Whether you are naturally a little more pessimistic than others, you have mild mood swings, are suffering from a tragedy, or just don’t have a reason but you find yourself feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed, don’t worry you are not alone. The important thing is that you are self aware and can realize you are having these symptoms. Remember your friends and family are always there for you and at the end of everyday you have the choice to end it with a smile.
I have decided to dedicate this next week to happiness. I will be posting different foods, yoga poses, and activities that increase your mood. Today I will start with some everyday things that you can do that I personally have used myself and have seen that they really do work!
1. Stretch it out and go to bed a little early.
30 minutes before bed put away all your electronics (iPhones to iPads must be gone! ) and stretch on your bedroom floor. This will relax your body and your mind will have the silence it needs to unwind from your busy day. By the time you get in your bed you are ready for a deep sleep and will hopefully be able to sleep all night.
2. Let the sunshine in
If your like the majority of people, waking up in the morning and getting out of bed is never easy. Brightening up your bedroom when you wake up helps you feel happier all day.
3. Make your bed
Just by simply making your bed you can increase your mood. This small task first thing in the morning will leave you feeling accomplished and satisfied. And if you are like me the appearance of an uncluttered room will leave you feeling less stressed/anxious 🙂
4.Smile just because you can
I know it sounds silly but just by smiling, even if you aren’t happy, you will activate happiness centers in your brain. And if you are feeling a little generous share your smile with a random stranger in line at Starbucks or in the elevator at work. Smiling is contagious ! Now that person is smiling and hopefully they will pass it on :))))
5. Keep a daily schedule
Sometimes it is hard to stay motivated or on task. By simply writing down the top three things that you want/need to get done today is enough. Then once you have accomplished each goal you can check it off. At the end if the day you will feel satisfied knowing you did everything you set out to do.
If you need extra motivation you can also do a weekly goal list. This will help you organize your daily tasks in order to accomplish what you want to do by the end of the week. Tape your list on your mirror or add it to an app on your phone so you can have a daily reminder of what your goals are.
.6. Remember the happy moments
Start a happy journal. At the end of each day (or at least once a week) think back on the last 24 hours and write down what your top 3-5 happiest memories that day. What made you smile, laugh, or was just an enjoyable experience. After a couple months you will have a whole book full of your happiest days and when your are feeling sad you can go back and read through it and put a smile on your face again!
7. Let it go
Let go of things you can’t change. We all have this natural tendency to dwell on what could have been, what might be, etc., but it really doesn’t matter. What ever did happened has already passed, so stop torturing yourself and move on. As for the future, as long as you live everyday being the best person you can be everything will turn out ok.
Remember to share your happiness with others and if you have any helpful tips for stress relievers please comment 🙂
Peace, love, & happiness
– Kristen
Clean body, mind, & spirit <3 