Some things we have to do: go to work, make money, take the kids to school, make dinner. Sometime you are perfectly happy with that, but sometimes you feel like you need more. Here are those little things that can make a change in your daily life and make you feel better at the end of the day.
1. Breakfast
You probably heard this one many times before, but here we go again – healthy breakfast is important. Breakfast and coffee (or tea) is a healthy way to start your day.
2. Meditation
I vividly remember saying few years ago: “Meditation?! I get bored with myself while I meditate.” Really?! I am boring to myself? How can I be interesting to anyone else, if I am bored with myself. Today, I do my yoga for 20 minutes and I meditate for 10 minutes every morning.
3. Writing a Diary
I’ve been writing a diary for 15 years. When I was younger I would write when I am sad, angry or hopelessly in love. Now I write about my plans, future and most importantly about things I am grateful to have in my life. Writing a diary is like writing a book about your life. You feel great writing it and reading it after a while.
4. Music
Music is a background for everything you do. Everything is easier with your favorite album playing in the background. When I started living on my own, I didn’t really enjoy cooking, I hated it. Then, I started listening to music and cooking at the same time. It took some time for me to learn how to cook, but the learning process was easier and more fun with music (Coldplay, Norah Jones and Tracy Chapman are my “Cooking music”).
5. Give thanks and compliments
A bad day is not an excuse to treat people poorly. An honest compliment, “Thank you!”, “Please”, with an eye contact and a smile will bring positive energy to your life.
6. Sleep
If you do a little experiment and sleep regularly for one week, meaning 8 hours, and then go back to your usual 5-6 hours for another week, I believe you will notice a difference. Sleep affects your immune system, your emotions, work and your behavior.
7. Get some physical exercise
Gym, yoga, pilates, dance classes. Find something you really enjoy, find a partner or even better go by yourself, meet other people, have fun while moving your body.
10 Simple Things You Should Do Every Day: Some form of exercise
8. Have a dinner with your friends or family
I have a feeling that most of us don’t eat together anymore. Kids eat in their own bedrooms, parents eat in front of the TV. Dinner used to be a time to gather around and to talk about our day without the presence of modern technology. We should all have dinner together at home and make it a rule.
9. Fruits and vegetables
Eat an apple or some other fruit every day. I always bring an apple with me when I go to work. After a while, it became a routine and I don’t need to remind myself every day to eat healthy.
10. Answer emails and messages right away
You probably noticed when you don’t answer on email right away, it keeps coming back to you that there’s something unfinished. When you are having lunch, you are thinking about it, you are working on something else and then you remember you didn’t send it yet and you are probably thinking that you will send it later. When you read it, answer it if not right away, than as soon as possible. If it is important email, take your time, think about it and ask for advice. Also, don’t forget that many times people are actually waiting for you to answer their emails or text messages.
