It’s challenging to stay positive when you look at the world around you and all the chaos that ensues. However, you can keep an optimistic outlook no matter what others are doing. Sure, the cares of life and raising a family can be overwhelming to even the most energetic person. Here’s how to boost your mood despite your circumstances.
What’s the first thing that you do when you get up in the morning?
A study found that 74 percent of the population checks their phone before they go to bed, and first thing when they wake up in the morning. While it’s good to connect to the outside world, you must draw the line.
Social media has news from around the globe running on your walls. You get weather updates, see recent horrific events in your area, and even catch up on a few family squabbles. Plus, you also see the massive amounts of posts from people making their lives appear way more glamorous than they are.
Already, you’re starting your day on the wrong foot. When you ingest all this negativity into your spirit, you ask for a dark cloud to hang around you all day. Why not start a new routine that will boost your mood and give you a whole new outlook on life?
Change Your Daily Habits for Success
If you see the world through negative lenses, then you are going to be negative. However, if you choose to see the good and positive things around you, you’ll be the optimist that people want to be around. To get started, here are ten habits that you should incorporate into every day.
1. Make Your Bed
Do you make your bed every day? A study found that over 74 percent of the American population takes time to tidy their bed in the morning. If you’re one of the 26 percent that feels your just going to get back into it, so why bother, then you need to think again.
Making your bed is such a small thing that can have a significant impact. When your home is neat and tidy, you will feel better about your day. Add something like starting a load of laundry and picking up the living room, and when you come home from work, you will have a sense of accomplishment. Plus, you can ease your mind knowing that your home is a haven.
2. Eat a Nutritious Breakfast
You’ve always been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and research shows it’s true. Remember the famous quote from Adelle Davis stating that you should eat your breakfast like you were a king? Skipping this meal has been shown to cause eating way more throughout the day than if you eat breakfast.
Your body needs food to fuel you for the activities of the day. You need to consume about 25 percent of your daily calories during this meal. Studies show if you don’t eat, it can have a significant impact on your cognitive performance throughout the day.
However, a fascinating thing that came from this study was that people who skipped breakfast missed out on the cortisol awakening response, also known as diurnal rhythm. Thus, eating this vital meal can put you in a better mood.
3. Say Your Morning Affirmations
Have you ever heard the saying, “The power of life and death is in the tongue?” You can speak things into existence. For instance, let’s say a child received verbal abuse in a home where they heard they would never amount to anything.
If that child grows up thinking he is a loser, will never have a good job, and will never be anything in life, then chances are he won’t. You have the power to change things just by the words you speak.
Instead of getting up and complaining about your arthritis or your aching head, why not start saying things like “I feel great.” “I am going to have a good day today.” You will be surprised about how different your mood becomes when you speak positivity into the atmosphere with morning affirmations.
4. Get Moving
While it may be tempting to keep your pajamas on, grab a coffee, and cuddle on the couch for a binge session, you need to get your body moving. Exercise helps to stimulate the chemicals in your brain that trigger your mood response. Did you know that many people can avoid antidepressant medications by merely incorporating an exercise routine into their life?
5. Use Hygge to Calm Yourself
The Danish people use Hygge in their life to bring tranquility and calm. It essentially means to enjoy the simple things in life. Rather than looking for some big thrill to find your contentment, why not look to nature and see the beauty all around you?
Something as fascinating as a gorgeous rose in your garden can give you a sense of appreciation. Brew a fresh cup of tea and sit outside watching the birds. It will boost your mood just being out in the fresh air and communing with nature.
6. Open Blinds and Curtains to Let the Sunshine In
First thing in the morning, you need to open the blinds and curtains and let the sun stream into your abode. Not only will it start your day on a bright and cheery note, but it will also help improve your Vitamin D3 levels.
Sunlight is a natural killer and can help destroy harmful bacteria in your home, and you can turn off the lights and rely on nature’s illumination. Saving money is always a good thing. Lastly, the sunshine can warm up your bones and help you to reduce chronic pain. You get all these benefits from nature, and it doesn’t cost you one penny.
7. Find Things to do Other Than Scroll Social Media/Video Games
Do you find that you are glued to a phone, computer, television, or video game all day long? While it’s okay to have a little screen time, Americans have become obsessed with technology.
The American Pediatric Association recommends that children only have two hours of screen time each day. Shockingly that includes all electronic devices put together. How much do you and your children spend on gaming devices and other technological forms of entertainment?
There are a plethora of problems that can be caused by too much technology, including social isolation. When you’re tied to a screen, you can’t get out there and mingle with people like you should. Put down the electronics and watch your mood soar.
Experts explain the healthful benefits of eating chocolate cake for breakfast.
8. Eat Dark Chocolate
Who would have ever thought that experts would suggest that you should eat chocolate each day? Dark chocolate is much different than the milk varieties as it has tryptophan in it. Tryptophan is an amino acid that can act as a mood-lifting serotonin medication.
No wonder people always reach for chocolate when they feel sad. The recommended amount is 2 ounces each day, so make sure you don’t overdo it.
9. Utilize Journaling
Journaling is a great way to write down all your thoughts and feelings from the day. Have you ever found a journal after a loved one has died, and you read every page like it was the best novel ever written? Journaling not only helps you, but it’s something you can leave for future generations too.
When you write down your feelings, you are releasing them. Many therapists suggest writing letters to loved ones who have passed to make amends, and the same concept applies here. There’s something about putting it down on paper that makes everything feel better.
10. Use Meditation to Clear Negativity
If you don’t meditate daily, then you must add this activity to your routine. Meditation is a great way to calm the mind and body and re-center. The great thing is that you can meditate anytime you feel like you need to calm yourself or regroup.
There is a lot of negative things that get ingested into your spirit during the day. You want to make sure that you don’t let those things affect you. By learning the proper way to meditate, you can change your whole mood as you learn how to become more grounded and positive.
Learn the 10 top reasons to embrace positivity in your life.
Final Thoughts on Taking Control of Your Mood
When you take control of your day using mood-boosting habits, you will no longer allow negativity, and the cares of life to weigh you down. Will you get sad at times? Sure, everyone has down days.
Thankfully, you can learn little tips and tricks that can help you push through those depressing days and get on to better ones—always using nature as your guide. When you sense your off-balance, and like your life is going crazy, you should walk barefoot and feel the earth beneath your feet.
There’s something very grounding about walking barefoot in the grass. The sunshine is another powerful thing that can help destroy negativity as the vast brightness washes it away. Make a pact and start today to make changes that will boost your mood.
