3 Daily Happiness Habits
I have always wanted to make sure that I was as happy a person as possible. It’s so easy to lose sight of all the positive in life when times are tough, when you haven’t had a night of undisturbed sleep in 6 months, when you lose the patient you were working to save all week long, when you don’t get the marks you were hoping for on your exam paper. I know I have been guilty in the past of letting the negativity take-over. Of taking one negative experience and riding it down a into a dark negativity spiral.
Hitting the big 3-0 and becoming a mother, made me realize more than ever how crucial it is that I help my mind to focus on all the wonderful things in my life, and be the happiest me I can be. I want to spread warmth to those around me, I want a giggly-smiley baby, because everytime he looks up to his mother’s face he sees a smile.
The truth is we cannot prevent the negative from creeping into our lives. We also cannot live our lives always looking forward to a time when the negative is gone. Instead the only way to stay happy in life, is to actively chose to be, no matter your current circumstances. Below I want to share three simple tasks I undertake every day to grow my happiness. Try them each for 21 days to make a happiness habit!
Three Gratitudes
Every night before I fall to sleep I bring to mind three new things I am grateful for. It’s important to think of new gratitudes every day, otherwise we might fall into the trap of repeating the same ones. For example, I am thankful for my family, my health etc, and the point of the exercise is lost. By cultivating gratitude you draw your mind to the wonderful in what might have just been an ordinary day, you choose to focus on the positive and leave the negative at the wayside, diminishing its significance.
Send a one line email
Choose someone in your life who’s day you want to brighten, then type up a quick one line email and send it their way. It can be a message to a friend sharing how much you loved their cookie recipe, or to your mother reminding her how much you are looking forward to your upcoming visit. No matter the details, the act of giving out, and making others feel better makes us feel better. Our hearts get a happiness boost, and our relationships do too!
Exercise
I do not need to blab on about the millions of studies that prove the mental and physical health benefits of exercise. But taking the time for you and your fitness everyday will make you a happier and more energetic person. Believe me as a mother of a young baby, I know it can be hard to squeeze in a work-out. Be creative, get off the bus stop a few stops early and walk 20 mins home, walk to your baby classes, bring your mat and do some yoga in your office during lunch. Where there is a will there is a way!
Main photo by David Yu.
