Do you ever feel like there should be more to life? Do you want to wake up feeling more energized and fulfilled? Do you wish you could be happier and healthier?
Well, you can.
6 Ways to Be Happier and Healthier
There are simple steps you can take to increase your happiness and health even just a little bit every single day. If you want to live a happier and healthier life, here are six simple steps you can start taking right away.
#1) Create an intentional plan.
Dreaming about being happier and healthier is one thing. Taking steps to be happier and healthier is another. If you want to create real change in your life, you need to be intentional and committed. You need a plan.
- Think about what you want, and visualize what it would mean to be happier and healthier.
- Write down concrete examples of what the change would look like. (e.g., I want to go for a walk three times a week. I want to eat one more vegetable per day.)
- Then, write down the steps you need to take to get to your intended outcome. (e.g., Block out three times per week in your calendar for a walk. Print recipes for vegetables you can easily meal prep once a week.)
To make your dreams of being happier and healthier a reality, you need a plan that shows you the exact steps you need to take to make it happen.
Need help making your plan? Build a Wellness Plan with Loving Life Today.
#2) Stop scrolling, and put your phone down.
Our phones and devices can be helpful for organizing our lives, staying connected, and helping us find information. But, they can also be major drains on our energy, time, and motivation.
Overuse of devices can increase feelings of negativity and stress, reduce the quality of conversations and relationships, adversely impact our ability to problem solve, and negatively impact sleep. Yet most people still use their devices more than three hours per day.
To be happier and healthier, create a plan to stop scrolling and put the phone down.
- Turn off notifications, and set your screen to black and white.
- Use apps or blockers to limit the time you can spend on specific apps.
- Put your phone in the other room during relaxing time, family time, and before bed.
Also, consider setting blocks of phone-free time in your calendar and even a phone-free day or weekends to start to get in the habit of not having your phone constantly at your fingertips.
#3) Move your body.
Many people associate exercise with weight loss, but moving your body isn’t just for weight control. It’s also for building a healthy mind and body — and even making you happier.
Moving your body can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. It can improve sleep and boost serotonin, which in turn boosts mood and energy.
Many people don’t reap the benefits of movement because they think they need an all-or-nothing approach to exercise. But the truth is even a little movement can make a big difference. Something is better than nothing.
Even just 15-30 minutes of movement can make you happier and healthier, so take time to:
- Go for a walk.
- Stretch.
- Lift weights.
- Go up and down the stairs.
- Dance.
- Clean your home. (It’s an exercise that provides an immediate end result!)
- Find an aerobic/workout on YouTube or through a workout app.
If it’s difficult for you to get into exercising, take it slow. Start with a few minutes per day and gradually work your way up.
Related: 6 Simple Yoga Stretches to Sneak Into Your Day
#4) Sit quietly.
Movement is good for you — and so is sitting still. It’s all about balance, and sometimes your mind and body simply need to rest in silence.
Whether you want to call it mediation, mindfulness, or living in the now, quieting your mind can lead to a variety of health benefits. Meditation can decrease anxiety, stress, depression, and pain. It can boost self-image, improve logical thinking, and lead to feeling more empathetic and compassionate. Plus, it can boost your immune system, regulate blood pressure, and improve sleep.
As with exercise, start small with meditation. Begin with just five minutes a day, and use a guided meditation to help you get started. For tips on how to get going, check out our guide, 7 Subtle Mini Meditations You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime.
#5) Practice gratitude.
Many people go on a mission to find things to make them happier and healthier without first taking stock of what they have that can already make them happy and healthy.
Looking at your life and finding things to be grateful for can boost both your physical and mental health. The benefits of practicing gratitude include lower blood pressure, strengthened immune system, lower stress, reduced anxiety, and better sleep, among other benefits. We recently shared the 17 health benefits you can get by practicing gratitude.
To get the benefits, simply take five minutes to write down the good things in your life. Don’t focus on only the big things. Remember to take time to be thankful for even small gestures and things you may otherwise take for granted.
Related: How to Live a Life of Gratitude and Find More Happiness
#6) Connect with others.
To be happy and healthy, we need a relationship with ourselves (which we can gain through creating an intentional plan, meditating, and being grateful). But, we also need relationships with others.
Studies have found that the people who are the happiest often have strong bonds with family, friends, or their community. Isolation and loneliness can negatively impact both happiness and health, whereas close social ties can provide support to lead to happier, healthier lives.
Spend time cultivating relationships with people who have similar interests and values as you. This group may include your partner, family, and friends, or you could expand your network to find people in community groups or even online forums. Then, work on growing relationships so you both can get the benefits that come through meaningful connections.
Related: Stop Holding It In: Why You Need to Find Someone to Talk To
Get Help Being Happier and Healthier
These steps can help you get on a path to being happier and healthier. But, it’s also important to recognize that this process is easier for some people than others.
If you find that you are trying to make changes to be happier and healthier but it’s not working, you’re not alone. It can be difficult to make positive change in your life — and that’s what we’re here for.
At Loving Life Today, our mission is to help people live happier, healthier lives.
If you find that you need help along your journey, we are here. Contact our office to learn more about our therapy and counseling services, wellness plans, alternative treatment programs that target anxiety and depression, and our virtual, at-home mental health services.
We’re here to help you get what you need to be happier and healthier.
Please call us at 813-609-6946 or request our info packet below to learn more about us.
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