Serotonin Booster Alert! Here’s A Budget-Friendly Feel-Good Guide For Your Weekdays

Are you feeling a little down in the dumps today? That irritable, fatigued, and black-clouds-hanging-over-your-head feeling might just be the weekday blues, and to combat it, you can get help from your body’s very own “happy hormones” like serotonin.

Sounds familiar? This feel-good neurotransmitter is known for its role in every person’s mental and emotional well-being. Aside from giving you positive vibes, it also affects your sleep, appetite, and memory. That’s why boosting your body’s serotonin levels can help in uplifting your mood—and consequently, beating your weekday blues.

To help you survive the weekdays, we listed seven serotonin-boosting practices and activities you can easily try now. Each recommendation also comes with Weekday Deals that are available from Monday to Thursday in SM Supermalls—keeping everything budget-friendly to make your wallet happy.

Sink your teeth into sweet treats

Make your weekdays sweeter with pastries and desserts to melt the stress away and delight your palate! Aside from satisfying your cravings, sweet treats are also known for triggering your body’s happy hormones and giving you an instant energy boost. With its soft dough and blissful sugary glaze, Krispy Kreme’s signature Original Glazed Doughnuts is a light-hearted treat that makes an excellent comfort food for your down days. 

Eat pastries and desserts to your heart’s content now with two dozen Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnuts available for only P705 (which is P231 less than its original price!) at SM City Santa Rosa until April 30.

Zen tip: Stretch the stress away

Breathe in, breathe out: Yoga is an activity that promotes relaxation, and it helps you build a sense of calmness, focus, and balance to combat stress and bad vibes. When practicing yoga, you need to stay in the moment and focus on three things only: your mind, your body, and your breathing. It keeps you from thinking of stressful situations or having anxious thoughts, which is perfect if you want to feel at ease. Yoga stretches and poses can also loosen up your tense muscles to help you feel physically relaxed after a tiring day.

This Yoga Mat from Surplus Shop is made of NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) non-slip material that makes it thick, water-resistant, and very comfortable as padding or cushion when you’re working out. It also comes with a strap handle that lets you conveniently carry it around your home or store it away after use.

Head to the Surplus Shop at SM City Cauayan and SM City Cabanatuan until March 31 to get a Yoga Mat at 20% off.

Let some sunshine into your life

Did you know that simply being under the sun can help trigger your brain to produce serotonin? Studies back up this positive effect of sun exposure on your mental health—and they even say that low serotonin levels resulting from lack of sunlight can put you at a higher risk of seasonal affective disorder or SAD. 

There are many simple ways to reap the effects of this low-cost natural serotonin booster, such as spending a few minutes in your backyard or enjoying outdoor activities. But before stepping out to have fun under the sun, shield yourself from harmful UV rays that can damage your skin. Use an effective sunscreen like the California Aloe Fresh Powdery Sun Stick SPF50+, a matte sun stick with a Pore Primer effect and transparent color that makes it easy to wear under makeup. 

Until April 30, you can enjoy a buy one, get one deal on the California Aloe Fresh Powdery Sun Stick SPF50+ at Nature Republic in SM Seaside City Cebu. 

Surround yourself with loved ones

Having a reliable support system and being surrounded by people who love you can help bust that sad, lonely feeling and increase your happiness levels. A simple catch-up session with your friends also allows you to talk (or rant) about your feelings, giving you an outlet to vent and unload all the negativity that might be building up inside you.

Add cheer to your get-together by having delectable comfort food to share, like Cinnabon’s signature cinnamon rolls and a nice cup of coffee. For only P375, you can get a Cinna-Pair Minibon and Minichocobon with any two hot coffee from Cinnabon at SM Seaside City Cebu. 

Choose from a wide selection of brews like Cafe Americano, Cafe Latte, or Cappuccino to pair with the Minibon—a smaller cinnamon roll filled with delicious Makara Cinnamon and topped with rich cream cheese frosting—and the Minichocobon—a version of Minibon filled and drizzled with chocolate. This money-saving combo is available at Cinnabon until April 30 only, so hurry! 

Use scents to relax your senses

Any self-care session can help shoo weekday stress, but you can give it an instant upgrade by incorporating the soothing power of essential oils and their scents into the process. Among all essential oils, the zesty aroma of lemons is considered one of the strongest and most relaxing scents with an energizing and invigorating effect. 

Soothe your senses with its scent during a nice and warm shower by using The Body Shop's Lemon Purifying Hair & Body Wash. Enriched with natural lemon essential oil, this body wash helps wash away bacteria and impurities so you can end the day feeling clean and refreshed. Get The Body Shop Lemon Purifying Hair & Body Wash 400ml at 30% off until March 31 at The Body Shop in SM City Bicutan.

Have a quick walk for quiet time

Do you often feel lethargic after a long day at work? This might be your sign to start having short daily walks. Like other aerobic exercises, walking can help perk up your mood and even give you health benefits like better blood circulation. Get your serotonin boost from going on a nature walk or a casual stroll around your neighborhood in comfy shoes, like the Zuna Flatform Sandals from CLN.

These jelly cross-band “flatform” sandals are made of PVC upper and outsoles that feel lightweight and cozy on your feet with every step. Get 39% off the Zuna Flatform Sandals at CLN in SM City Bacolod until March 31.

Reward yourself with something nice

You can also give yourself something nice to look forward to after surviving a tough week, like a practical gift that you can use or wear every day. One cool reward you can treat yourself to is the Marathon Digital 50mm Resin Band, a durable digital sports watch you can also wear to the office or any casual events.

Its 50mm matte black case has a digital module with a chronograph, Indiglo light-up watch dial, and an alarm with a black strap that creates an overall classic and stylish look that can match any outfit. From P2,590, you can get the Marathon Digital 50mm Resin Band at half the price for only P1,295 when you purchase it from Timex in SM City North Edsa until March 31.

Fill your weekdays with good vibes by availing of these money-saving Weekday Deals available from Monday to Thursday at SM malls nationwide. For more exciting deals and discounts, visit SM Deals or download the SM Malls Online app!