10 Ways To Be More Positive Amidst the Chaos
You're in control of your own happiness.
You might be feeling a little anxious and deflated about the lockdown 2.0 situation. We don’t blame you! But even amidst all the uncertainty, Fizzy believes in expressing gratitude, choosing happiness and always finding the silver lining. That’s why we’re here with 10 top tips to channel those positive vibes.
Social Media Detox
Do you ever find yourself feeling deflated because you’re not lounging on a beach, you don’t have a big enough bum or a cool enough job? Seeing the highlight of everyones lives can make us compare our lives to others, and we always fall short. This is your reminder that you don’t have to get abs, be super productive or start a new project during lockdown. We give you permission to binge-watch Netflix without feeling guilty. Remember, don’t be afraid to use that unfollow or mute button for anyone that makes you feel negative.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try following The Happy Newspaper for a daily dose of positivity news.
Positive Affirmations
Rooted in self-affirmation theory (Steele 1988), positive affirmations can be really powerful because they teach you to maintain optimism and challenge any negativity. What’s really amazing is that you can choose whatever words you need and there is loads of inspiration on the internet! It may feel unnatural to start speaking positively about yourself so figure out whether writing them down or speaking them aloud works best for you.
Express Gratitude
Often we get so caught up in what we’re lacking, that we forget what we have. When we start to notice the good things, it becomes habit to notice good around us everywhere so when things start to feel overwhelming, you’ll feel grounded. Try writing down 3 things you are grateful for each morning. We recommend keeping a journal to write down all of your positive thoughts to look through when you need a reminder.
Meditate / Yoga
Meditation isn’t just sitting on the floor with your legs crossed, it’s about being mindful. Meditation will help you observe your feelings in a neutral way and teach you to be more observant of the things around you. Headspace is a great app to get you started. Whereas yoga is about the mind and body connection: it teaches you to be conscious of how your body feels. Yoga with Adrienne has tons of free YouTube videos to follow ranging from 5 minutes to 1 hour long.
Be Kind
It costs nothing to be kind but the rewards you’ll reap are immeasurable. Try complimenting your cashier, tell your friends you love them or bake a cake for your neighbour. Not only will it make you feel good, it could make someone else’s day.
Make Your Home a Happier Space
We’re not just talking about a simple de-clutter of your wardrobe. Victoria Harrison explains in her book Happier By Design, that “it’s possible to create a happy, uplifting home that looks after you from morning to night”. Harrison suggests adding indoor plants, adding the colour yellow to your home (you don’t have to paint your whole kitchen, just add a yellow cushion or vase), adding a scent to influence your mood and making your home cosier in the winter months. Obviously, you’re probably spending a lot more time at home than usual, so by making a few adjustments to your living space, you could massively improve your mood.
Stay in Contact
Remember to check in on your family and friends (maybe suggest another zoom quiz?).
Spend time outside
Fresh air and spending time in nature has proven benefits of stress relief and overall happiness: “Nature connectedness is associated with pro-environmental behavior and aspects of human well-being, such as life satisfaction, vitality, and happiness. Connection to nature has a role in human health as it helps meet the challenges of stress as well as providing resilience” (Richardson et al., 2016). Even 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference so wrap up warm and get releasing those endorphins!
Nourish Yourself
This concept might look different to everyone but essentially, take care of your mental and physical self. Feed your soul with things that make you happy and listen to your body - does it want some chocolate or perhaps a bit of movement? Use this time to get back in touch with yourself.
Focus on Things You Can Control
Granted this is easier said than done, but by letting go of things you can’t change will make you feel more at peace. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction and your thoughts. Your energy is sacred so invest it wisely!
Next up, 10 Ways To Makeover Your Life
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