Could This TikTok Dance Trend Improve Your Mood?

My TikTok feed is full of people shimmying to a remix of the 1990 song "There She Goes" by the La's. Moms wiggle their shoulders and shake their bottoms in bathrobes or with babies on their hips. A dad and toddler shimmy in a field next to a couple of cows. A family of four takes turns dancing in front of the camera. Even Meghan Trainor and Pink got in on the trend.

The caption in all these videos: "A shimmy a day keeps the sad away." But can a quick dance party really improve your mood? We asked a psychologist and a dancer how this TikTok dance trend stacks up to more traditional self-care.

What is the TikTok shimmy trend?

Started in April, the trend features TikTok creators shimmying their shoulders to a "There She Goes" remix by Cyril Riley and Moonlght. The caption reads "A shimmy a day keeps the sad away," or a play on that idea.

The great part about this trend? There are no dance moves to learn. And you can film yourself if you like, but the benefits go way beyond posting your version on social media.

But that shouldn't stop you from scrolling TikTok to watch different takes on the joyful shimmy. Seeing people turn their moods around with simple dance movements is almost as fun as dancing yourself.

Why movement improves mood

Dr. Stacy Thomas, a psychologist and the director of the Design Your Life Centre in Toronto, says that any form of exercise can help us feel more positive. "Movement boosts happy endorphins in the body. It also allows us to let go of stress hormones."

A 2008 study in the UK revealed that even a short dance session can elevate feelings of happiness and reduce symptoms of depression. Participants who danced for just five minutes reported feeling happier, more energetic, and less tense. The researcher, Dr. Peter Lovatt, has said, "You don't have to dance well—you just have to dance. It's the act of moving freely that sparks joy and changes the brain."

Blessyl Buan, a multidisciplinary artist, mom of four and former chiropractor, says dancing activates the vagus nerve and can help reset your nervous system. She dances every day to help with the load of motherhood and says, "Dance is super accessible, whether you're in your car, walking with AirPods, or you're at home by yourself." And if you're not comfortable dancing on a walk or sitting in your car, she says that just imagining yourself dancing can have similar joyful effects.

Why Moms especially need a mood boost

As most parents know, finding time for self-care can be tough. Taking a few minutes out of your day to dance is a quick and fun way to reset.

Buan explains, "If your mood is low, your body is in a freeze state. For moms, that's often from decision fatigue, physical fatigue and mental fatigue. Sometimes, finding the motivation to do the smallest task can feel like a boulder in front of you. What dance does is get you back into your body, especially when you pair that movement with music that you remember from a time that you didn't feel so burdened."

And as Dr. Thomas says, your kids will take in how you treat yourself. "You are their first teacher of how to be a human." So show them that taking some time to find joy is important.

And while a quick shimmy can certainly help, it shouldn't be your only form of emotional regulation. "Self-care is absolutely essential. I know that many people are living from one thing to the next, but that's how we burn out," Says Dr. Thomas.

How to incorporate a quick shimmy into your day

Finding a song you love (or pulling up the original "There She Goes" on Spotify) and dancing seems simple enough, but shimmying becomes more meaningful when you are intentional about it.

"As a psychologist, I would say the tools are amazing, but practices are better, right? So, to really create a new pattern, you have to do something over and over and over again," says Dr. Thomas.

While you should definitely dance any time you feel like it, dancing when you don't feel like it might be even more important. "What I love about this idea is the silliness. It's breaking a pattern and doing something unexpected."

Great times to fit in a shimmy:

• When you get up in the morning, before helping your kids get ready for the day
• After a tantrum—or maybe during one
• During the afternoon work slump (working from an office? Take a bathroom dance break)
• While cleaning up after dinner
• While helping your kid with their homework
• Before you put your kids to bed

Dr. Thomas says this kind of movement is great when tensions are high. She suggests using dance to shift your energy before continuing a tough conversation or dealing with grumpy kids.

Other quick movement breaks for busy parents

Dr. Thomas says, "I came across a similar idea to the shimmy called 'exercise snacks'. So, in the middle of your day, do 10 squats or 10 push-ups or whatever you choose in a short period of time. If you do that throughout the day, it turns out it's just as effective as doing a long half-hour walk or jog or something like that."

• Stand up and reach for the ceiling, then your toes, rotate your shoulders and stretch your legs
• Go for a walk. Get outside or even walk around your home
• Get some quick cardio in with jumping jacks or star jumps
• Have a family dance party
• Do some yoga poses. They're great for stress relief and mindfulness

Why you should shimmy with your kids

While a quick dance break can help your mood, dancing with your kids can be a form of co-regulation. You're letting go of tension together and modelling a positive way to work through tough moments.

"It models to your kids that they can still continue to embrace the energy of their inner child as an adult, which I think is radical," says Buan. "Life can bring you down. Dancing not only boosts your mood, it also creates a positive example for your kids."

The bottom line

Dance and movement in general are great for your body and your mind. A 2005 study showed that short bouts of moderate exercise (10 minutes, three times a day) were as effective as one 30-minute session for improving depression symptoms.

So dance when you're feeling down. But as Dr. Thomas says, "We need lots of tools. But maybe we can go beyond just grabbing something to help survive in the moment." So make it a regular practice.

Experts

• Dr. Stacy Thomas is a psychologist and the director of the Design Your Life Centre in Toronto

• Blessyl Buan is a multidisciplinary artist, mom of four and former chiropractor