10 Tips to Boost Your Mood
It’s easy to get down when its cold and snowy outside; this winter seems to go on FOREVER. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for spring.
Here are a few tips we can all do to find our “sunny side” and to beat the blues:
- Pick up the phone and call a good friend; or send a note to reach out to someone who has been a positive influence in your life. Relationships are vital in our well being and a chat with a friend can instantly fill your heart with love.
- Make sure you get enough sleep. The required amount varies from person to person, but we often underestimate the hours needed for us to feel refreshed and rejuvenated in the mornings. Turn your light and smart pone off earlier and add a bit of extra time to your sleep.
- Eat a healthy and nutritious diet, including nuts to boost the consumption of omega 3 fats. See if you can cut back on sugar and caffeine, and eat more veggies and fruits. Trivial, I know, but its a vicious cycle we can get into, especially if we don’t get enough sleep and crave not so healthy carbs and sugar.
- Don’t overschedule. Don’t take on more than you can handle, so you won’t feel overwhelmed and stressed. Leave “white spaces” on your calendar to have free time for whatever lifts your soul.
- Clear away clutter. Disorganized kitchen or office space can make us anxious, so straighten up the spaces you spend the most amount of time in. Place a fresh bouquet of flowers or light a scented candle to make your environment even more pleasant.
- Do a good deed and without any expectations. Help someone in need out, leave a note of encouragement, volunteer in a school for disadvantaged kids, donate to a cause you believe in. If you have a special talent – and all of us do – donate your time.
- Practice gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for, and we often take all the abundance in our life for granted. Take a moment and count your blessings, especially the people around you.
- Give journaling a try. Its not everyone’s cup of tea, but see if journaling is for you. It can be as informal as jotting down your thoughts first thing in the morning without editing or at the end of your day as you go to bed.
- Invest in experiences rather than objects. The memories we can create last much longer than the fleeting happiness we experience during retail therapy. Plan a skiing trip with your family or go for a hike with a friend. Memories are priceless.
- Go to your favorite yoga studio to take class. We always feel better after practicing, and as an added benefit, being a part of a supportive community always helps. A friendly smile and hello go a long way to make us feel welcomed and loved.
Warmly,
Ursula and the IPY Teachers