Harnessing Feel-Good Hormones: A Guide to Well-Being

What are feel-good hormones?

Understanding the intricate workings of our bodies can shed light on the mysterious ways in which we experience joy, happiness, and contentment. Hormones, the body's chemical messengers, play a vital role in regulating your physical functions and emotional states. Administrative jobs are stressful and can get emotional at times.

Among them, the "feel-good hormones" also known as neurotransmitters, stand out for their ability to induce happiness and elation. While natural lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and social interaction can enhance these hormones, some may consider supplements as an option. However, it's essential to approach supplements with caution, as they can sometimes have adverse effects. Consult with your doctor for recommendations depending on your desired outcome goal. Below we give recommendations you can consider without needing to schedule a doctor’s appointment (while that would be a good action to take).

Understanding and nurturing these hormones through natural means can significantly enhance your lifestyle.

The Four Feel-Good Hormones:

  1. Dopamine:

    • Function: Rewards, mood, movement, and more.

    • Sources: Tyrosine-rich foods like poultry, dairy, and bananas.

    • Boosters: Meditation and positive experiences.

  2. Serotonin:

    • Function: Mood regulation, memory, and more.

    • Sources: Complex carbs found in veggies, fruits, and whole grains.

    • Boosters: Exercise, sunlight exposure, and certain foods

  3. Endorphins: 

    • Function: Pain relief, pleasure, and mood enhancement.

    • Boosters: Exercise, laughter, music, touch, and creative activities.

  4. Oxytocin:

    • Function: Bonding, relaxation, and stress reduction.

    • Boosters: Physical touch, social interaction, exercise, and music.

Your understanding of these ‘feel-good’ hormones helps illuminate pathways to joy and contentment within us. By embracing these natural methods to nurture these neurotransmitters, we motivate ourselves to lead happier and more fulfilling lives. 

Now that you are armed with the knowledge of dopamine's rewards, serotonin's mood regulation, endorphins' pain relief, and oxytocin's bonding effects let's explore actionable steps to cultivate a harmonious balance of these feel-good hormones in your daily lives.

Launch Pad:

  1. Pick one easy goal from the Dopamine options. Maybe it’s scheduling 1 positive experience a month (which also helps with having something to look forward to).

  2. Pick one easy goal from the Serotonin options. Commit to getting 10-minutes of sunshine at the top of your day.

  3. Pick one easy goal from the Endorphins options. Maybe set aside time to relax for 20-minutes a week doing reading, gardening, or listening to music.

  4. Pick one easy goal from the Oxytocin options. Maybe set a goal to get 7,500 steps in a day; take the stairs, park farther away.

There’s no right or wrong way to create a lifestyle plan, but there is a need to create a plan. Pick the easiest option so you achieve it and create momentum for positive (compounding) transformation.

As we wrap up our exploration of nurturing feel-good hormones through natural methods, I invite you to delve deeper into this topic by listening to the podcast episode below:

Hilani Ellis