A Take 2 Minutes article by Amelia Walsh.
It can be tough to maintain a positive attitude throughout the day. When you're busy and feeling stressed, you might become overwhelmed by your responsibilities and become focused on what's not going well.
If this sounds familiar, you've come to the right place for tips about cultivating more positivity in your daily life.
Ready to learn more?
Here's 8 of our favorite ways to stay positive throughout your day!
You probably already know how difficult it can be to get through the day when you're exhausted.
Your brain feels foggy, so your memory suffers, and you just can't seem to think properly. Most importantly, you're far more likely to be in a bad mood.
The solution?
Be sure to get plenty of sleep each night, and stick to a schedule that works for you to stay committed. That may mean fewer late nights out with friends or cutting back on screen time, but your body and mind will feel so much better that you might not miss those activities anyway.
Your first thoughts of the day usually have the most significant impact on your mindset throughout the entire day, so it's essential to start out on a positive note.
One of the best ways to do that is to start your day with a gratitude exercise like making a list of what you're grateful for or writing in a gratitude journal.
Don't stress: you can practice gratitude at any time, and it doesn't need to take long. If you're short on time, try naming things you're grateful for in the shower, as the coffee brews, or while you take your dog out.
Making healthy choices will promote physical well-being. When your body feels strong and has the energy it needs to take on the day, it's much easier to maintain a positive attitude.
Try packing a healthy lunch instead of rushing out for fast food at lunch time. Be sure to include healthy snacks for a boost of energy so you can pass on the sugar and caffeine (both are responsible for the dreaded afternoon slump).
Exercise is important, too: it can help promote the hormones your body needs to fight depression, anxiety, and illness.
Maybe you rely on to-do lists to keep you on track during the day, or you might be one of those people who can manage their day in other ways. But regardless of whether or not you need a task list, making one anyway can help keep stress at bay and give you a daily boost of confidence.
Why?
First, visualizing your day might make it feel less overwhelming. You might even identify things you can put off for another day or ways to multitask!
Second, every time you check off a box or cross out a task to mark it as complete, you create a visual representation of your progress. And that feels great!
When we're busy, we forget to pause for a moment and take a few deep breaths. It doesn't take long, and it's crucial to do on your most hectic days.
Taking a moment to breathe deeply can help you feel less overwhelmed and reduce stress by keeping you grounded in the present moment.
Feel free to close your eyes while you inhale through your nose, slowly filling your lungs with refreshing air. Hold for a moment before gently releasing your breath, then repeat.
You might not get everything right 100 percent of the time, but every day you have victories both significant and small. Instead of focusing on your mistakes or what you weren't able to accomplish today, celebrate what you did right.
What are you proud of? What went right? Did you have a good laugh with a friend, learn something new, or get something done that wasn't planned? Maybe you helped out a stranger or avoided an unhealthy behavior.
Whatever the case, there's always something you did right each day….so give yourself a pat on the back!
If it's challenging for you to focus on things you like about yourself or amazing things you've done, consider recruiting a partner, friend, or family member to be your affirmation buddy.
It's a two-way street: you and your affirmation buddy will help each other build confidence and focus on the positive by sharing things you appreciate or admire about each other.
Here's a few examples:
Yeah, your friends, family, and coworkers probably know that you love them. But taking the time to send a quick text or call to share what you appreciate about them anyway is a fantastic way to spread positive vibes.
You don't have to shower your entire contact list with compliments, support, or gratitude every day. Choose one or two people you'd like to recognize each day: you can keep it short and sweet or go all out.
Do whatever feels right to you!
Take 2 Minutes offers plenty of tools to help you stay on track with cultivating more positivity in your life.
There's something for everyone, so take some time to explore our site and feel free to reach out with any questions!
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