· By PYM STORE
4 Things That Make You Happy and Enjoy Life More
Everyone can use a little bit more sunshine in their life. Day to day life can really start to wear you out, and the bumps in the road keep coming, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to make yourself happier and enjoy your life more.
You may not be able to control everything, but you can learn to control how you react. PYM wants to help put a smile on your face, by showing you how you can put one on yourself.
#1) Start Your Day Out Slow
Most days of the week, we wake up already in a rush. It starts with the beeping of the alarm, followed by a mad rush to get ready and out the door on time. Keys get lost, things get forgotten, and it can definitely put you in a bad mood right from the beginning.
A great way to help fix that and to start your day out right, whether it is a work day or a weekend, is to ease into it.
Try to avoid that panicked feeling, which tends to stay with you all day long. Take a long, hard look at your morning routine. Where can you improve it? Can you set your alarm a little bit earlier? Take a shower the night before? Make sure that you set your things out and know where your keys are ahead of time? There’s always room for improvement.
Even on the weekends, make a point to sit down with a warm cup of coffee or tea before getting started. These moments of quiet contemplation, especially before everyone else in the home wakes up, can really give you a sense of mindfulness and peace. Consider taking a PYM Mood Chew, too. It can help you be able to cope with anything that day may throw at you.
#2) Minimize Your Social Media Consumption
You already have some idea of how potentially “bad” social media can be for your mental health. There has been plenty of research put into it and, ironically, it has gotten a lot of media attention.
When you spend too much time on social media, or take it too seriously, it can lead to comparing yourself to other people. Although we logically know that people are putting their best (often not real) face on with what they post, we’re only human. It can not only make you feel envious, it can also lower your self esteem.
Social media may also affect your ability to sleep well, lower your attention span, and even potentially change your memory of the actual events you’re seeing photos of.
The problem is, social media has also been proven to be addictive. It triggers a similar reaction in the brain that things like gambling and sugar does, giving a quick boost of dopamine. That’s what makes it so hard to really stop and put it down.
It can help to actually remove the apps from your phone, which at least forces you to be more aware when you head to those sites on your desktop.
#3) Focus on Gratitude
We can’t say enough good things about gratitude. Being appreciative of what you have right now, instead of focusing on what you’ve lost or what you could have in the future, is an excellent and easy way to naturally make you have a happier, more enjoyable life.
When you focus on being truly grateful, it can help support both your physical and mental health. It also helps you stop some of that negative self talk that holds you back, and refocuses you in a mindful, positive way.
The best part is, it costs you absolutely nothing to be more grateful. Start by looking around you and taking stock of everything that makes you happy. You’re not only looking at “things;” you should also pay attention to the people that add magic to your life.
Remember, this has nothing to do with monetary value. You can’t put a price on gratefulness, or happiness, because it really is priceless.
Gratitude journals are another great way to really foster that sense of grateful mindfulness in your life. At the end of the day, take a few moments out to reflect. Then jot down a sentence or two about what you really appreciated about your day, from the silly to the serious. It’ll make a big difference.
#4) Laugh and Dance Your Way Through Your Day
You’ve probably heard some take on the saying, “dance like nobody's watching.” But did you know that is actually some really great advice?
When you focus on doing more spontaneous, fun, silly things like dancing around your kitchen or singing into a wooden spoon like a microphone, you release your inhibitions and enjoy your life just a little bit more. Dance has already been proven to actually positively engage your brain, and it can even potentially lessen both physical and mental health issues. So crank up your favorite song, and spend a few minutes every day just dancing around the house. You can even incorporate it into your house cleaning routine!
Laughing creates similar results. Scientifically, when you laugh, it releases two different “happy” hormones -- endorphins and oxytocin. On a biological level, these hormones are released in an attempt to create a positive, social bonding experience. However, laughing (and even smiling) is easy to do and will improve your day in just a few moments.
Put on a comedy special, take turns telling goofy jokes with your friends or family, or smile just because. You’ll enjoy your day, and your life, just a little bit more.
In Conclusion…
It really isn’t all that difficult to make a few small changes that can significantly positively impact your life. After all, you’re ultimately in charge of your own destiny.
PYM believes in you, and knows that you have all the tools you need to lead a happier, more enjoyable life. It doesn’t cost a thing, and the benefits that it will pay back to you are absolutely priceless.
Sources:
Revealed: The 6 reasons why social media is making you UNHAPPY - The Daily Mail
The Powerful Psychological Benefits of Dance - Psychology Today