I'm a huge fan of "the little things in life"-- for me, its the simple pleasures that make my day, and I'm always trying to consciously recognize and repeat those things, if only to give myself the tiniest boost. You'd be surprised at how the smallest changes in your life can create immense joy to light up your everyday... so without further ado, here are 12 simple pleasures to make your day a little bit better:
1. Surround yourself with your favorite smells. I stopped buying shampoo based on what it does for my hair (its all the same, really) and I started buying it specifically for the scent of lemongrass and grapefruit-- and its one of my favorite reasons to wake up in the morning. Repeat the same concept with your laundry detergent, lotions, dryer sheets, candles, etc., because if you're going to be surrounded by artificial scents, you might as well make them something that you love.
2. Keep a soft blanket or pillow around. I have a fuzzy blue blanket that nearly every girl in my grade has cried into-- I always tried to leave it in an accessible place so that when crises arise, its within reach. This year, our futons always have at least one blanket or pillow on them, which makes insta-naps/cuddling more and more habitual.
3. Buy yourself flowers, then give them away. When you put yourself in close proximity with beauty, it rubs off on you-- and with flowers, you can think of yourself as the happy recipient, or as the thoughtful giver. Buy your personal favorites, walk around with them for an hour or two, and then give them away to someone: your roommate, a friend you haven't seen in a while, a total stranger. It makes your errands that much brighter, and its guaranteed to make someone else's day a little bit sweeter too.
4. Plan a dinner for you and your closest friends. Even if you never actually invite them over, thinking out an elaborate menu can be immensely fun, especially since there are no strings attached-- your imagination is really the only limit here. If you do get the chance to invite them over, make it a potluck where everyone brings their favorite food, whether its take-out or sushi or baked goods. You only have to make one dish that way, and if all else fails, order pizza.
5. Indulge in one (and only one!) guilty pleasure. The TV show that you're ashamed to admit that you watch, the dark chocolate you really shouldn't have too much of, or those shoes you've been eyeing for the past three weeks-- keep it clean, kids, and keep it to one thing only.
6. Read something that encourages you. This can be your favorite childhood book, old letters from good friends, classic books you always go back to, my blog (shameless plug!), religious and spiritual texts— whatever gets your heart going is always a good thing. You don't always have to re-read either; picking up a new book, blog, or magazine can bring some much-needed variety into your life too.
7. Apply hot water liberally. Hot water works wonders for me when I’m feeling down—there’s nothing quite like soaking your feet in the tub after a grueling day (women who suffer in stillettos with me, holler). Showers are even better, and if you don’t have time for either of those things, hot tea is a fantastic alternative. This works best right before you hop into bed, and if you’re opting for tea at that time, peppermint or chamomile is a soothing non-caffeinated way to go.
8. Do something really good for your body. The driving concept behind this: “I might have failed my midterm, but at least I had salad today instead of a lamb gyro.” Points for feeling healthy! If this fails, however…
9. Do something kinda bad for your body. “Screw the salad—I think I just failed my midterm, and I want something that tastes fantastic and may or may not cause clogged arteries in the not-so-distant-future.” Points for feeding the beast within!
10. Make playlists, wishlists, things-that-make-me-happy lists, and best of all, blessing-lists. Actually, just make any list other than a to-do list (and if you MUST make one of those, do it quick and put it aside for a bit). Sometimes the chaos around us, inside and out, can be a little too much, and setting things in place can be soothing, or at the very least, distractingly fun, depending on the topic at hand.
11. Nap it away. Napping isn't the answer to everything, of course, but it does a good job of putting you in a refreshed and relaxed state of mind. Plus you're giving your subconscious mind some time to process things, and its gives a brief moment of respite from overcrowding thoughts.
12. Make your own care package. This sounds terribly cheesy, but I believe in prevention as a cure-- in other words, take some time to think about what cheers you up, and put those things together for future use. Gather together hot chocolate packets, stash away a nice fashion mag or favorite book, place some choice letters from old friends into an envelope, and shoebox the whole deal under you bed. The act of collecting these "favorite things" is somewhat similar to washing and folding Linus' baby blanket (from Charlie Brown!)-- there's a sense of security in knowing that these things exist and are ready at a moment's notice.
These are, for me, tried and true ways of making myself feel better-- but of course, you know yourself best, and you can tailor it to fit whatever makes you feel the best.
What are your favorite ways to make your day a little bit better?
3 comments:
Points to the first person who takes it holy and says "pray."
@steve(n) - Then that'd be you, in't it?
modcloth <3.
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