Good Morning, Fitness Family!
I've done some reflecting on what makes us happy every day and I have come up with the Five Things you must do to create a basis for overall happiness. Here are my thoughts below:
1. Take time to complete a list of three items you want to complete by the time you go to sleep at night. I picked three items as a starting point because a lot of the time we have grand plans of completing so many items on a to-do list and when we don't complete them, we feel dissatisfied or down. Starting with three items, that are easily attainable by the end of the day sets us up for success.
2. Take 5-10 minutes to reflect, meditate, or pray. Basically take time for silence to sit with yourself. This can be first thing in the morning, at lunch, or before bed. Studies have shown that doing this reduces stress and makes us feel happier. When we take "me time" to sit and reflect on our faith and values, it sets us up to be successful and happy.
3. Perform one random act of kindness. This is easy. Most people don't realize how often they perform these acts on a daily basis. Take notice to when you are kind and you show it. A good example of this is paying a stranger a compliment, opening a door, or simply taking time to pay for the person behind you at the drive-thru. Easy acts that make us just feel good.
4. Move! Take time to get your blood flowing and heart rate pumping. This doesn't have to be an intense 3 mile run or bench press. Stretch, do yoga, do sit-ups, count steps. Each day add one extra workout or one extra step to feel like you are achieving more and more as days go on. This helps you stay fit, but also makes you feel like you accomplished more than the day before.
5. Lastly, compliment yourself. Yep, I said it. Pay yourself a compliment. Look at yourself in the mirror and reflect on ONE thing a day that you love about yourself. Try to find something different than the day before. I personally used to hate my height, over the years I have found how much I love how tall I am and tell myself on a regular basis. When you do this, you feel better about yourself and love yourself for who you are. Whether you say it aloud, or in your head, make sure you look at yourself and say/think "I love ________".
These five items per day are the basis in feeling happy and the stepping stones to complete happiness. I constantly hear from people how unhappy they are in where they are in life, their career or feel like they don't live fully. It's all about perspective and making a change for the better. In feeling happy, we succeed. Staying positive and taking note to the positives in your own life... you will have what you need to succeed and live fully!
I've done some reflecting on what makes us happy every day and I have come up with the Five Things you must do to create a basis for overall happiness. Here are my thoughts below:
1. Take time to complete a list of three items you want to complete by the time you go to sleep at night. I picked three items as a starting point because a lot of the time we have grand plans of completing so many items on a to-do list and when we don't complete them, we feel dissatisfied or down. Starting with three items, that are easily attainable by the end of the day sets us up for success.
2. Take 5-10 minutes to reflect, meditate, or pray. Basically take time for silence to sit with yourself. This can be first thing in the morning, at lunch, or before bed. Studies have shown that doing this reduces stress and makes us feel happier. When we take "me time" to sit and reflect on our faith and values, it sets us up to be successful and happy.
3. Perform one random act of kindness. This is easy. Most people don't realize how often they perform these acts on a daily basis. Take notice to when you are kind and you show it. A good example of this is paying a stranger a compliment, opening a door, or simply taking time to pay for the person behind you at the drive-thru. Easy acts that make us just feel good.
4. Move! Take time to get your blood flowing and heart rate pumping. This doesn't have to be an intense 3 mile run or bench press. Stretch, do yoga, do sit-ups, count steps. Each day add one extra workout or one extra step to feel like you are achieving more and more as days go on. This helps you stay fit, but also makes you feel like you accomplished more than the day before.
5. Lastly, compliment yourself. Yep, I said it. Pay yourself a compliment. Look at yourself in the mirror and reflect on ONE thing a day that you love about yourself. Try to find something different than the day before. I personally used to hate my height, over the years I have found how much I love how tall I am and tell myself on a regular basis. When you do this, you feel better about yourself and love yourself for who you are. Whether you say it aloud, or in your head, make sure you look at yourself and say/think "I love ________".
These five items per day are the basis in feeling happy and the stepping stones to complete happiness. I constantly hear from people how unhappy they are in where they are in life, their career or feel like they don't live fully. It's all about perspective and making a change for the better. In feeling happy, we succeed. Staying positive and taking note to the positives in your own life... you will have what you need to succeed and live fully!