We lead busy lives. With the multitasking and juggling of different responsibilities, we seem to have very little time in our hands to do the things that make us happy. But happiness is necessary to keep us motivated and to help us lead a fulfilling life.
We constantly put our needs in the backburner not realising that we’re doing a grave disservice to our long-term health and well-being. The people we care about are important, but ‘we’ are important to ourselves too. Taking regular ‘me time’ breaks to relax and rejuvenate is as important as the other responsibilities in our lives. ‘Me time’ breaks make us happy and more productive. So, here is a list of things that you can do to not just focus on yourself but more importantly to boost your happiness every day.
Cultivate Gratitude
When you feel grateful for all the good things in your life you will feel buoyant and at peace with the world. Try it, every night jot down the good things that happened during the day and see how over time you start to feel good. Yes, the negatives are always there but when you focus on the good and feel thankful for the blessings you will be able to take the bad in your stride and have the confidence to move forward. Every day appreciate the things that you have and the people in your life and you will be happier.
Focus on the Positives
A convenient, selective memory is good for you. Instead of always thinking ‘why me’ when something bad happens, take things with a pinch of salt, and strive to work towards achieving the things that you have planned for your life and your future. You need to train your mind to stop concentrating on the negatives, because negativity can only make you more miserable. Teach your mind to see the positive in everything and you’ll see how it can improve your mood, your relationships, and your overall well-being.
Develop Your Strengths
Good at painting, craft, cooking, driving? Whatever your strength make it habit to do it more often. When we repeatedly do what we are good at and see the results, we feel good about ourselves. Nothing can give a better boost to your confidence than seeing how well you do something. Spend time to master a skill and work towards being the best version of yourself. This will keep you motivated, and the results will give you a heady rush of happiness.
Spend Time with People You Love
Being with people you care about makes you happy and helps build stronger relationships. When you share your feelings, your day-today experiences with your loved ones, you nourish and nurture those relationships and build a circle of well-being. Be compassionate, show that you care and listen to what the people you care about have to say. Hear them out and share your feelings too and this will make you feel more secure in your relationships.
Support, Give, Share
Doing something good for someone makes us happy. Try it, buy someone a gift, or something that they have always wanted and see how their face lights up with joy. And believe it or not that joy is contagious, and you will feel elated. Not just gifts, help someone with their goals or something that they need. And don’t forget to give to the less fortunate. Do what you can for others, and see your happiness grow.
Strive Harder and Be Optimistic
Set big goals and work towards it with passion and perseverance. Stay motivated even when you fail and always stay positive no matter what the outcome. Trying harder keeps you focused and when you choose to stay optimistic no matter what happens you will remain happy with whatever comes your way.
Happiness is a state of mind. We can choose happiness, it’s as simple as that. Yes, we can go through periods of despair and sometimes even disillusionment. But it’s up to us to bounce back, and that comes with feeling grateful for what we have and working towards staying positive and being more compassionate towards others. But most importantly letting go of regrets. Just stop sinking in the ‘what if’ and ‘if only’ laments and you’ll see how much better it all turned out to be in the end. You just have to open your eyes to notice the blessings, and you’ll have a million reasons to be happy, every single day.