CindyIf you ask most people what they want in life, they’ll share a common answer – to be happy. Unfortunately, when things get tough and stress piles on, happiness can be hard to find. If you’re finding happiness in short supply, here are a handful of mental hacks you can try to invite a little more happiness into your mind – and your day!
How to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing
#1 Get enough sleep.
This one’s so obvious it’s hard to call it a hack, but with the sheer number of people who don’t get enough rest, it’s important enough to call out. Your body relies on sufficient sleep to perform its best. If you can find eight hours each evening to close your eyes, rest, and recharge, you’ll be healthier, happier, and more clear-headed.
If you want to be a happier person, make sleep a priority. Turn your bedroom into your sanctuary. Light some candles or use essential oils to bring a spa-like sense of serenity to your room. Create a routine to wind down each evening and prepare yourself for sleep if it doesn’t come easily. It may be a challenge at first, but finding ways to boost the number of hours you sleep each night is a surefire way to make you happier, especially if you’ve been running without enough fuel for a while.
#2 Practice gratitude.
We can feel unhappy when we feel we’re missing out or don’t have enough. If you find yourself often plagued by this kind of negative thinking, you should consider ways to incorporate a little more gratitude into your day. By being grateful and expressing your appreciation for the things already present in your life, you’ll realize how much you have to be thankful for, lifting your spirits and bringing your mood to a more positive place.
There are lots of ways you can invite a little gratitude into your routine. I recommend keeping a gratitude journal. Spend time each day to practice mindful journaling, and you’ll not only receive a mood boost from the act of expressing your gratitude, but you’ll have a journal filled with reminders to revisit when times get tough. If writing things down isn’t the best way for you to process your thoughts, try simply thinking about the things you’re grateful for or finding an app to support your endeavors.
#3 Kick negative thoughts to the curb.
Most of us are guilty of self-sabotage and negative thinking. You’re often your own worst critic, and if you pay attention to your thinking patterns, you might find yourself shooting down your own ideas and writing them off before you’ve even allowed them to blossom.
The biggest challenge to stopping negative thoughts is finding a way to catch yourself in the act. Pay more attention to your mind. Some people like to use a physical reminder – a rubber band around the wrist, or a simple ring – to bring their mind back to their thoughts on a regular basis and create a trigger for calling out negativity. Whatever works for you, finding a way to soften your self-criticism and stop thinking so negatively will set you on a course for a happier mind.
#4 Meditate.
Meditation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Learn how to meditate properly, and you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to find calmness in chaos, quiet your noisy mind, and stay grounded and focused on the things that matter most to you in life.
Starting to meditate can be tough, especially if you’re brand new to the practice. You’ll likely start small with simple breathing exercises and learning how to find stillness and quiet within yourself. If you need a little guidance, there are lots of apps on the market for iPhone and Android users to help you learn to unwind and be alone with your mind. You won’t see results right away, but if you can commit to incorporating meditation into your routine, you’ll find yourself equipped with one of the best happiness hacks out there.
#5 Start your day with positive affirmations.
The way you spend your morning sets the tone for your whole day. Start off on the wrong foot, and you’ll find yourself frustrated, frazzled, and ready for bed before you’ve even left the house. Don’t let this happen. Instead, take control of your morning and find ways to infuse your routine with a little boost of positive thinking.
Incorporating positive affirmations into your morning routine can be a great hack to boost your happiness throughout the day. Stand in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eye, and simply state some truths that resonate with you. Recycle the same affirmations each day to reinforce your line of thinking, or swap them out for whatever feels right. Like meditation, this one might feel a little silly at the start, but science shows you can actually boost your mood – and your confidence – with this small trick.
We all want to be happy, but what many don’t realise is that it takes a little effort on our part to have a happy mind! Try these hacks today and you’ll start feeling the benefits of a happier, healthier mind immediately!
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