Laura is the creator of La Bella Blog and has written these fantastic five things about happiness. Enjoy!
As part of my Body Reboot series I want to share 5 simple things you can do to feel instantly happier. Feeling happy is really important to help you stay motivated in all areas of your life, but especially when working to improve your relationship with your body. Since my teens I have struggled with controlling my moods and I have found that the simple things are the things that bring me back to my happy place. It is really important to be aware of your moods and what things in your environment effect them; you may not always be able to control the things that effect your happiness but you can control your attitude towards them, and if you do find yourself feeling a but down try these simple tricks.
1. Have a cup of tea…
…not coffee. Coffee is good for a buzz and a kick start in the morning, but tea is the hot beverage with the happiness factor if you ask me. There are so many different types of teas on the market, you are sure to find one to your taste. There is something so soothing and comforting about a hot cup of tea in your favorite mug, snuggled up on the couch in front of the television. I find a good cup of tea (green tea with jasmine is my favourite) at work really helps clear my mind and allows me to think straight again. If you really want to cheer yourself up, go for some afternoon tea with a friend or family member for an added mood boost!
2. Look at old Photographs.
This is something that is sure to put a smile on your face. One of my current favorite apps is TimeHop, everyday it brings up a selection of photos from your social media accounts and phone from that day 1 year ago-5years ago; I love looking back at how my life has changed over the years and what I was doing with my friends and family. If you don’t have TimeHop, get out an old photo album, go through your old Facebook photos or the gallery on your phone and laptop. If you want an added heart-warming experience, sit down with a friend or family member as you flip through old photos, the memories will come following back and you will find yourself instantly happy.
3. Watch the sunrise…
…or if you don’t want to get up early, the sunset. I don’t know how to explain this one, but it always makes me feel so happy when I see a sunset. Recently when I was in Sardegna I made the effort to get up early and go to the beach to watch the sunrise; it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had and put me in such a good mood for the rest of the day. So if your looking for some inspiration find out where is the best place to watch the sunrise near you, get up early and thank me later!
4. Listen to your music on Shuffle.
Something I love to do, that instantly makes me feel happier is getting out my old MP3 and listen to it on shuffle. Sometimes it takes me a while to shuffle through songs that I don’t want to listen to, but then I’ll hit one that will trigger memories of people and places and put a big old smile on my face. Music is such a gift, it has the power to change your mood in seconds; it can move you to tears or transport you back in time to the teenage disco with your friends or a Summer spent on the beach. Open up your music library on your laptop as you work and do the same thing, you’ll be surprised which songs will make you smile, you’ll stumble across old favourites you had forgotten about and you’ll feel happy all day long.
5. Stretch and Smile.
Lastly, one of my favorite things to do after a long day a work is to come home and practice yoga. Even if you only do ten minutes of practice a day, it will open you up and make you feel so good. Nothing melts away my worries like a good stretch, there are loads of great videos on YouTube to help you get started (try Yoga with Adriene). A great tip is to consciously smile while you stretch, trust me when your finished you will feel happier and you’ll hold onto that smile for a long time after.
