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You are here: Home / Archives for How to Be Happy

How to Be Happy

How to Get More Done in the Morning!

August 3, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Morning Cat and Coffee

What My Mornings Look Like: Cats and Coffee!

About two years ago… after months of looking for more time in the day and being unable to uncover any… I decided to simply start getting up 30 minutes earlier. After a few months of seeing that, not only was getting up before 6:30 am not fatal, it was downright productive.

I was blown away by what the humble little 30 minutes added to my day. It suddenly seemed as though the day wasn’t sneaking up on me as much as I was sneaking up on it. 30 minutes may not seem like much at all, but when you uncover extra time to be used as you choose, it’s a gift.

Guess what. I got greedy.

I saw that this extra 30 minutes meant I could ease my way into my morning and, when ready to get busy, I was more of a mind to do so. Over the course of a few months, I thought of other things that could be accomplished by another 30 minutes. Greedy… yes… but also ingenious because it has meant the world to my morning routine and daily routine.

I get up at 5:30 each morning and ease my way into the day. Having extra time to sit, drink my coffee, talk about sports with my husband, and do my morning devotions and Bible reading starts the day off on a beautiful note instead of a sour note. Bonus to a better morning and better day…. you’ll sleep better at night!

The infographic below gives a lot of wonderful tips for making your mornings more productive. Starting the day off with less stress means you have less stress to carry around with you throughout the day.

Ingenious.

Stay well, stay safe… stay happy!

~ Joi

Productive Morning Routine
Source: 15 Tips to Help You Structure a Productive Morning Routine

 

Filed Under: General, How to Be Happy, Improve Your Sleep, Problem Solving, Self Care, Time Management Tagged With: infographics, time management

Home Sweet Haven: Making Your Home Your Personal Escape from the World

August 2, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Nature Inspired Wall Murals

Source: 54 Wall Mural Ideas to Personalize Your Home

Beautiful Ways to Make Home Sweet Home EVEN Sweeter

I love it when things just kind of come together, don’t’ you? Kismet always makes me smile – there’s just something harmonious about feeling like you’re where you’re meant to be… figuratively or physically!

I have been thinking and planning on a new type of category and series of posts and articles on the self help blog. The idea has been simmering over the past year and, when I tell you more about it, you’ll understand WHY that has been the case!

We have always understood the value of home – even if it, ironically, is sometimes the last thing on our minds. We don’t mean to take it for granted, of course, but when you factor in…

  • school
  • work
  • bills
  • retirement plans
  • medical worries (HELLO PANDEMIC!!!)
  • the news
  • politics (I know… dirty word…)
  • relationships
  • car problems
  • savings
  • etc etc etc..

Our minds are pulled in so many directions that we often take the most important place in our world for granted. Home!

An article or two back I talked about things I hope we’ve learned from the pandemic. The importance of home should truly be near the top, if not at the very top. Our home is our haven and we’d all be wise to let that really sink in.

Whether or not another pandemic (or this same intrusive one!), national or global emergency, weather, or personal storm ever keeps us at home for extended periods of time again, shouldn’t we make our home a place we WANT to be rather than a place we HAVE to be?

I certainly think so and a new category (Home Sweet Haven) on the Self Help Blog will focus on the home.

An article I want to link you to today is all about making your home YOUR home injecting not just your personality into it and making it reflect the essence of YOU.

I’ve always thought we should surround ourselves with things that make us happy – things that make us smile. I also believe we will be happiest in an environment that “fits” us. One of my favorite things in the world is old movies (see Hollywood Yesterday for proof!), so you can find many old movie posters in my home as well as framed photos of some of my favorites: Lena Horne, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Maureen O’Hara, etc.

54 Wall Mural Ideas to Personalize Your Home is a wonderful collection of ideas to bring your personality into your home, creating your own personal haven – safe from the unpredictable world outside.

I hope you enjoy the article and are motivated to inject your wonderful personality into every room in your home sweet haven.

Make each moment count double!

~ Joi


Filed Under: Home Sweet Haven, How to Be Happy Tagged With: feng shui, home decoration, home sweet home, make your home more comfortable

Finding Joy After the Pandemic

July 19, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Meditation Graphic

by Amanda Green

The pandemic was tough for everyone, and many are still feeling its effects. With the global death toll reaching beyond 4 million, you may be among many who are struggling to find joy after the pandemic.

If you do find yourself down in the dumps, don’t worry, you are in good company. Sometimes pulling yourself out of whatever funk you’ve ended up in can feel daunting. But, there is a way to be happy and find joy each day.

Learn Something New

Maybe during the pandemic, you were among the millions of people who picked up a new hobby. No matter. If you were or weren’t learning something new is a great way to find joy daily. Sometimes the best way to feel good about yourself is to accept a new challenge and crush it.

A perfect example is learning basic carpentry skills. Maybe you’ve been dreaming of sliding barn doors for a while. There is no better time than the present, especially when it comes to finding joy.

If you aren’t handy with power tools, or tools in general, try something else. Cooking, languages, painting, or drawing are a few popular choices.

