Living a happy and healthy life is something that most people strive for but with everyday stressors looming many of us find it hard to fit in healthy habits. Here are a few things you can do to start living a life focused more on wellness and positivity than negativity...
Practice Gratitude
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List out things you're grateful for
Start by making a list of all the things that come to mind that you are grateful for. By doing this you will have a visual representation of the good that's in your life and it will now be top of mind you can also create a visual reminder that you keep around you , for example : a vision board composed of all the things you love about your life or framed pictures that represent those things.
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Tell those around you that you're grateful to them
How often do you express your gratitude to those around you? For most of us it's not very often even though we know it is important to do so. Start by telling the man holding the door for you while you carry your groceries into your building thank you and work your way up to those you hold most dear. Pick up the phone, go for a drive or simply facetime your loved ones and tell them how grateful you are to them. Who knows that may be just what you needed and what they needed as well.
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Show your body your grateful by taking care of it
Your body does so much for you! It the vessel that makes everything you do possible but we often neglect it. Start taking care of your body because let's face it is the only one you got! Some things you can easily implement are 30 minutes of movement a day, drinking more water or creating a skin care routine you do daily.
Do Things with Intention
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Figure out why you do things
Have you ever stopped to think about why you do things the way that you do? Most of us move through the world subconsciously doing things that we don't even realise were doing unless someone points it out. Become aware of your movements by taking note of the way that you do things and thinking about the possible reasons for why. For example if you always take a certain route to work think to yourself why is that and would it be better to take an alternative one to what i'm comfortable with to save time or have a more scenic drive. Doing this will bring awareness about your daily habits and make you more mindful of how you conduct them.
Immerse Yourself Into Your Environment
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Go for a walk
Even going for a simple walk around your block can work to improve your state of mind. The natural vitamins from the sun and the increased levels of dopamine in your body when exercising can make the biggest difference.
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Sit in a different space in your house to work
We often get stuck in a rut, doing the same things day in and day out. An easy way to alleviate some of this boredom is to change up your routine. Try sitting in your kitchen when you work from home instead of in your dark office. It can make a world of a difference for your mental state and give you something to look forward to the next day.
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Go to a coffee shop and read
A change of scenery is always nice and reading is fundamental so why not merge the two and take an outing to your local coffee shop with that book you told yourself you would read months ago. Give your mind a time to relax and unwind and enjoy a great cup of coffee and a sweet treat as you dive into the fictional world that lies behind the pages of your novel.
Work Through Your Insecurities
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Take inventory of your weak points and triggers
If you know what triggers your insecurities you will be able to anticipate it and prepare your mind or even avoid it. If you know that being around a certain toxic friend makes you insecure about your weight, try not to engage with them regularly to protect your peace. If it is something you can't avoid, figure out how it affects you so much and start working to make yourself stronger. For example if you are insecure about your income stat taking courses and reading books to advance your career, you will feel much better about your insecurity if you are consistently working to minimise it or get rid of it.
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Change what you can and accept what you can't
There are many things in life that we have the power to change but there is an equal amount of things that we cannot change. Don't waste your energy trying to change things you have no control over. Instead, focus on things you can change and chip away at hem everyday until you reach your goal.
Check in with yourself daily
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Write in a journal
Expelling your thoughts onto paper can be helpful to get out all the negativity and worries you may have. By putting them on paper you can remove them from your brain and make space for more happy and positive things to fill their place.
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Create a to do list
If you find yourself being stressed about the numerous tasks you need to complete try making yourself a rated to do list. Write out the individual tasks you need to do from most to least stressful or important and tick them off once you've finished. By doing this you can organise your tasks and get a visual of how much there is to do and you get a burst of satisfaction every time you cross one off your list.
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Create a mantra
Most of the time the words you say to yourself are often far more negative than those that are said to you. Working on your negative self-talk is very important in maining a positive mindset and living a happy life. Try creating a positive mantra to recite to yourself anytime you feel negative thoughts creeping in something like “ I choose to be calm and at peace” or “ I am enough”.
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