Happiness: "A state of well-being and contentment " Merriam-Webster ☼
Happiness by definition is a state of joy. We all know the significance of the word, very familiar with the "what", however it's the "how" we often question. There is no perfected recipe to follow that guarantees a happier life, however there are ways we can improve our daily state of mind.
1. Meditation
Taking time to invest in one self is one of the biggest ways to live a happier life. We often take so much out of ourselves to show others we care for them, and neglect our own self in the process. Meditation is a way to mend theses broken strings connecting our mind and body. If you are new to meditation, I assure you this practice is much less time consuming then you may have been led to believe. Depending on what suits you best, you can spend five minutes or up to hours practicing meditation. This is a time to work on your breathing and reconnect with yourself.
2. Spending time outdoors
Fresh air is something we all need a little more of. The outdoors is such a calming environment that helps us find inner peace. Whatever your mind may be consumed by, I assure you a walk outside will help with release and finding joy among all the daily chaos.
3. Expressing gratitude
When life gets tough we often turn to negative thoughts. Once theses thoughts make their way into our minds, they not only multiply but they begin to takeover. This is what causes lack of focus, lack of sleep and lack of happiness in our days. To chase away theses negative thoughts we must find the good even if this consist of the tiniest moments of our day. Recognizing joy will only help it grow.
4. Unplug
Take time out of your day to read, write or create. Do something with yourself that doesn't involve technology to give your mind a rest from interaction. Learn a new skill or find a hobby in which you can improve in your free time when away from your phone or computer. By taking the time to disconnect from the rest of the world, you are giving yourself time to connect with yourself.
5. Having something to look forward to
I am a big believer in living in the present moment. It is so important to find joy now instead of waiting for it to find us. Nonetheless, I also believe that having something to look forward to is an incredible way to self motivate and enjoy each day. It's so much easier to get through a tough day if we know there is something good at the end of it. This can mean your favourite tv show is on that evening or even at the end of the week you have a coffee date planned. Whatever the case, plan things that will make your hard day at work just a little more bearable.
6. Make a plan
When you wake up in the morning something I strongly suggest you do is make a plan. This can consist of a to do list or a timesheet of your day mapped out right to the minute. Making a plan and sticking to it will ease your mind as well as give you a sense of accomplishment as your tick things off your list.
7. Find inspiration
When a task comes up that you've been completely dreading, it can be hard to find the motivation to even start. In a case like this, our mood will be impacted as we will put ourselves down for not getting the task done which will take a toll on our overall happiness. If you are experiencing this you might just need a little inspiration. Social media is a great place to find ideas for studying, working out or even personal projects. The key to this is to not wander around the web. Stay focused on what you are struggling to accomplish and find content that has to do with your subject.
8. Comfort
When I hear the word comfort, I imagine myself sitting by a fire drinking hot cocoa and watching my favourite movie. However, as incredible as this sounds it isn't an everyday reality. Our lives are busy and even if we can't fill every waking minutes with nights by the fire, we can do little things to improve those long hours of work. Things such as making your favourite lunch on a day where you have a presentation or listening to your favourite song the minute you wake up. Finding little things that make you happy and utilizing them to make each day special.
9. Seek laughter + good company
Laughter is the best medicine. As humans we crave company which makes it essential to take time out of our day to have a good face to face conversation with another individual. Make small talk or chat about everything else. This comes back to finding people in your life who you really feel comfortable around, allowing you to enjoy life just a little bit more.
10. Spread kindness
Loving yourself and others is the last tip I would give to live better days. Find ways to make others smile but never at the cost of your own joy. Look around for the light and if you can't find it, be that light for others.
In life you must give time to gain time. Give yourself time to do the things that bring you happiness and you will gain better focus when working on daily tasks.
If happiness could be written out in the form of a flawless recipe, I strongly believe it would call for a little bit of time with friends, some time to yourself and some time doing what you absolutely love to do, whether or not it may be productive.
-- Sarah
Tags: #selfcare #life #happiness
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