunate enough to be living with someone else during this time, you can get them involved in your work-out too – exercise is always more enjoyable when you have a partner to chat to and keep you motivated:

DANCING
Dancing is a great form of aerobic exercise that gets the blood pumping and the heart-rate up. Pair the physical challenges of this energetic activity with the mood-boosting benefits of music and you’ve already ticked two of the serotonin product boxes, meaning you’re onto winner. What’s more, dancing is something that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy, so regardless of whether you’re a salsa-pro or you’ve got two left feet, simply having a go is enough to burn some serious calories and get the serotonin flowing. For a next-level dancing challenge, why not get on board with this season’s latest social media craze and challenge yourself to learn a TikTok dance routine.

RUNNING
Running is one of those love it or hate it exercises that really divides people, but like many things in life, it can become enjoyable with a little practice. Running is one of the best ways to produce serotonin naturally and so if you can stick with it past those first few runs, you’ll reap huge rewards. For those struggling to keep at it, there are resources available that can help you structure your running development, such as the NHS Couch to 5K which provides a guide to gently building up stamina and fitness in short achievable sessions over a series of weeks.

CYCLING
For those that simply loathe the idea of pounding the pavements another option with similar mood-boosting benefits is cycling. During lockdown you can make the most of your hour outside by getting on your bike and giving your legs a good workout. Whether you’re living with a housemate or looking for ways to occupy the kids, cycling is something that can be hugely enjoyable as a group activity. Remember, the harder you work the more serotonin your body will produce, so if you’re in need of a bigger boost, opt for a more challenging route with inclines or simply take the longer route.

YOGA
Yoga is a fantastic way to reduce anxiety and stress levels thanks to its combination of calming breathing techniques and muscle-relaxing stretches that release physical tension. Total Fitness recently commissioned a study of 2,006 UK adults which identified that as many as 40% of millennials regularly practice yoga and of those, 1 in 3 feel less anxious and stressed afterward. The combination of deep targeted breathing and slow stretching helps to relieve physical tension in the body and slow down the heart-rate, both of which aid relaxation and will have you feeling better in no time.

A BRISK WALK
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that walking is exercise and, just like other activities that get you moving, walking also helps the body produce happy endorphins. Ideal for those who are new to exercise or are living with injuries, a brisk walk can help transform a bad day into a good day by stimulating the production of serotonin – and as an added bonus, 30 minutes of brisk walking will also burn between 100-300 calories. For additional pick-me-up benefits, why not plug into some music on your walk while you enjoy the sunshine and take in the beauty of nature, which in itself is a fantastic mood-booster.

Total Fitness is the leading mid-market health club in the north and provides more ways to get fit, stay in shape, and more support to keep members focused. With 17 health clubs across the North of England and Wales, Total Fitness provides a full-service fitness offering; guided by knowledgeable and supportive fitness teams, the brand works hard to meet the individual needs of its members.