Did you ever wonder how some people seem to have great days, every single day? They’re perennially sunny, perennially productive, and always seem to be able to get the most out of everything they’re doing. It’s almost like magic, isn’t it?
Believe it or not, much of their “magic” has to do with a conscious effort they put in to make their days better. Your day’s mood tends to have momentum. By starting a day well, you make a point of having a great night and improve your chances of having a better tomorrow.
Starting a good day is actually pretty simple. Here’s how you can do it.
9 Ways to Help You Start a Good Day
- Get a good night’s rest. You can’t really have a great day without at least having some decent sleep the night before. Try to get at least eight hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep. You’ll be amazed at how well you’re able to improve your mood by just doing this alone.
- Wake up and tidy up around your home. There’s a lot to be said about waking up, and then working to make your home look a little better than it did the night before. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and knocks a couple of chores off your list.
- Eat breakfast. Statistically speaking, people who eat a healthy breakfast are people who have better days. They are more energized (due to the great nutrition) and slimmer (because they don’t get insanely hungry from not eating for 12+ hours) as a result. Go ahead, and eat breakfast. Don’t forget to clean the dishes afterwards.
- Exercise in the morning. Exercising for as little as 20 minutes has been scientifically proven to enhance mood, increase your overall health, and also boost energy. A little walk, some yoga, or even a quick dance session can make it happen.
- Take a few moments to think of what you’re grateful for. Right now, even if it doesn’t seem like it, you have things you should appreciate. You have a roof over your head. You have food in the kitchen. You have friends. Think about that, and you will feel a lot better.
- Take at least 20 minutes to just relax. Your morning shouldn’t be all “zoom.” You need to have time to yourself to do the things you like to do. Take a moment for yourself to just slow down and relax.
- Pick up your phone and call a friend to chat. Human interaction is vital to our health and our sanity. So is making connections. One phone call per day can make a huge difference in how connected we feel and how strong our support networks become. You can reach out to anyone you want for this exercise and rest assured that people will be happy to hear your voice.
- Get your things prepped for the day, and head out. Once all your home work is done, you’re ready to actually step out for your morning. To make the most out of this step, double-check your schedule and take a quick inventory of the things you need in order to make it all happen.
- When you’re heading out to your place of work or study, make your commute fun. Listen to music on the subway. Crank up your car’s radio and do some car karaoke. If you have time, take the long way there and see if you can spot anything really interesting on your way.
How To Make A Good Day From a Bad Week
Everyone’s had moments where they incurred a massive loss that makes it hard to stay upbeat throughout an otherwise normal morning. Whether it’s a dead of a loved one, a job loss, or even a breakup, it’s okay to want to grieve the loss of what you once had. Wallowing in self-pity, though, doesn’t do you any favors.
Here are some quick ways to make this day better than the last before:
- Rethink what you lost. Do you really miss your ex with the money problems and philandering? Was she *really* a positive experience in your life? Think about what negatives they brought to the table, then be grateful that they are gone.
- Be proactive about solutions to your problem. So, you lost your job. Big whoop. It happens to everyone but there’s a silver lining to this. Unemployment is fairly low these days and you can fix your situation by applying to a bunch of jobs around you. Heck, you might even have unemployment to look forward to!
- Be realistic about it all. A bad week does not portend a bad life. We all have weeks where we lose something we care about. Whatever happened doesn’t denote the end of your time as a happy person. You can still rebuild.
- Ask yourself what you need in order to overcome it. There’s always a way to make things better for yourself. Whether it’s by calling for professional help, asking friends for their help, or just working around stumbling blocks, you always have a different way to manage trouble. You just need to be creative about it.
- If necessary, do some damage control. If what happened was your fault, or if you can’t trust yourself around people, it may be time to do some damage control. It’s okay to take a break once in a while, if only to recollect yourself and figure out what you can do next.
- Practice extra self-care. Bad weeks or major life events can be hard to cope with, You owe it to yourself to practice self-care when you’re reeling from a serious loss. After all, you always should put yourself first.
Remember That A Great Day Is Always In Your Head
Most of what makes a great day is our perception of it. A sunny attitude can make even the most boring of days better, and can open us up to more opportunities than ever before. So, don’t worry, be happy.
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