These days women are expected to do it all. It is no surprise to me that so many ladies I know feel stressed out, overwhelmed and miserable. One of my favorite sayings is, “You will never live a positive life with a negative mind.” I really believe in that statement. A small mindset change can make a huge difference.
Here are 5 ways to live a more positive life
1. Start a Thankful Journal: Each night write down 10 things that you are thankful for. This is simply ANYTHING that made you feel thankful. It could be your family or a good hair day… if it made you happy, write it down. You can do this in the morning too, but I like to jot these items down right before bed, so I fall asleep with a head full of grateful, happy thoughts.
2. Meditate: I recently started meditating and I love it. I tried meditation in my 20’s but I could never get myself to focus. Now they have a number of meditation apps that are really helpful. I pop on my headphones in the morning when I first get up and take 5 minutes to meditate. (I am working my way up to 10 minutes!) Each day, I am getting better at quieting my mind. Right now, I keep it pretty simple, just focusing on my breath and relaxing my body. When I am done I feel really good. My mind is clear and I am in a better mood.
3. Try Affirmations: Setting your intentions for the day can put you in a positive mindset. I loved the book, “You are a Bad Ass” and this is an exercise the author talks about a lot. It can be as simple as saying your affirmation in your head or out loud. You can also start an “Affirmation Journal” and write them down each day, or when you feel like it. An example of an affirmation would be, “I am going to have an awesome day, I am going to be super productive at work.” or “I am so thankful for my kids, I am going to be an amazing, calm parent today.” I am not going to share my actual affirmations since you would literally die laughing, but I put some pretty lofty goals into the universe. I know it sounds strange, but it puts me in a great mood! Just try it.
4. Create a Happy Playlist: Music is so crazy powerful. When I feel myself getting anxious or stressed, I just put on my happy playlist. I listen to music when I am getting ready in the morning. I jam out to my favorite songs on the way into work. Sing, dance… whatever floats your boat. My daughter and I scream the words to “Everything is Awesome” at least a few times a week during the car ride to daycare. We both end up laughing and smiling, no matter HOW many times I have heard that song. (at least 473,951 times, but who’s counting?)
5. Do Something Nice for Someone Else: Leave your husband a love note, buy coffee for the person behind you, give a co-worker a compliment. There are so many ways to bring a bit of joy to someone’s day. The best part is: when you do something nice for someone, it make YOU feel happier. Isn’t that awesome? It is a double whammy of positivity.
Life is complicated and hard. Let’s be real, it would be impossible to see the bright side of things ALL of the time. But being positive really does help. If you shift your way of thinking, even just 50% of the time… you will notice a dramatic change in the way you feel. Now go be fabulous & happy… you deserve it.
I love this! I love the quote at the beginning too. So true. I love the journal idea. I just bought one last week that says “Fit Happens” on the cover, and every day I’m supposed to list three things I’m grateful for and then list my goals and workouts – and Lord knows my workouts help keep me positive hehe. I love the last one too, do something nice for something else. I think sometimes I good at this in terms of leaving little love notes for my hubby etc, but sometimes I get so caught up in my own stuff that I forget. Great advice 🙂 Also, I really need to meditate more, and get back to yoga! Namaste! Lol
I feel like doing thoughtful things for others really helps to put me in a good mood. I have been obsessed with mail lately, like writing people cards for no reason and sending them off! 🙂
This is a great list! I find #4 usually works for me. Music can really get me into a more positive mindset. #5 makes me feel pretty good, too!
A happy playlist is my favorite! I just made a new one this week using amazing music, which I had NO idea was free through my amazon prime account (duh)
I love all of your suggestions! Spending time in prayer and being thankful is always helpful for me!
Yes I think believing in God and spending spiritual time is super important to help stay positivie!
I have this idea. Maybe only the friends that I make in this life, will know that I truly care in the next life.
Great list! My daily walk includes almost all of these! First, I think of all the things that I am grateful for. Then I do affirmations all while listening to my favorite songs. I think of walking as very meditative because I quiet my mind after doing the other two. I feel better afterwards every single time.
