Serotonin Boost: Staffers share activities they’ve found give them instant serotonin boosts

Sometimes all you need to lift you spirits is as simple as getting out in the sunshine, listening to that perfect Spotify playlist or reorganizing you room for the one hundredth time. Finding that little difference in you day and finding it isn’t always easy. Here are some suggestions from the Harbinger staff.

Yoga: Liv Olson

I only started doing this recently but it is so relaxing! I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube and she does these really great bedtime yoga routines. Basically it’s poses that relax you, help you get sleepy and clear your head. She runs you through some basic breathing exercises and positions that release stress. And don’t worry — it’s not intimidating — you don’t do any complex stretches and poses. Check it out!

Journaling: Sydney Newton 

Quarantine really got me into this, but journaling always helps me when I’m in a bad mood. Whenever I’m super stressed out, I make a to-do list for the day or even the week because then it feels like less on my plate. I also make lists of things I’m grateful for, lists of my favorite things or things that make me happy. 

Dance Workout: Campbell Wood

I love my dance parties everytime I finish an assignment, but I also love to use games like Just Dance for a winter workout. If you put them on a harder level it’s a harder exercise and it’s something you can do indoors that’s really fun. Plus, I can easily spend an hour doing it listening to all the fun songs.

Organization: Ethan Enderle

On Sunday of each week, I take the day to clean my room, do my laundry for the upcoming week, fill out my calendar, etc. At the end of every week, there are dirty clothes all over my room, my school work space is disorganized, and everything is just not the way it is supposed to be. It gets this way because I go from school to work, and then from work to home. I get home and I’m tired so I don’t tidy up. When I finally tidy up on Sunday, it is really satisfying to have a clean room and have everything organized.

Reminiscing: Caroline Gould

My favorite thing to do when I’m feeling off is to go to my saved videos on youtube and instagram or just on my phone in general. I keep a bunch of my favorite videos saved in my “watch later” on youtube, so it’s nice to have something to watch that I know I will like!

Cooking for One: Phoebe Hendon

Isolation and remote learning are incredibly mentally taxing, so sometimes when I need a reason to get out of bed and take care of myself, I’ll force myself to cook something. Whether it’s as simple as putting together some quasi-fancy ingredients on an everything bagel I’ve sliced in half or spending an hour making stir fry and rice from scratch, making food is both calming and rewarding. Pop on a playlist while you chop up fruit for a smoothie and by the time you’re drinking it, you’ve done something productive and fed yourself. Congrats.  

Self-Care Day: Celia Condon

I love taking a day to completely only take care of myself. Using a day to take a 30 minute shower, putting on a face mask, deep cleaning my room, organizing my drawers, dusting my room, vacuuming my room, putting away all my laundry, maybe even painting my nails and just listening to good music while doing it all and turning my pretty lights on in my room gives me instant happiness

Take a Drive: Lyda Cosgrove

Since getting my license, I like to do what I call “A Drive to Nowhere.” Whether it’s driving on and endless loop around my neighborhood or hopping on the highway, blasting my favorite songs with the windows down — when the weather’s nice — it’s my go-to instant mood booster. Sometimes I’ll surprise some friends by showing up in their driveway to have a short conversation or stop at a drive-through along the way. But I’m just as happy aimlessly driving around with no final destination. 

Lighting a Candle: Sarah Golder

Whenever I’m feeling off, I always light a few of my favorite scented candles and paint. I’ve also found adult coloring books really nice for a mindless activity. Creating a list on your phone of things or activities that calm you down, whether thats mediating, running or watching your favorite movie, can be really helpful for stressful or sad days. 

Baking Cookies: Rachel Bingham

I like making cookies after I’m done with a hard test that day or after I finish a lot of homework. It makes the house smell really good and tastes good to be done too. The whole family enjoys them and if you have even more time, you could decorate and each time try a new recipe. If you’re going for more of a healthy reward, slice bananas and put peanut butter on top on a cutting board and put it in the freezer for 30+ minutes and it tastes delicious — kind of like ice cream.

Christmas Music: Sabrina Dean

I love the winter and Christmas time year round, so whenever I feel down I always go to my happy place. I light Meyers peppermint candle, which is the best scent, and blast Christmas music no matter the time of year, and it always fills me with happiness — it’s amazing.