Meditate

Meditation is an ancient practice that has survived the test of time for good reason. The effects of practicing meditation, which is not always spiritual, can help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. To practice meditation, there are several options from which to choose.

For example, there is guided meditation.  It usually has a recording or person instructing you on what to do next. Next, and personal favorite among millions, is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of remaining rooted in the present moment.

If you intend on practicing meditation, remember to be patient with yourself. Do not compare one session of meditation to another. Not every session will be the same experience, and that’s a good thing.

Prioritize Health

After the past year, you may be reluctant to make the trip to the doctor’s office. But, if the past year has taught us anything, everyone should prioritize their health. In other words, do not take for granted the moments where you feel great.

Take a few moments and exercise, get the wart on your back looked at, or make a trip to the dentist’s office. By ensuring that you are healthy and strong, it can help you keep focused on the future. In other words, hope for the future can make the present moment, even if miserable, more enjoyable.

Prioritizing your health is not only going to see a professional, it is an everyday choice. Try establishing a new habit that adds to your quality of life. For example, make a point to include more veggies in your dinner rotations. You could also try replacing junk food with fresh fruit.

Don’t Sabotage Yourself

The past year has been difficult, no doubt, but that is made perfectly clear by a recent New York Times article. Sometimes the answer is as simple as telling yourself that it’s okay to feel joy right now.

It may sound silly, but some people need to know it’s okay to have survived the past year. Looking back, most people are discovering joy by rekindling old relationships. The extreme loneliness that came with social distancing had created a mental health bubble that’s still waiting to pop.

Don’t be a part of the problem, and know that it’s okay to enjoy yourself. Be happy, and know that the sadness you may feel is only temporary, no need to stay in it.

Master the Routine

Sometimes, joy and happiness can seem scarce because your brain is so focused on everything else. If you feel like there is not enough time during the day to breathe and stretch, maybe a routine can help.

Learning to master a routine is not just a good way to be productive, but it can make everyday problems easier to manage. In other words, try putting most of your life on cruise control with detailed lists, so your brain can spend more time doing the things it finds enjoyable.

It doesn’t matter if you enjoy reading or lawn bowling, find time for those things. Sometimes, finding that time is the hardest part, but in the end, it’s well worth the effort

Filed Under: Articles by Various Authors, How to Be Happy Tagged With: happiness, joy, pandemic

You WILL Be Happy Again: How Men Can Move on After Divorce

December 5, 2019 by Joi Leave a Comment

Happiness at Work

by Mila

Sometimes, things just do not work out. No matter how much effort you put into a relationship, the dynamic between two people is a two-way street. Maybe you are simply out of sync and it is nobody’s fault.

However it turns out, ending a relationship that had you emotionally and physically invested for years on end is a turbulent and, dare we say, a traumatic experience, and you need to allow yourself breathing room to heal.

Before you even proceed to look at the singular constructive coping mechanism or adopt useful tools to get over a divorce, here’s one thing you should keep on your mind throughout the ordeal at all costs: you WILL be happy again.

Accept the stages of grieving

It won’t be long after the divorce is finalized before you realize that the mental process of grieving has begun. Even if the ordeal had left you unsympathetic towards the ex-spouse, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of positive memories and feelings that you’ve accrued throughout the relationship. Mix that with the force of habit that comes with co-living conditions, and you have a mighty cocktail of grief that you’ll have to chug-down in full.

The cycle of grief typically follows five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance. This sequence is typical of many scenarios where a person has to deal with a particularly egregious life situation, and a divorce is no different.

Just the notion of knowing the order of these mindsets can prove to be an invaluable tool when it comes to avoiding certain trappings that can push you further down the rabbit hole of unhappiness.

These trappings always end up badly for all parties involved, and they include using children as pawns in a game of hurt, boosting your self-esteem in all the wrong, egocentric ways, and trying to reconcile with your spouse. All of these traps should be avoided at all costs, and knowing the stages of grief can help you overview certain urges and situations more objectively. Of course, you should especially tread lightly when for the sake of your children.

Embrace constructive activities

One of the most important cornerstones of your road to happiness is the adoption of activities and hobbies. Divorce will bring about a whole laundry list of changes that will undoubtedly throw your entire life out of balance; specifically – there will suddenly appear a ‘hole’ in a place where a range of activities with your spouse used to be.

Embracing the changes means accepting that this time needs to be filed with constructive activities that will improve your quality of life. Mind you – this is not about replacement. It’s about scrutinizing a list of potential hobbies that are certain to help you with your grieving process.

Dabble in art

You might want to turn to arts and crafts in search of something that has a positive impact on one’s mental health. Nobody will expect you to create masterpieces of modern art – it can (and should) be something that you can enjoy while you meditate on your next move. It’s about the act of creation – assembling something that you find aesthetically pleasing, creating order out of chaos. It is a therapeutic practice and there is hardly anything more ennobling you could do.

Stay physically active

Of course, some men would rightfully argue that partaking in organized sports activities is just as ennobling and therapeutic as creating art for yourself. Investing yourself in training and on a daily basis is an amazing way to channel your frustrations into a formatted physical activity (formatted – as in, denoting rules).

