Robert Thayer, a specialist in human mood, says so about his favorite subject of research:
“If we understand that it is our mood that emphasizes the meaning of certain events and enhances or weakens the pleasure that we receive from them, we will realize how important it plays.”
We are used to thinking that our thoughts and feelings are causing a changing mood. Thus, if a person’s task is mostly to be in a good mood, he goes to a psychologist or tries to analyze his thoughts of feelings on his own.
However, this approach to the causes of mood changes is quite narrow, since very important factors that also determine mood are out of sight: sleep, general health, physical body sensations, food, and everyday rhythm of life.
In fact, mood is the result of processes occurring both in the mind (thoughts, emotions) and in the physical body.
Unfortunately, if our well-read, psychologically savvy contemporary draws his attention to what is happening in consciousness, he will pay attention to his physical condition only if he feels rather bad. And this fact, of course, does not affect the daily mood mark in the most positive way.
Energy-tension scale
Tyler concluded that mood in most cases originates in two dimensions: energy and tension. Elevated mood is characterized by a high level of energy and low voltage. With a bad mood, the opposite is true: low energy and high voltage.
In his book, The Source of Everyday Mood, Tyler describes four types of mood in accordance with the energy-tension scale:
1) Calm and energetic. High energy. Low tension. Most people are in this mood in the morning. They are rested and full of energy.
2) Calmly tired. This mood is typical for someone who is calmly going to bed and does not worry that he has not paid taxes. Energy is low, but tension is low.
3) Tense and energetic. This condition is characteristic when a person urgently needs to solve a problem, and he throws all his strength into solving it.
4) Stress-tired. This is a condition in which a person "has exhausted all resources." This is exhaustion after difficult events, and at the same time, continuing tension. If you add bad sleep, overeating, lack of necessary physical exertion to life’s troubles, then these factors will aggravate a person’s already bad condition.
Sleep, food, health, everyday rhythm, stimulants - their effect on mood
When a person comes to a psychologist complaining of an eternally bad mood, irritability, and chronic fatigue syndrome, you first need to find out how balanced are such important parts of his life as sleep, physical activity, food, and so on.
Of course, the mood will directly depend on whether a person gets enough sleep. Chronic lack of sleep even leads to depression. Therefore, a person who sleeps for 6 hours daily and does not get enough sleep can only be helped by changing the daily routine (learning to be a yogi who needs less sleep will also help, of course, but this still needs to be learned).
The quality of food affects the mood much more than they used to think. Too much sweet - increased irritability and a rapid decline in energy, requiring additional recharging. Too much meat, flour food, lack of vegetables, etc. - a decrease in the general tone of the body and a direct effect on mood.
Physical activity increases the overall energy level, which means they increase mood.
Stimulants, such as alcohol and coffee, energize for a while and increase mood. Caffeine puts people in a tense-energetic state, and although this is not quite what a calm-energetic state, many people like it, especially in the evenings. However, it may not be worth drinking coffee in the morning when the body is able to maintain a calmly energetic state and add tension to it.
Everyday biological rhythm also affects our mood.
In the morning, our energy level is high and reaches its maximum by noon, then begins to decline. Energy Rise Time is a time for breakouts, undertakings, presentations to potential investors. Peak fatigue in humans occurs on average at 4 pm and between 21 and 23 hours. At this time, it is better not to enter into confrontations, and in general it is better not to deal with problems, as they will most likely seem bigger than they really are.
Weather also affects mood. This should not be forgotten and, if possible, surround yourself with bright objects and lighting in the autumn-winter period.
A good mood is a property of an effective and happy life, it is a state that you should strive for in order to stay in a light and cheerful mood. If such a goal - to be in a predominantly good mood - is facing a person, then it is important to know what affects him. And if dealing with negative thoughts, emotions and sensations makes sense with a psychologist, then the physical components of a good mood are completely and completely subservient to everyone and wait for attention to be paid to them.