A detailed guide to happy hormones and how to get them

The four happy hormones are Dopamine, Oxytocin, Endorphins and Serotonin. Arranged in this sequence they give your lifelong dose of happiness. The key to this whole process is making sure you get the right doses at the right time. Also too much of any one of these will make you addicted to that particular hormone. This might disrupt your daily life.

Dopamine – the reward hormone

Whenever you get rewarded or praised dopamine is released. The burst is however for a few second, but addictive in nature.

The easiest way to get this hormone is the complete a task. You notice in any group activity or networking meetings, they always have this small task were people participate. The enthusiasm automatically goes up several notches and within no time, everyone is participating. There is of course one winner, but the excitement is infectious and hence people return to get more.

Posting on social media is also a task. You see all those guys clicking selfies and posting. That is dopamine at work. There is also this secret desire to get likes and comments. Addiction.

Eating also comes in the same category. Midnight cravings! Perfect example of the Dopamine dose. The reward hormone is just a few app clicks away.

So is there anything that is good and non addictive and help release dopamine. Yes, in fact activities done for yourself also come in this category. A task of cleaning up the wardrobe rewards you with Dopamine.

Oxytocin – the love hormone

Notice how some people love to touch, that is oxytocin. Holding hands, hugging, interacting with family members, playing with kids and pets, any activity which involves physical touch.

Playing with baby is one activity which can really push the things up. Also you get a chance to babysit and the baby is happy too. Playing with a pet is the second activity in this category.

There are a lot of people who go out there to help animals and take care of them. That is addictive too.

The most important activity in this category is helping. When people donate, they believe that they are helping people. Oxytocin works relentless making all these activities a regular feature in everyday life.

What one needs to know is that socialising with people is not the problem, it is whom you choose to go along. If you are giving time to some, make it worth the effort. Same goes for help because there is a long line of people who know that humans are eager to help. They will make an appearance of being in distress and you will rush to help out.

Endorphins – the pain killer

The release of Endorphins block pain and help release dopamine. That way the reward hormone is connected to the pain killer hormone. The nature of a pain killer is that it has to come after a painful or stressful event. Endorphins replace stress with a sense of happiness with excitement. It is as if your body seeks that activity which will release endorphins.

Wonder why HIIT exercises are so popular these days. They release large amounts of endorphins are the end of every round and every session. Even regular exercise gives release after the session is over. Many people hit the gym at the end of the day and do a hard workout precisely for this reason.

Activities like watching a movie or listening to music is known to release the pain killer in your system.

Spicy food and dark chocolate releases the pain killer. Beautiful scents of oils also has this effect. Finally make sure that if you are going to watch a movie, it better be a comedy.

Serotonin – the mood stabiliser

Among all the happy hormones, this one is the safest and any activity done to release this is best for all situations.

A nature walk, mountain hike or exploring the beach area, any activity that involves a few hours of outdoor. The physical effort and sun works wonders on any stress that you have collected over the work week.

Running, swimming, cycling too come under this category.

Your plan to get the happy hormones

The social scientists knew about the happy hormones and life was designed around it. This lifestyle still exists in rural India, but urban places are a different story.

That is the reason why you need to plan activities for the week and end the week with a serotonin based activity.