From counting your blessings to breaking a sweat, it can take as little as 5 minutes to get into a good mod.
Put Some Pep in Your Step
Scientists say walking tall with
swinging arms helps you feel more positive. Even if you're not feeling happy, a
spirited stroll can help you fake it till you make it.
Slap on a Smile
Want to lift your spirits? Lift the
corners of your mouth. When you smile like you mean it, you can change your
brain’s chemistry and feel happier.
Volunteer
Find ways to get involved in your
community or help out a friend in need. You’ll help yourself, too. It can
improve your mental health and well-being. Win-win.
Make New Friends
It makes you feel good to spend
time with people who care about you. So be open to new relationships, whether
it’s someone you meet at the office, gym, church, or park. But be sure to
maintain those lifelong connections, too. Studies show the more connected you
are, the happier you are.
Count Your Blessings
Write down everything that’s good
in your life. When you make an effort to look on the bright side, it helps you
stay focused on the positive.
Break a Sweat
It can take as little as 5 minutes
for exercise to put you in a better mood. Moving your body also has good
long-term effects: Regular exercise helps keep depression at bay.
Forgive and Forget
Are you holding a grudge? Let it
go. Forgiveness frees you from negative thoughts and makes more room in your
life for inner peace. And that brings you happiness.
Practice Mindfulness
Meditate for an hour a week. It’ll
give you a dose of joy, peace, and contentment. It’ll also create new pathways
in your brain to make it easier for you to feel joy.
Turn on Some Tunes
Music can have a powerful effect on
your emotions. Pick your favorite music mix and get into the groove. You’ll get
a real feel-good vibe.
Get the ZZZs You Need
Most adults need 7 or 8 hours of
sleep each night to stay in a good mood. You’re more likely to be happy when
you get enough shut-eye.
Remember Your “Why”
When you have a sense of purpose --
why you work, exercise, or do something good for someone else -- it gives your
life meaning. In the hurry of a busy day, it’s easy to lose sight of
that. So take a moment to bring it to mind. Happiness is about more than
momentary pleasure. It’s also in the satisfaction of pursuing your goals.
Challenge Your Inner Critic
You know that inner voice that
loves to point out everything that isn’t so great? Try to notice when it takes
control of your mood. Sometimes it has a good point and is letting you know
about something that needs your attention. But other times, it’s
wrong, or it makes things seem worse than they are. Ask yourself, “Is this
true?”
Tackle Your Goals
Ask yourself if they are realistic
and within your reach now -- or at least, things that you can start to work
toward. Then get really specific about what the goal is -- not “to work out
more” but “to walk 30 minutes a day, three times this week,” or “I’ll have a
salad for lunch twice this week.” Write it down, and reward yourself for
every step you take toward that goal!
Seek Positive People
“Emotions are contagious,” as the
saying goes. So you want people in your life who are confident, upbeat, and
healthy. You’ll probably find that it rubs off on you, leaving you feeling
better. And then you can pass that on, too.
Ask a Pro
If you feel a lot less happy than
you used to, even after you try the tips in this slideshow, it’s time to call
an expert. Book a session with a counsellor to talk about how you feel. If
depression is the reason you’re down, there are treatments. Even if you’re not
depressed, you might learn some helpful things about yourself and your
challenges -- and end up feeling better than you thought you could.
Culled from WebMD
No comments:
Post a Comment