It’s pretty easy these days to fall into patterns of feeling unhappy and depressed. We get other people’s highlight reels shoved in our faces everyday on social media, and with everything that has been going on the past year, many people are struggling to maintain positivity. However, if you’d like to do what you can to improve your mood and feel better day to day, there are some proven techniques you can try to develop a more positive outlook in life. Read on for some ideas.
Meditate Every Day
Meditation is not a new concept, but many people are yet to discover the power that this practice holds. Sitting and doing nothing (as many people describe it) can feel strange, but it all works to improve your mental and physical health as well as your overall outlook. Here are some pointers if you’d like to give meditation a go:
- Don’t run before you can walk. Start with just a couple of minutes before you get out of bed in the morning.
- Meditate in the morning so you can’t make excuses at night time once stress has taken over.
- As you feel ready, slowly build up the time you meditate for. 5 minutes morning and night is great, and you could even do longer if you like.
- Use meditation videos and apps to help you.
- Don’t put pressure on yourself. It takes practice to get better at meditation, like most things.
Imagine Who You Would Like To Be
Create a picture in your mind of who you would like to be. What do they do each day? How do they carry themselves? Who do they spend time with? How do they feel? Try to show up as that person every day, even if it feels strange at first. Eventually, you’ll begin to feel more like the person you want to be naturally. The reason so many people struggle is that they hang on to their negative self image and patterns and don’t try to become more self aware. If you can be willing to let go of the things you have always believed, and become more conscious of times you may be self sabotaging, you can move forward. Remember, you’ll have an easier time emulating who you want to be if you’re spending time with the right people. Toxic people can easily bring us down.
List The Things You’re Grateful For
Too often we focus on things we aren’t happy about and don’t want, rather than the things going right for us. Training the brain to spot the positives and things to be grateful for can take time, as we are so conditioned to see the things that aren’t right first. This is why taking the time to list things you’re grateful for each day, no matter how small they seem, can help.
Take Positive Steps To Care For Your Health
Looking after your mental and physical health can give you peace of mind. Make sure you take your health seriously: drink water, get plenty of sleep, eat balanced meals, and exercise. Go for health checkups. You don’t want to ignore a health problem for a while only to find out later that it is glaucoma. Know that you’re worth the effort. There’s no magic solution to good health!
Know When To Get Help
Bear in mind that if you struggle for a while, you may need to get help. Therapy can be a huge help, as can visiting your doctor and explaining your issues. There’s no shame in needing an extra hand.
*collaborative post