Well that sounds like you get it all in at once! Awesome idea!
Heard that mediating is great for positivity and feeling more comfortable, so i would love to try it soon. Love the other things you wrote xoxo
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Yes, I have just started to get into it and I loving how it makes me feel, but I cant do it for very long yet! ha!
Meditating can really bring peace, perspective and sanity back into my life 🙂
I have a lot of work to do on my practice, but I am really enjoying it!!
Women have always been expected to do it all in every generation. I see more men stepping up and contributing more and more. We still need to take time for ourselves. Going for a walk help me.
Yes my husband is a huge help.. but I do feel like social media and comparison among women is stronger than ever making us feel the need to do more than ever before.
I love the idea of keeping a thankful journal! I should practice that
It really makes a big difference.. but it is subtle. One day you just realize.. hey I feel better. haha I am obsessed with mine!
Love LOVE this post! I’ve been doing a gratitude journal since we were trying to conceive, puts everything into perspective! So glad you found meditating – it’s life changing!!
That is when I started mine!! When we couldnt get pregnant with our second! OMG sometimes I swear I think we are the same person!!
I love this! I try to do some of these but I’m definitely going to have to implement all of them in my life! <3
The biggest one is the thankful journal, I swear by it!
Awesome list! I love all these .. thankful journal is new to me.. i’ll make one from now on. Thanks for sharing positivity. 😘😘😘
You have to try it!! It is life changing! I buy all my friends journals with instructions on how to write up a thankful journal!
Thank you! I love this list, especially affirmations. Telling myself I’m a badass before a job interview is a complete confidence boost 😀
100%! Putting those things out into the universe really does put things into motion, at least that is what I believe. 🙂
I just started that book. “You’re a Bad Ass.” Love that title. 🙂
It is a amazing book! I listened to the audiobook version in my car and it was so motivating 🙂
I love the idea of having a gratitude journal. I had one a few years ago and it definitely made an impact on my positivity. I think it is time to start one again. Thanks for these uplifting tips 🙂
Whenever I have stopped mine I notice a difference after awhile and I always go back to it!
Great reminders! Life’s too short for anything less than positive.
I agree, and when you put positivity out there, you get it back!
I keep a Gratitude List on my phone, which is similar to your Thankful Journal. I don’t add to it every night but I try to a few times a week and it’s great to look back on when I’m having a rough day.
Yes I think writing it down (or in your phone) helps those positivie thoughts to stick in your mind.. changing your entire thought process!
This is a great list. Music, meditation, candles, reading and baking are what I turn to.
I love candles too!! They are my favorite.. I never bake, anything near an over is NOT relaxing for me! ha!
I love the idea of a happy playlist! Music is so inspiring!
Yes! I listen to it in my car on the way into work and I am in the best mood when I get there!
I’d like to add — think before you speak. You may be bringing a negative tone to the conversation with your comments. Speak positive thoughts… it does amazing things for everyone involved.
I agree with that! Taking part in negative talk and gossip just bring you down in the end! I stay AWAY from the drama!
It is amazing the power of music. Even in my worst of moods, if a good song come on, you better believe it makes me happy and sometimes even forget about what was wrong (at least for that moment).
Yes, I love my happy playlist.. I am always changing it and updating it.
Gratitude journal is so helpful for me. I try to jot down one thing I’m thankful for every day in my planner. On tough days, I can look back and see all the things I’m grateful for and it really helps me. This is a great list of ideas!
yes and I think just writing it down helps to make you a happier person by putting it out there in the universe! 🙂
100% agree with all of these. It’s amazing how little things like this really do make us feel better in general.
Especially when you keep them up.. the happiness really does ‘stick’
I love using affirmations & thankful journals. You can actually find apps for the thankful journals for free. Great tips.
I had no idea they had those! I love writing it down though.. I dont think I would want to go digital with them but I am so old school that way
I absolutely love this post! I’ve felt so stressed out recently, and I needed a little positive inspiration. I found You Are a Badass to be such an awesome book, positive affirmations rock.