Now, you can participate in organized group sports such as basketball, football and others, which is an excellent way to develop a better rapport with friends and stay both socially and physically active. Talking sessions with your teammates before and after training can also help immensely.

Golf encourages the improvement of mental health through the discipline of patience, focus and physical effort that is, at the same time, meditative by nature. That being said, the upsides found in golf can also be found in martial arts, but this is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Forgiveness is the ultimate goal

This might sound like a sappy and naive notion, but working towards forgiveness as the ultimate goal will break the final chain of gloom that is wrapped around you, pulling you deeper and deeper into depression.

There is a dirty secret hidden at the heart of forgiveness, and that is the revelation that it is not about ‘the other person’. Forgiving your spouse is achttps://amzn.to/2LnHFLWtually all about you because otherwise, you will stay full of resentment, which will further corrode your soul. Forgiving your ex-spouse as soon as you can will definitely put you on the express-way to happiness.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, a stigma of shame still surrounds the image of grieving men. Too often do they hide behind a stoic disposition and conceal their emotions, proceeding to live a life of silent pain instead of coping with a life-changing event such as divorce.

Without a doubt, this has far-reaching consequences on the psychological integrity of an individual, so you should do everything in your power to refuse this unhealthy practice and deal with your emotions head-on. It is the only road to happiness after the divorce.

Filed Under: Articles by Various Authors, How to Be Happy, Problem Solving

Five Ways to Boost Your Happiness this Winter

December 4, 2019 by Joi Leave a Comment

Snowy Day

by Matt Gregory

When you consider the fact that sunlight is one of the best ways to increase your serotonin levels, it will come as no surprise that the winter months, with shorter, darker days, can lead to a lower mood than usual.

The holidays themselves can be an emotional time, too; there is a lot of pressure to spend, to be out with family and friends and having fun that can have a detrimental effect on those that may be struggling with loneliness, money worries or are unable to see loved ones as much as they would like, if at all. If this sounds familiar, then do not despair because there are so many things you can do that will easily help elevate your mood in next to no time.

Self–Care

“The way to health, harmony and happiness is primarily mental”
– Grenville Kleiser, from ‘Inspiration and Ideals’

Self-care is one of the best ways to instantly lift your mood when the cold weather starts to get you down. Making plans to curl up with a good book under a blanket and enjoy your favorite hot drink is a great way to self soothe these feelings away. Alternatively, you could pamper yourself with a leisurely bath to help relieve the stress and tension of your day, book yourself in for a massage or hair cut or make some time for exercise. Make some ‘me’ time to really reconnect with yourself and feel good within yourself.

Pay it Forward

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try and cheer someone else up”
– Mark Twain

One of the quickest and easiest ways to boost your personal happiness is to pay it forward. Any form of charity, whether it’s simply buying a coffee for someone in need or giving to charity as part of your everyday life – such as the compulsory zakat donations made by Muslims, culminating in the celebration of Eid – can lift your mood in a way like nothing else does.

However you choose to pay it forward – donating to a local food bank, baking cookies for the neighbours or offering support for a friend in need – it costs nothing to be kind, but the rewards are endless.

Do more of what makes you Happy

“If you want to be happy, be”
– Leo Tolstoy

Sometimes, life can get stressful and we forget about the little things that help us feel more aligned with ourselves and ultimately, bring joy to our lives. Listening to our favorite music and having a singalong, reading an old classic, going to the gym, taking the dog for an extra–long walk, writing, baking, prayer… there are so many things that make us happy that can get lost along the way when life gets a little hectic. Taking some time to do more of these things is a great way to boost your happiness.

Take up a new hobby

“I am not young enough to know everything”
– Oscar Wilde

Learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby can be overwhelming at the best of times, especially if you have been putting it off for a while. Overcome your fear and embrace learning – the self-confidence and sense of worth that you receive in return will be more than worth it.

Take that pottery class, learn a new language, teach yourself coding or knitting – whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do – seize the day and watch the smile creep back on to your face in the process.

Leave negativity behind

“Laughter is the sun the drives winter from the human face”
– Victor Hugo

Letting go of negativity in your life is one of the greatest ways to improve overall feelings of happiness. That being said, it isn’t an easy thing to do, and it’s something that needs to be worked on over time. Bad habits can be broken, though – with a little persistence and practise. Create positive endorphins and improve your physical and mental health by exercising more regularly – and this will put you in a great mindset for kicking those bad habits.

Letting go of anger, not holding grudges, not partaking in gossip, focus on the positives in every situation, and appreciate everything that you have. Remove drama from your life, recite positive affirmations and set achievable goals. Rest well, eat well, be more productive. Lastly, learn your limits and when to say no. This is a process but one that you can start right now!

By taking just a few positive steps, you could be reaping the rewards this winter. Not only that, but these are things that will stick with you long after the snow has melted and the sun is back in our lives.

Filed Under: Articles by Various Authors, How to Be Happy, Positive Thought

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My name is Joi (“Joy”)! I am the animal lover behind Self Help Daily.

To contact me, please do so through e-mail (joitsigers @ gmail.com). Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you! ~ Joi

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