I’d like to say I’m a pretty happy person. I’m comfortable with who I am, and am in a good place. 30 is approaching, and I’ve lived enough that I’ve learned some lessons. I’d like to share some tips with you, to help you live a happier life. They may sound cliche- but I’m okay with that!
1: Start each day with a positive affirmation.
I’ve said this before, but I mean it. We are setting ourselves up for an entire day by what we tell ourselves in the morning. A lot of days, I think, “I hate mornings. I have so much to do- I don’t even want to get started.” Those words make for a not so great start. I dread each task, and can’t even motivate myself to keep moving. But, if I wake up and think, “Today is going to be a great day, I’m really going to be able to knock some items off of my to do list. And maybe even get to take a little time to myself,” I have set myself up for a much better experience. Try it for a week. You will really notice a difference in how just your thought process can affect your life. It may sound cheesy, but it works!
2: LET IT GO.
If anyone got it right, it was my girl Elsa. You HAVE GOT to let stuff go. This was a hard lesson for me. I’m a grudge holder. A stewer. A plotter. I have let anger and bitterness plant itself inside of me like a weed, and held onto it for years. And, you know what? The only person it hurt was me. It held me back and kept me from forgiving. And ultimately, for a time, kept me from truly living. So, if you’re holding onto something. Let it go. Forgive and forget. You’ll never be truly happy until you do. I know from experience.
3: Take a chance.
Something I’ve learned over just this past year, is to take a chance on yourself. Got a dream? Go for it! I started really focusing on my blog, and though I don’t have a huge amount of followers, it is still something that I enjoy immensely. Writing, to me, is like balm for my soul. It relieves my stress and allows me to share my experiences. If only one person reads it, that’s okay. It’s more for me. But, I took a chance and have gotten to be apart of some amazing things this year. Things I never would have even known about otherwise. So, live that dream. Write that book. Paint that picture. Take a chance on yourself, and just do you.
4: Write a letter.
There is little I like more than receiving snail mail. An actual hand written, someone took the time to physically write you, letter. Get on it- write someone. A grandparent, a friend, a stranger even. The act of writing someone a letter has sadly become a lost art. So, get yourself a pen pal and write. You will make someone smile when they open their mailbox and see some actual correspondence. And you might even make yourself happy while you’re at it. It can’t hurt.
5: Give back/Pay it forward.
If you really want to be happy, try helping out someone less fortunate than you. Give yourself some perspective. Remind yourself how good you actually have it. And if you’re too busy or too scared to sign up for charity work or the like, start out with one Random Act of Kindness. Pay for the person behind you in line. Leave an anonymous gift for someone who could use it. There are lots of ways to do this, and I could never list them all. But, by making someone else’s day, you will really be making yours.
6: Smell the roses.
You know one of my favorite things to preach, especially to Moms? Self care. It’s important. You cannot pour from an empty cup, my friends. Take a little time for yourself. Indulge in a bath. Fall in love with a great book. Linger over any task that you enjoy. Take some time to just stop and breathe and ponder. Slow down.
7: Sing it out.
When I have a bad day, one of my favorite things to do is crank up some music and sing at the top of my lungs. Music soothes. It motivates. And it can inject some pep into an otherwise horrible day. So, even if you can’t carry a tune- sing out loud. Scare the neighbors if you must- just do it.
8: Write it down.
Like I said before, writing is a great comfort to me. And it may not totally be your thing. But, give it a try. By no means do you have to start a blog. But give journaling a try. Just write down the things you did that day. Some thoughts you have. Or ideas you may want to call upon later. You NEVER have to let anyone read it, it’s just for you. I have a gratitude journal that no one will ever read, but by writing down what I’m grateful for, I give myself small reminders of how great my life truly is. And I can turn back to those pages when I need a boost.
9: Change your hair.
Such a girl response- but it’s true. Any time something drastic in my life changes, I chop off my hair. Or get some highlights. It’s fun and light, and something you can control even when you feel like life’s out of control. It doesn’t have to be your hair. Change your look. Try some new makeup. A few new outfits. A little change can boost your mood. And guess what? Hair grows back.
10: Fake it til you make it.
As with anything in life- sometimes we have no idea what we’re doing. Where we’re going. Just hold your head high and pretend you do. Sometimes pretending that we know what to do, turns into learning what we’re supposed to be doing. Parenting for example; no one knows the perfect way to do it. But, we all pretend we do. And in the end, that’s enough.
Runners Up: Get Some Exercise, Bake Some Cookies, or Cuddle a Puppy/Kitten/Baby- all definite mood boosters for me!
I hope that in applying these tips to your life, you can become the happiest version of yourself. There’s no secret to being perfectly happy all of the time. Life can be hard and scary and utterly overwhelming. But, at least there are a few thing we can do about it.
What are some positive mood boosters for you?
