5 Simple Life Hacks To Live Happier

I’ll be very honest- the New Year kind of through me for a loop emotionally.

Settling into the unknown. Personal/professional goals. Reflection. Gratitude….all the things.

I have a feeling you know exactly what I mean.

So when this happens I kind of have a "deer in the headlights" day.

I take a beat and just let myself feel all of my feelings.

And then I consciously shift my mindset.

I remind myself that the only thing that I can actually control is the moment that I’m currently in.

Such a simple concept, but so incredibly powerful.

When we keep this "moment by moment" reminder top of mind and combine it with the reality that we get to choose how we feel (happy, sad, anxious, frustrated, excited, etc.) that’s when we can really start to experience a shift.

Okay, so there’s the mindset piece to keep in mind ;)

But sometimes, it takes physical activity to really prompt the way that we think, right?

Something that has a beginning and end. A "result" if you will...

These are my 5 power tips for things that you can control right here, right now:

Make your bed. Talk about setting the tone for your day! Taking 5 minutes in the morning to make your bed will make you feel uncluttered, light, and inspired. It’s a way to honor your personal space, but this can also create a ripple effect for the rest of your day.

Change your desktop background. If you’re staring at a computer screen for most of the day, this can instantly boost your mood. Take 5 minutes to un-clutter (tip: you can create an "organize" folder to drag and drop anything that you need to spend more time looking through). Then grab a new desktop background- your favorite color, a picture of someone you love, a place you want to travel or anything else that just makes you feel happy.

Social media detox. Schedule 10 minutes into your calendar to unfollow (or mute) anyone on social media that you’re comparing yourself to, feeling stressed or overwhelmed by.

Spread love. Send an unexpected text or email to someone letting them know you’re thinking of them. The key here is to release expectations when you do this- just sending out positivity without assuming that you’ll receive it in return. This will instantly boost your mood + make you feel more connected, even if the person isn't in the same room.

Get outside. Schedule a 5-10 minute walk in your day so that you can breathe in fresh air, get some sunshine on your face (vitamin D) and move your body. Don’t overthink it though- this could easily be a walk around your office building or neighborhood bloc if you’re at home.

So many times we revert back to dieting, restricting or binging as a way to feel in control.

But the reality is, that restricting or obsessing over our food will only perpetuate the uncomfortable feeling and keep us in this constant state of anxiety. 

So when you’re in a little funk and feel yourself using food as a way to cope, try one of these self-care suggestions first.

If you’re reading this, knowing in your heart that food and your body are taking up way too much of your mental space, I have an alternative solution!

In my free Body Acceptance Starter Kit, you’ll get all of my favorite resources and ideas for feeling more comfortable in your skin and present in life. Download here to get started!