Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Life often runs on routine. Whether it is working nine to five or running around doing errands and picking up the kids from soccer practice, there is a repetitive pattern in our lives. While caught up in the constant rhythm of our regime, it’s easy to forget to check in with our own happiness. With a long list of things to do, how often do we really sit and ask ourselves am I currently happy and motivated to succeed? While the default assumption maybe yes, how well do we really know? It’s easy to fall into a rut or a bad place that may inhibit health and work, but the shift may be so subtle it may go unnoticed at first until we are struggling to meet deadlines or even get out of bed. Happiness is directly correlated with health and motivation, which is why it’s crucial for individuals to check in with themselves.

While a cure-all for life does not exist, there are ways to check in with ourselves. Simple mundane habits can actually enable us to view the world with a healthier, more productive mindset. If you want to be happy, the truth of the matter is that it comes from within. So, what do you have to do on a daily basis to make yourself happy? 

Here are my top four practices to promote a happier, healthier self:

1. Take Time for Self-Care: In order for us to do our best, we have to feel our best. When caught in a rut it’s easy to neglect simple self-care. Doing something as simple as getting a massage, pedicure or a facial can be enough to replenish self-worth and motivation.
2. Cardio: You don’t have to train for a marathon! Simply going on a walk around the block after work can raise your heart rate and can be enough to get the body to start releasing endorphins, happiness hormones.
3. Healthy Diet: We’ve come to associate healthy eating with weight loss and physical beauty—a potentially destructive mindset. When approaching this method of boosting happiness, it is important to note that the nutrients being given to the body are key. These nutrients give the body energy to perform certain brain functions that are linked with emotional well-being and overall mental health.
4. Look for the Positive in Life: In every bad experience, there is always a lesson to be learned. If you really take the time to look, you will find something good, something genuinely positive, about every situation.

To learn more about self-care see: Stress Management