As 2018 continues to progress, I feel that we often get lost in the hustle and bustle that ensues at this time of the year. It is easy to allow ourselves to get caught up in the craziness from our hectic schedules. These small tips and tricks are all things that I have woven into my daily schedule, and they have allowed for myself to find clarity amongst it all, while allowing me time to love myself and find my center.
1. Unplug, Recharge, Repeat.
For a minimum of an hour, turn off all electronics. During this time, you could take a nap, meditate, read a book. It is imperative that you find nuggets of time in your day to simply unplug from the constant flow of information that comes from our countless forms of social media.
2. Stop. Hitting. The. Snooze. Button.
I promise you, that additional five minutes of snoozing in your warm, cozy bed is really not going to allow you to feel any more refreshed. This is a horrible habit that many of us need to break. Turn off the alarm once it goes off, the first time, and embrace the day. You'll thank yourself later.
3. Ra-Ra! Be Your Own Cheerleader!
Unfortunately, we live in a very negative world. Amidst the constant flow of judgment, negativity, and criticism, you would be surprised how much of a difference it will make in your daily life when you take the time to be your own cheerleader. Take a moment to appreciate the small victories that you have accomplished through the day, week, or even month. Something as small as making the bed is even something worth celebrating. Lift yourself up, instead of weighing yourself down with all the negativity.
4. Count Your Blessings, Literally.
Do you ever have a rough day, where literally every single thing has managed to go entirely wrong? In those moments, we get engrossed in the negativity and begin to dwell on all of the negative aspects of our lives. It is imperative to find moments in your day to quite literally count as blessings. Take a few minutes to think of five, ten, fifteen things that you are thankful for, that you are blessed to be a part of or have in your life, etc. This will do wonders to shift your perspective and allow you to move forward with a more appreciative and optimistic outlook, even on the crummy days.
5. Big Girls (And Boys too) Do Cry
No matter how old you are, everyone cries. It is a healthy, reasonable way of being able to purge all of the negativity built up. It is a perfectly normal way to process our emotions, our situations, and whatever we may be going through. It is important to never forget the importance of allowing ourselves those moments of vulnerability, time to allow ourselves to feel all of those emotions in that moment. Although these moments should be prioritized, it is equally as important to remember to not dwell in it for too long.
I have always viewed it as a moment of completely ridding myself of those feelings and thoughts and moving on. Don't allow for it to linger. Let it go, release those feelings, and keep moving forward.
Incorporating even one of these elements into your daily life will do wonders to keep you centered and focused to tackle the rest of 2018. Although we are all focused on succeeding, growing, and achieving all that we can, never forget to make your happiness the upmost priority.
Here's to the continued adventure of 2018!
