5 Steps to Living a Happier Life

Hey there everyone! I thought it would be a great idea to center my first blog post on one of my biggest core values in life. Happiness!

We all know how important it is to be happy, not only for your mental health but as well as physical. Happy people live longer and healthier lives!

Now the word 'happy' can mean a lot of things, but to me being happy means smiling easy, feeling good, being content, and excited about life and your future.

These are some things I've picked up over the years and have made a noticeable difference in my life and happiness. So without further ado, here's my top 5 steps to living a happier life!

1. Journal.

This is the number one most important thing in my book, as well as the easiest! All you need is a journal, a pen, and five minutes before you go to bed. First, I like to start off by writing a list of five things from the day that I am thankful for("1. I am thankful for... and so on). Secondly, I like to focus on my daily goals. So to preface this I like to write a goal everyday and if I need to, a short list of things I can do to help me achieve my goal. To start off I reflect back on my goal from the day before and whether or not I have achieved it today. If I did I write, "I am proud of myself for achieving my goal of ..." and if I didn't then I usually make it my goal for the next day as well, until I achieve it. Which brings me to the second part of the goals section. Write a goal for the next day, just something small you can do to give yourself something to achieve. Lastly, I write a short summary of my day. I write how I feel and the important things that happened, the things that if I looked back in my journal five years from now I would want to remember. Now, this is meant to be a positive exercise, but I still like to write down any negative feelings I had and whether they were justified or not(ex: am I imagining this as being a problem, or should I actually feel this way?). The only trick is you've got to finish off with something positive. Make a sandwich start with the good, say your negative, and end with another positive so that your brain isn't stuck in a negative space. I know this sounds like a lot to write but it takes one small page, it doesn't have to be perfect, and it's only three things. Let me reiterate: 1. Five thanks, 2. Goal setting, 3. Summary of the day! And that's it! I know it doesn't sounds like it would do much and more trouble than it's worth, but this is the number one thing that started to help me become happy again when I was in a sad place. It helps me think about things I am thankful for and is a great way to end your day. In conclusion, keep a diary!

2. Exercise.

Yeah, I know we've all heard this one before, but it's true. Just five or ten minutes of movement can improve your day. Working out releases endorphins, which make you a little happier! And moving helps your body stay lose, the less tension the more content you will be! Get your heart rate up for a couple of minutes(bonus if you can do 20 minutes three days per week) and your body will be healthier! Those reasons alone should convince you to squeeze a little physical activity into your day. Whether you go for a stretch session after waking up or a five minute plank work out before bed(another bonus: people who work out sleep better!) you will feel better. Move your body!!!

3. Meditation.

Yeah, so this one sounds kind of lame. And I'm not gonna lie it's probably my least favorite out of all 5, not because it doesn't work but because it's hard for me. My brain moves a mile a minute and basically never shuts off, which is precisely why I need this so much! I like to sit down somewhere comfortable on the ground (carpet if I'm inside and grass if I'm outside) and sit in silence for five minutes. I breathe in and out using a pattern called 6-7-8, in for six, hold for 7, and out for 8. It helps slow your heart rate and allows you to relax. In these five minutes I try to clear my head using mindfulness. If you don't know what mindfulness is it's kind of hard to explain briefly, but I will try. It's a technique used to ground yourself by focusing on tangible sensations. Basically you focus on things happening around you so that you can get out of your head. Think about what you're feeling and what it feels like, what you're smelling, what you're hearing, and if you want to what you're seeing(sometimes it's nice to close your eyes). This might sounds like a simple task, but it is actually very difficult, for me anyways. Despite the fact it isn't easy it is very effective. Mindfulness is something I've used for the past couple of years to help me get over panic attacks as well as to just center myself. Meditation isn't easy, but it's very effective!

4. Drink water!

Okay you've probably heard this one before, I know. But it's true! Water helps your circulation, absorption of nutrients, and helps your kidneys work to remove waste. The more H2O you put in your body the better all your organs will work and flow and ultimately the better you will feel. water helps keep you healthy and feeling good, and healthy people are happy people! It genuinely improves your mood and keeps your mind working the way it should so that you can feel content. Water helps keep up energized and alert, dehydration can cause poor focus, mood, and higher stress levels. A tall glass of water can help make your body feel good, keep your body and brain working well, and quite literally raise your mood.

5. Smile!

This one is very important! Give yourself love! Every morning look in the mirror and smile, even if you aren't feeling it smiling for even thirty seconds will boost your mood and release endorphins. Then choose something positive and compliment yourself outloud("Dang! My hair looks awesome today!") Say it outloud, put the positive thought into the universe, and start your day off right.

Alright everyone! These are my 5 tips for living a happier life! I do all of, or at least most of, these things everyday and I've found that incorporating them into my everyday life has truly made me an all around happier and more content person. They're simple things that are easy to integrate into your normal day, and they truly make a difference!

Love you all!

Don't forget to live for the happy!

-L