You don’t need to make a resolution to improve your life, as there are many simple changes you can make at any time. To be happy and healthy does not require a lot of money or time – just a little desire and motivation
Be More Social
1. Reach Out and Touch Someone – Literally
Being in physical contact with someone you care about is an automatic stress reliever. Hugs and holding hands with the people you care about are therapeutic for the both of you. In fact, a study conducted by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that a massage can actually boost your immune system and make you more content.
You can also gain immune system benefits from a professional massage. Consider treating yourself if a massage from a friend or loved one just isn’t an option.
2. Be Giving
Find ways, even if they are small, to give to others. Stop to talk with someone and lend an ear, offer to assist a friend in need, or volunteer at a local charity. You will begin to view your own problems with a new perspective, and you will feel better about yourself by realizing that you can make a difference in the lives of others.
3. Nourish a Network of Friends
Just like a loving relationship, friendship takes nurturing. Neglect a friendship and you will lose a friend.
Try to see your friends on a regular basis as it fits your schedule. If you are single or a couple, you might like a weekly get-together to watch football or a favorite TV show, while people with families might prefer a monthly dinner club. The important thing is that you have strong friendships to help buffer life’s challenges.
Do Something Different
4. Get Out of Your Weekend Rut
Weekend activities are like mini-vacations, and they are important to recharge your mind and body. They do not need to be expensive to be effective. The important thing is to do something new and have a change of scene: A hike at a nearby park with family or friends is a great way to get some exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.
5. Create Memories
Research shows that experiences make us much happier than things. Even when activities and outings don’t turn out as perfectly as we’d hoped, people will remember the good times, not the disappointments.
Reconnect
6. Explore Your Spirituality
Would you call yourself spiritual? Going to church or temple, for example, is a way to increase the social interactions in your life. It provides many affordable activities for families, and serves as a network for support and assistance in a crisis. It can also be a good place to make contacts when you are looking for a job.
7. Enliven Traditions
Family traditions build a feeling of solidarity with your extended family, which creates a feeling of security that can help see you though difficult times. Feeling that you are not alone is a huge confidence booster. Holidays offer many opportunities to continue family traditions and to start some of your own.
Be Active
8. Move More
Sitting all day is unhealthy for both the mind and the body. Get up and walk around every waking hour for at least a couple of minutes, and take a walk everyday during your lunch hour.
You can also start a walking group with friends or coworkers, or try some sports that you might enjoy. Sign up for an exercise class or start your own. Try Tai Chi, or explore YouTube to create your own home workout plan.
When you elevate your fitness level, add jogging to your walking routine. Jogging causes endorphins to be released, which gives you a natural “runner’s high.”
9. “Exercise” Your Smile
You can trick your brain to feel happy with a very easy exercise: Just smile. Don’t believe it? Try it. This result is due to neuro-linguistic programming, where an “anchor” or trigger (in this case a smile) cues the brain to feel the same feelings it had the last time those muscles were used.
10. Declutter Your Home and Your Mind
Find a way to do a little decluttering every day. Declutter your bedroom for a more comfortable, relaxing place to sleep, and clean your desk or bill paying area for better financial peace of mind. Declutter your closet and your dresser drawers to make the mornings easier. There are plenty of places in your house or office that you can tidy up.
Set aside 15 minutes a day for decluttering, and remember, the most difficult step is getting started. You will be amazed at how great you’ll begin to feel as your life becomes less cluttered.
Sleep Well
11. Find Your Magic “Sleep Number”
For most adults, seven seems to be the magic number of hours of sleep needed a night, according to a study reported in the Harvard Business Review. Getting enough sleep will enable you to do your best work and help you handle daily challenges. If you sleep for less than seven hours per night it can greatly affect your health, even if you are just a little sleep-deprived.
12. Monitor Your Caffeine Intake
If you have difficulty sleeping, caffeine could be the culprit. Try cutting back on caffeinated drinks, and limit yourself to drinking them early in the day. And if that doesn’t help, try cutting out caffeine altogether and substituting caffeinated beverages with products such as decaf coffee or herbal tea. Remember, many sodas and energy drinks contain caffeine, as do many energy bars and foods with chocolate.
13. Relax for at Least an Hour Before Bedtime
To really relax, shut down the Internet at least an hour before bed. And don’t exercise just before bedtime, as that increases your circulation. You need to clear your mind, so watch television or read a book or magazine to wind down. Some people think a shower wakes you up, so consider switching your shower to the morning and take a relaxing bath instead.
Eat Well
14. Avoid Trans Fats
Research cited by Consumer Reports shows that eating foods containing trans fats can make you feel depressed. Trans fats are used in many processed foods, but you have to read the food labels to be sure.
Trans fats are contained within the ingredients with the word “hydrogenated” in them. Many brands of margarine are now trans fat-free, and prominently display this information on the label. However, many baked goods and even cake mixes contain trans fats.
In lieu of processed foods, choose to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, such as those you can find at a farmers’ market. Also, try your hand at baking from scratch, not using mixes.
15. Eat More “Superfoods”
Plan to include more vitamin-packed superfoods in your diet. These foods not only keep you healthier and more energetic, but many of them may also combat stress.
Once a week, try a new recipe using a superfood to find new favorites to add to your meal planning rotation. For example, you can try preparing foods such as salmon, kale, mushrooms, broccoli, avocados, beans, walnuts, and whole grains.
