Daily Habits to a Happier You
Want to be a happier version of you? Hey, I want to be happier too! And we can be by applying these daily habits for maximum mood boosting power. Our habits are deeply engrained as you’ve probably experienced when trying to break unhealthy habits. Today, we’ll break down some mood boosting healthy daily habits to build your self-esteem, manage stress levels, and attain a happier Body, Soul, and Mind.
Body
It may seem like a no-brainer that treating the body well through regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and a nutritious diet will lead to better mental health, but what are some simple ways to get started on making these practices a habit to achieve the long-term benefits? Read on to find out!
Medical experts recommend that 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week is the best formula for improved mental health. For some though, that can be a daunting place to start. Instead, try starting in smaller chunks each day – a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, playing with the kids at the playground instead of sitting on the sidelines, tossing the ball for the dog, or stretching for five minutes in the morning while the coffee brews (my favorite!). Before you know it, you’ll be getting in all of the steps and increasing your activity levels each week!
Average Hours of Sleep Per Night in the US
The power sleep has on mood and overall health is astounding. “The Institute of Medicine estimates that 50 million to 70 million adults in the U.S. have chronic sleep disorders, and a 2009 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 35% of people reported averaging fewer than seven hours of sleep per night” (American Psychological Association). The chronic sleep deprivation we experience as a society has profound effects on work performance, mood, and relationships. Decreasing your sleep deficit by getting an extra hour or more of sleep each night will help reduce stress, feelings of depression and anxiety, and overall make you feel a bit more happy.
When we’re feeling blue, we often turn to comfort foods (those high calorie, high fat goodies that taste oh so yummy!) for a mood booster. What if instead, we chose healthier options? Would fruits and veggies have the same mood boosting effect? Researchers studied this hypothesis and found that “vegetables contributed the biggest share to the total happiness followed by sweets, dairy products, and bread” (Deborah Wahl, et al). So go ahead and swap that slice of cake for an apple or baked potato for a deeper mood boosting effect and, perhaps, trim the waistline too!
Soul
Meditation has been shown to have a wide range of benefits for mental and emotional well-being, including increasing happiness and overall life satisfaction. Here are some ways that meditation can make you feel happier:
Reducing stress and anxiety: Regular meditation practice has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones and decrease symptoms of anxiety. This can lead to a greater sense of calm and relaxation, which can contribute to feelings of happiness.
Improving mood: Meditation has been found to increase the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. Regular practice has also been linked to decreased symptoms of depression.
Enhancing self-awareness: Meditation involves focusing your attention on the present moment and becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions. This can help you better understand yourself, your values, and your goals, which can contribute to a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Cultivating gratitude: Meditation can help you develop a greater appreciation for the present moment and the positive aspects of your life, which can foster feelings of gratitude and contentment.
Increasing compassion and empathy: Meditation has been shown to increase activity in areas of the brain associated with empathy and compassion. This can help you develop a greater sense of connection to others and lead to increased feelings of happiness and well-being.
Overall, meditation can be a powerful tool for promoting happiness and well-being. Regular practice can help you develop a greater sense of inner peace, clarity, and contentment, which can positively impact all areas of your life.
Mind
All the methods discussed so far for Body and Soul also help the Mind be happier – Surprise! But there are additional techniques you can practice that will keep those good feeling vibes coming.
The first technique is super easy – smiling. The theory that facial expressions influence emotions is called the facial feedback hypothesis and scientists have been researching this phenomenon for years to find out to just what extent smiling can make us happier, scowling makes us angrier, or frowning makes us sadder. A recent study has provided evidence that smiling does influence emotion and can make you feel happier, albeit a small amount. However, a daily practice of smiling at yourself in the mirror each morning, can have long-term effects and help boost self-esteem.
Another technique that will help boost your mood is keeping a gratitude journal. Gratitude journaling only takes a few minutes each day and is an easy way to keep track of all the good things (blessings!) present in your life. Even on really down days, there is something to be grateful for and this small, daily practice will help boost any mood through self-awareness and changing your perspective.
Finally, how you talk to yourself influences your mood. Self-deprecating remarks such as “don’t even bother to try, you’ll fail” will only serve to increase stress or further darken your mood. Turning such negative self-talk into positive affirmations is a great practice to help boost your mood, especially when faced with a challenge. Turning negative internal dialog, “I’ll only fail, so why bother?” into a more positive “What do I need to succeed?” is a much more powerful declaration that will lift your mood. Another method to practice positive self-talk, is to talk to yourself in the same encouraging way that you speak to your best friend. Would you tell your best friend that they will fail? Most likely not, instead, you would support them and be generous with “You got this!” and “I’m here to help!” statements. So, go ahead and treat yourself like your best friend!
Energy Harvest Universal Healing Event
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Energy Harvest Universal Healing Event 〰️
Keep your happiness momentum going and join us on April 23, 2023 for our 1st annual online healing event connecting Mind, Body, & Soul for Self-Healing!
