Start working on these steps by traveling to Costa Rica and enjoying what at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas and Yoga Retreat. You can pretty much knock off all these items during one trip and reset your life into a happier, fulfilling and positive place.
- Connect with others. Look people in the eye, listen, smile, be courteous, say thank you. You’ll notice a difference in your mood by smiling more often, even if you do it when you’re all alone!
Smile! - Do something you’ve never done before. It can be something as simple and fun as singing karaoke, or surfing or as important as donating blood.
- Declutter. Throw away, donate or sell things sitting around you don’t use. It will help others, make you some money, and reduce stress.
- Give. Giving doesn’t only mean donating thousands of dollars to charity. You can give time. Visit an old folks home or an orphanage in your community, cook a meal for the homeless, offer your expertise for a special project.
- Nourish your body. Visit your local farmer’s market. Cook for yourself and others. Eat what makes you feel good and makes you happy. Listen to your body, eliminate ingredients you cannot pronounce from your diet. Eat simple and local.
Visit your local farmer’s market. - Nourish your soul. Read a book, listen to music, be creative, enjoy Nature. Never stop learning.
- Move. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to run errands instead of taking the car, go out dancing, take up yoga.
Take up a dance class or yoga class. - Learn to meditate. It may start with a few minutes of quiet time each day. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t quiet your brain straightaway, it takes time.
- Disconnect from technology. Be respectful of friends, family and coworkers by keeping your phone out of sight during meetings and meals. Turn off alerts for Facebook, email and messages so you don’t check your phone several times an hour. You’ll notice how your productivity and focus improves and you get more time for you!
Disconnect from technology. - Travel. Travel is good for mental well-being by boosting self-confidence, meeting new friends, learning new languages and cultures and providing memories to share. Visiting and connecting with other countries and cultures makes you less prejudiced. Travel opens you up to experiences around the world, the detachment from your everyday life will make you appreciate what you have even more.
Travel. - Pay it forward. We all want to live in a better world, so be part of that improvement. That unexpected joy you create in others by giving a hand radiates to you and others. This can go from recommending the work of a contractor to others or paying someone’s toll or coffee, to buying an extra meal for a homeless person at the drive-thru. You can also ask friends to donate to charity in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts.
- Be grateful. Most likely you have a roof over your head, running water, food on your table. Take a minute every day to reflect and be thankful for all you have, write it down if you like. Many have a gratitude journal. Work, family, friends, health and so much more.
Meditate and be grateful every day.
Article by Katie Widdowson