Be More Social
1. Reach Out and Touch Someone – Literally
Being in physical contact with someone you care about is an automatic stress reliever. Hugs and holding hands with the people you care about are therapeutic for the both of you. In fact, a study conducted by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that a massage can actually boost your immune system and make you more content.
You can also gain immune system benefits from a professional massage. Consider treating yourself if a massage from a friend or loved one just isn’t an option.
2. Be Giving
Find ways, even if they are small, to give to others. Stop to talk with someone and lend an ear, offer to assist a friend in need, or volunteer at a local charity. You will begin to view your own problems with a new perspective, and you will feel better about yourself by realizing that you can make a difference in the lives of others.
3. Nourish a Network of Friends
Just like a loving relationship, friendship takes nurturing. Neglect a friendship and you will lose a friend.
Try to see your friends on a regular basis as it fits your schedule. If you are single or a couple, you might like a weekly get-together to watch football or a favorite TV show, while people with families might prefer a monthly dinner club. The important thing is that you have strong friendships to help buffer life’s challenges.
Do Something Different
4. Get Out of Your Weekend Rut
Weekend activities are like mini-vacations, and they are important to recharge your mind and body. They do not need to be expensive to be effective. The important thing is to do something new and have a change of scene: A hike at a nearby park with family or friends is a great way to get some exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.
5. Create Memories
Research shows that experiences make us much happier than things. Even when activities and outings don’t turn out as perfectly as we’d hoped, people will remember the good times, not the disappointments.
Reconnect
6. Explore Your Spirituality
Would you call yourself spiritual? Going to church or temple, for example, is a way to increase the social interactions in your life. It provides many affordable activities for families, and serves as a network for support and assistance in a crisis. It can also be a good place to make contacts when you are looking for a job.
7. Enliven Traditions
Family traditions build a feeling of solidarity with your extended family, which creates a feeling of security that can help see you though difficult times. Feeling that you are not alone is a huge confidence booster. Holidays offer many opportunities to continue family traditions and to start some of your own.
Be Active
8. Move More
Sitting all day is unhealthy for both the mind and the body. Get up and walk around every waking hour for at least a couple of minutes, and take a walk everyday during your lunch hour.
You can also start a walking group with friends or coworkers, or try some sports that you might enjoy. Sign up for an exercise class or start your own. Try Tai Chi, or explore YouTube to create your own home workout plan.
When you elevate your fitness level, add jogging to your walking routine. Jogging causes endorphins to be released, which gives you a natural “runner’s high.”
9. “Exercise” Your Smile
You can trick your brain to feel happy with a very easy exercise: Just smile. Don’t believe it? Try it. This result is due to neuro-linguistic programming, where an “anchor” or trigger (in this case a smile) cues the brain to feel the same feelings it had the last time those muscles were used.
10. Declutter Your Home and Your Mind
Find a way to do a little decluttering every day. Declutter your bedroom for a more comfortable, relaxing place to sleep, and clean your desk or bill paying area for better financial peace of mind. Declutter your closet and your dresser drawers to make the mornings easier. There are plenty of places in your house or office that you can tidy up.
Set aside 15 minutes a day for decluttering, and remember, the most difficult step is getting started. You will be amazed at how great you’ll begin to feel as your life becomes less cluttered.
Sleep Well
11. Find Your Magic “Sleep Number”
For most adults, seven seems to be the magic number of hours of sleep needed a night, according to a study reported in the Harvard Business Review. Getting enough sleep will enable you to do your best work and help you handle daily challenges. If you sleep for less than seven hours per night it can greatly affect your health, even if you are just a little sleep-deprived.
12. Monitor Your Caffeine Intake
If you have difficulty sleeping, caffeine could be the culprit. Try cutting back on caffeinated drinks, and limit yourself to drinking them early in the day. And if that doesn’t help, try cutting out caffeine altogether and substituting caffeinated beverages with products such as decaf coffee or herbal tea. Remember, many sodas and energy drinks contain caffeine, as do many energy bars and foods with chocolate.
13. Relax for at Least an Hour Before Bedtime
To really relax, shut down the Internet at least an hour before bed. And don’t exercise just before bedtime, as that increases your circulation. You need to clear your mind, so watch television or read a book or magazine to wind down. Some people think a shower wakes you up, so consider switching your shower to the morning and take a relaxing bath instead.
Eat Well
14. Avoid Trans Fats
Research cited by Consumer Reports shows that eating foods containing trans fats can make you feel depressed. Trans fats are used in many processed foods, but you have to read the food labels to be sure.
Trans fats are contained within the ingredients with the word “hydrogenated” in them. Many brands of margarine are now trans fat-free, and prominently display this information on the label. However, many baked goods and even cake mixes contain trans fats.
In lieu of processed foods, choose to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, such as those you can find at a farmers’ market. Also, try your hand at baking from scratch, not using mixes.
15. Eat More “Superfoods”
Plan to include more vitamin-packed superfoods in your diet. These foods not only keep you healthier and more energetic, but many of them may also combat stress.
Once a week, try a new recipe using a superfood to find new favorites to add to your meal planning rotation. For example, you can try preparing foods such as salmon, kale, mushrooms, broccoli, avocados, beans, walnuts, and whole grains.
