Three ways to increase your HAPPY!
As we near the middle of mental health awareness month, (wait... it's mid-May already?!) I wanted to check in on yours. In some places, quarantine is lifting a little bit, while others are experiencing extended stay-at-home orders. So it's not far-fetched to think you may be struggling a little bit these days. I know I am. Every day is different, but at the core of it, I miss having a routine.
I wanted to share some tips to help you feel better. (And bonus, these tips work all the time, not just during the month of May!)
Three things you can do to feel happier this month:
1. Create a morning routine.
When you start your morning off with a plan, you're in control of how your day starts. Here's my morning routine: Wake up and drink a huge glass of water. Then I brush my teeth, get dressed, stretch and move around, and get comfortable for a short 5-10 minute meditation. After my meditation, I practice a positive affirmation related to what I have going on later that day. (If I have a big to-do list, I might use "I have enough time and energy to do everything that I want to.") After that, I make breakfast and take the dog on a walk. The morning is mine!
Notice I don't do anything with my phone in there. Like, at all. I don't even pick it up for the first couple of hours, because I know if I do, I'll get sucked in to emails and notifications and before I know it, I've given control of my morning away to everyone else and my mood is down before I even start my day. This is one of my most valuable boundaries, because it truly works.
2. Practice gratitude.
You know that tradition at Thanksgiving where everyone goes around the table and says what they're thankful for and it's really awkward and kind of hard to think of something worth saying that isn't "family, friends, or Aunt Deanna's sugar cookies?"
This is just like that at first, but I promise it gets easier. (That's why it's a practice.) Here's what you do: every night before you fall asleep, journal or say out loud three things you're grateful for from that day. My partner, Brandon, and I like to share them with each other. For example, last night I said I was grateful for 1) Business friends to bounce ideas off of, 2) People sending me pictures of my coloring book, and 3) Brandon making dinner.
Some days I have a hard time naming three things. Some days I'm grateful for coffee, sunshine, and tacos. It doesn't matter what you're grateful for, but it matters that you're grateful. Doing this before bed puts your brain in a state of joy and sets you up for a good night's rest.
3. Make time for creativity + play.
One thing I learned very quickly during quarantine, is that there are no constructs of time. What is a weekend, and who cares? I found myself working 10-12 hours a day, every day. Because I didn't have anything else to do. I would then start the next week off frazzled and burnt out because I didn't take a break.
I know this can be tough, but I encourage you - GO PLAY. Even if you need a creativity break in the middle of a Wednesday, I can assure you, the work will still be there when you get back. If you're "too busy" to make time for creativity and play, schedule it in. Require it! Go dig around in your garden, color in your coloring book, or dance to your favorite song. Make it a priority, and you'll find yourself refreshed and relaxed and ready to conquer the work with a happier mind.
I encourage you to reflect on the above. Ask yourself:
What type of routine can I create for my mornings to set myself up for a great day?
What's something fun I've been wanting to do?
What can I do today that will make a difference in my mental health tomorrow?
If you enjoyed this exercise, share your reflections with me by commenting below or tagging me @meganleighletters on your Instagram Stories.