Start your day with Jesus. Grab a hot cup of coffee, find a cozy nook, and dive into your Bible because “though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Peter 1:8) Though there will be trials throughout the day, no one can take away your joy when it comes from the Lord. Spending a little time (or a lot) in God’s word equips you for the day, renewing your strength as promised in Isaiah 40:31. Just like a car needs refueling, so does your soul!
Pump iron. Or go for a run or a bike ride- anything to get your blood pumping! Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression, boost your self-esteem, and help you sleep better. Additionally, like anyone who has seen “Legally Blonde” knows, exercising causes your body to release endorphins that trigger a positive feeling, or more simply put by Elle Woods, “Exercise give you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” So what’s a key to happiness? Your key to the car that will drive you down to your local gym!
Treat yourself. Fill your cup with a multifaceted frozen yogurt creation, topped with succulent fruit or vibrant sprinkles. Order a tall shaken iced cold green tea peach lemonade from Starbucks. Take a bite of that piping hot, fresh out of the oven, specialty pizza, topped with all of your favorites. Whatever your treat may be, allow yourself to indulge in it. Treating yourself is a good thing! Fitday.com says that it helps you maintain your motivation for healthy eating, helps prevent decreases in metabolic rate, and helps prevent binges. Don’t let food guilt keep you from treating yourself. Just remember the key is moderation. Choose one and embrace the sugary (or cheesy) goodness!
Take time to do what brings you joy. Though it seems like an obvious idea, taking time for yourself is often at the bottom of our list of priorities. We get so caught up in the busy schedule that is life that by the time we finally do get to take a break, it seems easiest to just plop on the couch and mindlessly resume feeding your latest Netflix obsession. By simply Google searching “the effects of television,” you’ll discover article after article discussing the correlation between countless hours in front of the screen and depression so turn off the TV and back away slowly. Instead, grab your pals (or fly solo) and go do something you love. Play with puppies. Get a manicure. Paint a picture. Read a book. Go on a hike. Set up your hammock in front of a glorious view. The possibilities are endless! You’ll surely find that taking a little time for yourself will de-stress you, in turn making you more productive when the time comes to get serious.
Do something for someone else. Even though this seems like a selfless act, helping others makes you feel better, benefitting you just as much as them. Whether it’s volunteering with the Special Olympics, donating books to a children’s hospital, buying a homeless person a meal, or simply holding the door open for a stranger, I can guarantee it will put a smile on your face. You can learn a lot about the world just by stepping out of yours and paying attention to someone else’s. You may even make a new friend in the process.
And for the icing on the cake, do all of this with a thankful attitude. Thank God for his heavenly promises. Praise the Lord that you are healthier than you are sick and have the ability to exercise. Thank Him for the rich berries that embellish your froyo, or for the hands that carefully crafted your pizza. Stand in awe of your creator at the top of the mountain you just hiked, or merely thank him for the funds to get a manicure. Acknowledge the blessings in your own life and the blessings you can outpour onto others.
Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God."
