Ready to take stock of your general day-to-day happiness and incorporate some new practices that can improve your mood all day long? Here are five strategies to consider:
Pick a wellness habit, then link it to an a.m. ritual you already have
Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help boost happiness. Link a moment in that routine (say, the bed-making) to the habit you want to cultivate (maybe it’s reading 10 pages in a book). By tacking it on to something you already do, you’re much more likely to actually stick with it.
…and somebody else
- Make social contact with somebody you have positive regard for
- This could be a phone call, text, or even a simple appreciation practice – bring a friend or loved one into your mind and consciously focus on the things you really cherish about them
Incorporate gratitude
- Many religions do morning prayer, and spending a moment doing something similar – whether you’re religious or not – can be a doable morning habit to cultivate
- Find some way to express gratitude in the morning, because it truly can be enough to put you in a better frame of mind all-day
Get your phone out of your room
- Studies have linked frequent social media use to decreased mood over time
- Other research has shown that a high volume of emails is connected with overall feelings of unhappiness
- Additionally, screens can get in the way of sleep, which is deeply connected to people’s overall sense of well-being, so try to keep devices out of the room during the night
Talk to yourself
- Use your own name in your self-talk
- You are more likely to follow cognitive advice
- Connecting with someone – even on your phone – in the morning can offer mood-boosting benefits that will linger throughout the day
- Take some control over your own thoughts
