Well hello there! I have always looked on life a little on
the negative side, always a worry wart what if this what if that...what if I
actually just focused of the amazing things I have!!??
I've recently reunited with my friend Lucy who I met through
Uni. Since meeting up with her she has inspired me to write this post as she's
one of the most positive people I know!
Staying positive can be a downward spiral sometimes, no
matter how positive you aspire to be a small chain of events can set us into a
negative mood...life chucks some pretty crazy things at us and it's easy to let
little things get to us...but I want to make a change, I want to be positive
and enjoy all of the amazing things and people in my life and I want to share
my tips with you!
- Write things down. My Nana always said if you needed to
say something and you felt you couldn't, write it in a letter, even if you have
no intentions in sending it...write it put it to one side to read over when
you've calmed down or burn it - watch that negativity go up in flames! Lists
are always good too if your struggling to deal with a problem that's come up in
your life, list different options or solutions you have. If its about something
in your life make a list of pros and cons nine times out of ten the pros will
outweigh the cons.
- Learn to say no! Sometimes we really don't want to take
part in things or we become tired of always being good ol' so and so they will
do this because they're too nice not to! It can be something as simple as not
wanting to leave the house because we want time on our own or getting tired of
doing favors for every Tom Dick and Harry... Yes it's great to never miss out
on a social event or to help out a buddy once in a while but when it starts to
effect your mood I say learn to say no! In my experience if you do things you
really don't feel up to it can make you feel quite negative and if your friends
are true and care about you they will understand when you do say no!
- Socialize. On the other hand it's not good to separate
yourself from people for long periods of time! Even if you feel like slouching
on the couch with a duvet and a film it can do you good to get out there and
see friends and family even if it's just for a few hours. Interacting with
others engages our brains and makes us feel connected with one another. If your
like myself and my friend Cheryl we can have a lazy Sunday together catching up
on "So you think you can dance" with the only words being exchanged
"Hummus and Bread sticks" but just being around a friend makes me feel
positive! Surround yourself with positive people and you will emanate this.
- Eat well. May be a simple one but it's a core one! A vast
amount of research has shown that the food we eat goes to our limbic systems
which is the emotional "head office" of our body...resulting from
this, if we put unhealthy food in our body this is exactly how we will feel and
vice versa in terms of healthy food! I personally have noticed a difference
since I've started eating healthier, eating high sugar, quick fix foods taste
yummy and sends me bouncing off the walls for a good hour but then the sugar crash
comes and I fell horrific. Whereas, when eating healthy food my energy levels
are high throughout the day, I feel fuller for longer and full of beans! - pun
totally intended!
- Exercise. Even if your not hugely into fitness, get out
there go for a walk or a jog. We release happy endorphins every time we are
active which overall improves our state of mind. It can be quite therapeutic
and quite addictive! If you've read my earlier blog posts you will know I hated
sports at school but since starting going to the gym when I started Uni, I'm
hooked and actually now feel awful if I don't go!
- Sleep more. Now from reading a lot of other bloggers tweets
and posts it seems like rather a lot of you love a good snuggle in the sheets
and getting all cosy...but how much shut eye do you actually manage to get?
According to a study by the sleep council in 2013 33% of British people
survived on five to six hours sleep and 67% of people squeezed in between seven
hours or less with an overall average bedtime being 11:15. Not to be a
boring sod but getting a minimum of eight hours sleep a day will help you
improve your mood and concentration!
Picture from internet unknown source
- Snuggle up! There's nothing better than putting on your
comfy pjs, lighting some candles and snuggling on the sofa! According to
studies candles give us unconscious relaxation which relates back to the days
we used to light fires in the openings of caves to see if it was safe to enter
resulting in a calming reassurance. Burning incense sticks is also another way I
find helps me to wind down it helps to release anxiety. Certain scents such as
vanilla, lavender, rose and even peppermint are proven to improve your
mood!
- Hug people. It's a difficult one, some people are very
affectionate and others aren't ones for cuddling! But did you know that hugging
releases endorphins and reduces tension, builds up your self esteem, helps to
boost you immune system and increases the levels of the bonding hormone known
as Oxycontin. So hugging really does have an impact, and best of all it's
free!
- Sing your heart out. Bridget Jones comes to mind as I
write this "all by myself...don't wanna be..." Yeah, yeah you get the
picture! But singing truly does help to improve our mood. I've been caught many
a time singing along to my tunes in the car and then I look to the side of me to
the person in the next car staring back at me either in shock or fits of
giggles...but that's all the fun of it, having a laugh and laughing at
yourself!
So those are just a few of my happy go lucky tips! I hope
you enjoyed this post and let me know if you find any of these tips useful!
x