Unhappy: the feeling of not being satisfied or pleased with a situation.
If you look up the definition of unhappy, you’ll see the above. And if the definition of being unhappy is simply not being satisfied with a situation then it seems to me that we have the power to change the situation or our mindset. There is no secret gene that decides whether we are happy or not – it’s a choice, a habit, a skill – something we need to practice daily.
I used to think that one day I would just have it all figured out. I would meet the right person, get a six pack, have a closet the size of my bedroom, and make a certain about of money and that would equal happiness. Oh, but let me tell you how wrong I was. I had all of those…OK, maybe not the six pack, but I still wasn’t truly happy. For me, happiness doesn’t come from having it all together or having every physical possession I could ever desire – sure, they could help. But if you don’t have the right mindset you will never feel true happiness. Our minds are a powerful thing – think about the person who has it all, yet craves more. Or the person who has nothing, and couldn’t be more grateful.
I often hear people say, ‘How can you be so happy when X just happened?” Let me tell you. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect for you to be happy. Positivity, confidence, and happiness do not equal perfection. Nobody’s life is perfect, yet everyone’s life is beautiful. We don’t always have control over what life throws at us, but we can control how we react.
I wanted to share a few things I try to practice daily in order to be as happy and productive as possible. There is what I like to call the ‘quick fix’ and then there are habits we create more long-term in order to achieve overall happiness and productivity.
Top 5 tips to be happier today:
- Smile at strangers
- Go for a walk and get your body moving
- Show random acts of kindness
- Practice gratitude/mindfulness for 2 minutes and focus on your breath
- Do something nice for yourself
15 Habits that lead to happiness + productivity
- Practice gratitude: say, sing, list, write, what you’re grateful for daily and first thing in the morning
- Happiness is a choice. Make the conscious effort to choose happiness
- Create and invest in relationships that you’re proud of – especially invest in the relationship with yourself
- Show empathy to everyone you meet. It’s said that helping others brings fulfillment and joy
- Don’t take yourself too seriously or anything too personally
- Keep your space clean. Clean space, clear mind
- Make goals/lists. There’s nothing more satisfying than checking things off of your to-do list
- Appreciate where you are in the moment and LIVE in that moment
- Avoid comparing yourself to others
- Forgive and forget – holding onto the past inhibits your growth in the future
- Surround yourself with friends and lovers that allow you to be your true self and love exactly who you are
- Sweat! More energy + better mood + better sleep = happier and more productive
- Go for a walk. On my worst days catching some Vitamin D and fresh air always makes me feel better
- Time block and don’t spread yourself too thin
- Focus on a single task at hand instead of multi-tasking
Remember that adopting these habits take time. Making these changes and working on your mindset won’t happen overnight – be patient with yourself. This is something that requires daily effort and will be challenging at times.
Thanks for dropping by! Hope you have the most happy, productive day! <3
