You may feel, on your hard days, that you have no control over your feelings. Sometimes melancholy emotions can seem so overwhelming that you might think there’s no possible way to make your day happier. I am a firm believer, though, that we are in control of our emotions and can change them if we put enough effort into doing so.
I definitely don’t say this because I am exceptionally good at controlling my own emotions. But I do know by experience that I can, over time, change how I feel about things if I decide to.
I believe that happiness is a choice, but I also believe that there are some steps you can proactively take to feel happier in your day to day life. Try some of these tips out to add a little sunshine to a day that might otherwise feel gloomy, and work on making your life a joyful one.
1. Take a multivitamin.
Before I started taking a multivitamin (with vitamin d in it) my moods were much more unpredictable. At times I would have big mood swings and felt kind of depressed.
I ended up going to a naturopath doctor who did a blood test to measure what nutrients I was low in, and it turned out I was low in a few vitamins, including vitamin d, which can have a big effect on mood.
After I started taking mine I felt happy much more frequently. I also recommend you try adding an iron supplement to your routine if you feel low in energy, as women are more susceptible to anemia, which can result in low energy levels.
2. Get enough sleep.
This is seriously so important to your mood, your health, your appearance, just pretty much everything. I have noticed as I have gotten older that I can especially tell when I don’t get enough sleep, whereas in high school I frequently got close to 5 hours a night and just pushed through.
Now if I get less than about 7 hours (and truthfully I prefer 8 or 9) I can definitely feel it. Just do yourself a favor and go to bed at a good time. This will instantly make your day happier.
3. Use your best things now.
Ok, let me ask you this—what is the point of having nice things if you aren’t going to use them? Stop putting off wearing that dress that makes you feel great because you think you can’t wear it just because.
Stop keeping your pretty dishes in a cupboard never to see the light of day because you don’t want them to break and think they need to be saved for a fancy dinner. Use those pretty things now so that you can enjoy them! Light candles, drink from a china teacup, wear your nice clothes, and make normal days feel special.
4. Listen to music throughout the day.
Listening to nice music can just add a great lift to your spirits in ways that nothing else can. Try even just putting some calm, classical music on in the background to add a level of class to your normal activities.
5. Take a daily walk/get exercise.
Well, to quote Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” Try adding some activity into your life so that you can be a happy, endorphin-ridden person. You don’t even need to spend much time exercising to do something good for your body. Right now I am, a bit casually, doing the 30 Day Shred, which only takes about half an hour of time (20 minutes of which is the workout) and I can do in my apartment.
6. Read your Bible.
If you’re in a bad mood, you honestly might not feel like reading your Bible. I’ve heard it said, though, that when you least feel like reading your Bible is when you need it the most. Also, taking the time to put things into perspective and think about what’s really important can help other issues feel a little less significant.
It helps to remember that things aren’t really about you, and reading your Bible helps put that into perspective. For more about taking the focus off of yourself and putting it more on God read my post Why You Should Stop Trying to Have Self-Esteem.
Feeling happy doesn’t have to involve anything over the top or elaborate. Try implementing some simple things in your life, like taking care of yourself and creating a pleasant environment, and this will make it easier for you to find enjoyment in life. Make the decision to be happy and then be proactive about it, and life will feel better all around.
What ways have you found to control your emotions and make your day happier?
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