Turn That Frown Upside Down
You might notice that people more often gravitate to those with a sunnier disposition. However, the actual act of smiling emits serotonin (the happy hormone) and creates a, stimulating, positive environment. While frowning creates negative energy and drives people away.
Stress and Anxiety
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ It Doesn’t Take Much
Just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk or a swim, can help boost your mood and limit the effects of stress on your body. And if you do it outdoors in the sunshine, you may feel even better.
🍎 Health Hack ~ Stress Reduction Checklist
Peel Away Stress
- Set priorities. Focus on what’s important. Let the other stuff go.
- Identify tasks that you can share or delegate, then ask for help.
- Get organized. Disorder can make things confusing and hard to remember.
- Set short-term goals you can reach. Reward yourself for meeting them!
- Say no — gracefully — to taking on more obligations.
- Focus on the positive. Choose to look for the good in others and yourself.
- Laugh! Look for humor in your everyday life, or watch a funny video.
- Listen to music. Choose tunes that relax or revive you.
- Talk to a counselor or a friend.
- Remember, things don’t have to be perfect. Sometimes “good enough” is just fine.
- Take a time-out for yoga, meditation, or some deep breaths.
- Get regular exercise. Find something you like doing that you can work into your schedule.
- Set aside some time, even 5 to 10 minutes, for yourself each day.
🌞 Feel Good Hack ~ Rx: A Nap May be the Perfect Prescription
A Nap May Lift Your Mood
If you’re feeling down, try taking a nap to lift your spirits. Napping, or even just resting for an hour without falling asleep, can brighten your outlook. Experts say relaxation that comes from lying down and resting is a mood booster, whether you fall asleep or not.
Feel Good Hack ~ Ditch the Comparisons
Ditch the Comparisons
With social media, we now have a near-constant view into other people’s lives. It is all too easy to compare yourself to these people and wish for their “perfect” lives. But the truth is… it’s not real. Instead of comparing yourself, focus on what you have that makes you happy. Accept that everyone is different, and work on being content with yourself, doing what makes you happy. Suggestions: Unfollow people on social media who trigger these comparison feelings or who make you feel bad about yourself.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ You Deserve It!
Treat yourself to five minutes a day.
Feeling stressed, anxious and overwhelmed? Make it a habit to treat yourself to five minutes of relaxation a day. This could be a walk around the block at lunchtime, a quick meditation on the train to work or a few minutes of deep breathing at your desk. Make it a point to take at least five minutes for yourself every day, even if you have to set a reminder or schedule it into your calendar. Even just a few minutes can help to lower stress hormones and feel more relaxed. Suggestions: Make a list of a few relaxing things you can do in five minutes and pick one each day.
🍎 Health Hack ~Enjoy a Belly Laugh
Laugh
Yes, laugh! Laughing is coined as the best medicine, as it has shown to boost the immune system, promote heart health, burn calories, ease pain, support mental health, and improve quality of life. Increase humor and laughter by smiling more, thinking positive thoughts, watching funny videos, taking life less seriously, and just flat out being silly!
🍎 Health Hack ~ Practice Mindful Eating
Practice Mindful Eating
The practice of mindful and intuitive eating can naturally keep portion sizes balanced and cultivate a healthy relationship with food. Pay close attention to hunger and satiety cues to recognize if the desire to eat is based on boredom, cravings, or real hunger. And when consuming meals, recognize sensations you may experience, including the flavor, smell, and thoughts present during the time.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ A Happier, Healthier Life
Keys to a Happier, Healthier Life
- Emotional vitality: a sense of enthusiasm, hopefulness engagement.
- Optimism: the perspective that good things will happen, and that one’s actions account for the good things that occur in life.
- Supportive networks of family and friends.
- Being good at ‘self regulations,’ i.e. bouncing back from stressful challenges and knowing that things will eventually look up again; choosing healthy behaviors such as physical activity and eating well; and avoiding risky behaviors such as unsafe sex, drinking alcohol to excess, and regularly overeating.
🍎 Health Hack ~ A Rainbow 🌈 is in your Future
Eat Colors of the Rainbow
Foods colorful and vibrant in nature are the ones mostly offering the most nutrients. Make it a habit of offering at least two colors to meals and snacks, including trying out various methods of preparation. For instance, roast various squashes, blend spinach in a smoothie, and lightly warm up an apple and sprinkle with cinnamon.
