50 tips to help you get your happy on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 things seems like a long list, but it will take you only a few minutes to find something that works for you

We all have challenging times with circumstances that we have created* or situations beyond our control.

*Our thoughts, feelings and actions, or reactions, whether intentional, or without proper thought have a cause and effect, and can sometimes create circumstances we feel we have no control over, or fear facing up to.

Either way, we can feel unhappy, with ourselves, with others, or the circumstance / situation. Feeling unhappy does not help our situation. We can also feel that our level of happiness is at the hands of, or the responsibility of others, or that some ‘thing’ will have to happen to ensure our happiness.

However, there is a lot we can do to change how we feel and get our happy on! This in turn can change the way we feel about ourselves, others and the circumstance and situation, and can lead to us dealing with it, or resolving things in a better, more positive way, which of course then increases our happiness levels.

It can be quite a concept to get your head around sometimes, but what happens when you do, is amazing, as any one situation or person, will not affect your whole day, or week, or whether you feel happy.

I have personally spent time getting my head around this, and it isn’t that I don’t ever feel unhappy, I just don’t ‘live there’! I live more in the moment, and spend far more time engaged in what is going on around me, and being present with others, knowing that I alone control whether I think or feel happy, resulting in my overall happiness levels going up 😊

The key is taking responsibility for your own happiness and knowing that it truly comes from within.

50 things to do, to get your happy on!

  1. Listen to uplifting happy music
  2.  Sing at the top of your voice
  3. Dance – maybe look at joining a dance class to learn to dance, or for social reasons or both
  4. Do a silly dance! Great to do with young children, they love it
  5. Go for a walk outside – even 10 minutes can help
  6. Exercise – there is so much you can do: cycling, swimming, running, walking, football, cricket, bowls, go to the gym, aerobics, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, karate, climbing… even better is to buddy up with someone, or join a group.
  7. Get away from your desk – especially do move away from your desk for lunch.
  8. Have a power nap
  9. Write down how you feel and then rip it up – very satisfying and literally gets bad thoughts out of your head
  10. Shout and scream! Somewhere where you’re not going to frighten anyone! I sometimes go to a quiet beauty spot and sit in my car and yes shout!
  11. Eat or drink something tasty and nutritional –  maybe try out a new recipe, and have fun finding the ingredients, an then cooking the dish
  12. Eat something that smells amazing like an orange, or use essential oils. Up-lifting smells have a very positive affect on us.
  13. Watch a comedy, or a funny clip
  14. Think abut something you are proud of achieving or overcoming
  15. Think about the people who love you, and who you love
  16. Be nostalgic – research has shown it helps your happiness levels
  17. Have a hug – touch is unbelievably therapeutic
  18. Be with your favourite people
  19. Stroking and caring for pets, has proven benefits for our happiness and well-being
  20. Do something childish, with or without a child in tow!
  21. Plan something lovely to do
  22. Read poetry
  23. Do something for someone else, or give a compliment, send a nice message or buying someone dear to you their favourite treat – seeing others feel happy helps boost our own happiness
  24. Smile – just the act of smiling reminds us to be happy
  25. or pull silly faces – sounds daft, but the dafter the better – it will make you laugh
  26. Tell some jokes
  27. Treat yourself – this does not necessarily mean a purchase, it could be watching your favourite tv show or film, or reading – uninterrupted
  28. Take ‘time out’ to actually do nothing, day dream, cat nap, just be and relish the silence
  29. Practice mindfulness – the benefits are huge – and a lot of what has been mentioned is a form of mindfulness – though you can sit quietly and become aware of your breathing, notice the chair you are on, things in the room, or if you are outside
  30. Meditation – is a deeper level of mindfulness, and can really work for you
  31. Practice Gratitude – this has an amazing affect, if practiced daily. Try having a note book you write down three things you are grateful for, or that make you smile, everyday either before going to sleep or as you wake up.
  32. Buy some flowers, for yourself or someone else
  33. Watch something ‘cute’ – why do you think animal posts and videos rank top!
  34. Ensue you are getting good quality sleep – have a good bedtime wind down routine
  35. Have a bubble bath
  36. Go for a bracing walk by the sea, or in the countryside
  37. Spend time with family and friends
  38. Look at photos from happy times
  39. Do something you have been meaning to do, like read a book, sign up for a course, do some drawing, plan your next trip
  40. Declutter – it could just be your desk, a draw, or wardrobe / room
  41. Give items you don’t use to charity
  42. Maybe sell some items and make yourself some money for a project, or something you want
  43. Ease off on the pressure you could be putting on yourself, or the need to be ‘perfect. Easing off, actually helps us be more productive, and this then increases our happiness levels
  44. Get into your pyjamas as soon as you get home and put fresh washed bedding on your bed
  45. Makes the best hot chocolate ever, with real chocolate and marshmallows!
  46. Have a break from social media
  47. Ring someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
  48. Forgive someone – forgive yourself. Practising forgiveness is powerful and is about You feeling better. It is not about condoning bad behaviour, but about understanding it possibly, or not, but letting go anyway. Maybe it’s you who need to make an apology?
  49. Being in-touch with how you feel and having a good cry can be just the thing you need to do, to release and let go, so do allow it. It is ok to not feel ok, so long as you don’t then ‘live there’
  50. Practice ‘switching’ your unhappy thoughts to better, more positive ones and ask yourself things like ‘will feeling unhappy help me?’ ‘what’s the worst that could happen – really?’

Andrea

A catch up with MOTIVATE attendees

The attendees shared the value of what they had learnt on the MOTIVATE course.

From more efficient task management and completing a whole task, by concentrating on it, and feeling more accomplished at the end of a day, to setting up a writing club, to aid with accountability and also support with getting a book completed, and ticking things off that were on the vision board / wish list.

Amazing everyone – great to hear of the success and that your are moving forward with your goals.

follow up with MOTIVATE attendees