We all have days where we’re so happy that we can’t seem to stop smiling, but we also have days where all we want to do is stay in bed, burying ourselves beneath our blankets. However, oftentimes, because we have responsibilities, we hoist ourselves out of bed and put on a fake smile. We all feel this way from time to time, but we shouldn’t let it control our day.
It’s important for us to perform activities or tasks that’ll brighten our day when we’re feeling sad. When you do this, even if your day might have started with a fake smile, it’ll be genuine at the end of the day. There are endless things you can do, but here are some simple, little actions you can do every day to make yourself happy.
1. Start your morning off with your favorite breakfast.
If your favorite thing to eat in the morning is whole grain cereal with yogurt, go for it. If it’s cold pizza, go to town. A good day starts before you even walk out of the door. If we start our day off with a bang, that momentum can only get better. If that means you want to eat a grilled cheese before heading off to class, then go all out. But this isn’t something you should do every day, especially if your favorite breakfast is Oreos.
2. Listen to your favorite song on repeat.
We all have our favorite songs that bring us back to that time and place where we feel at peace. When you don’t want to get out of bed, put on your headphones with that song on repeat. Let yourself become a part of it; lose yourself in it. Soon, you’ll feel better.
3. Surround yourself with positive people (whether that is in person or online).
What I mean by positive people are people who lift you up and support you. They may be family, friends, or that user you’ve been talking to on Tumblr. If you’re having a bad day, make sure to seek out your support group. They’ll radiate their positivity like the sun, so bright that it warms everything around it. It will surely warm your heart, and make you feel better.
4. Do something good.
If you’re having a bad day, this is something you should do. It doesn’t have to be anything monumental. It can be as simple as giving someone a compliment.
Sometimes we feel like there’s no good in the world, but that isn’t true. As individuals, we have the ability to create good, and share it in our community. Get involved in community service. Spend an afternoon at the humane society and play with the puppies. Make a donation to your favorite charity. Pay for the person behind you at the drive thru. There are so many ways we can brighten our day while brightening someone else’s.
5. Treat yo self.
Pre-order that video game you’ve been stoked about for weeks. Get your nails done with your BFF. Buy that book you’ve been dying to read. Whatever your definition of treating yo self is, do it. We all deserve a day to pamper ourselves, and there’s nothing wrong with buying ourselves something when we’re feeling blue. Even though material items can’t make happiness last, they make our day a little brighter, especially if it’s something we really want.
6. Love yourself unconditionally.
This is the most important. We all have flaws and things that we don’t like about ourselves. Whether it’s physical or mental, everyone has something they wish they could change. While people can take steps to change features about themselves (weight loss, surgery, etc.), it’s important that you love the body and the mind you have. They’re yours, and no one else’s. That’s reason enough to love them. They’re unique and special. If there’s something that you want to change, then become the person that you wish to be, the person that would make you even happier.
Loving yourself unconditionally, wholeheartedly and without fail, is perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself. You are a human being, a human being who is worthy and deserves love. So that love should come from you, too. And, once you start loving yourself, it’s hard to be anything but happy.
What do you do to make yourself happy when you’re feeling down? Share in the comments.
