7 Things to do to Feel Better
7 Things You Can Do to Feel Better Instantly
Everybody's
looking for a quick fix. Whether it's to lose weight or achieve their
dreams, people are searching for the magic pill or perfect practice to
make their lives "better." There's a tendency to believe that what we
want is outside of who are already are. You want world peace? Ask how at
peace are you with yourself, your body, and your life. You want to lose
30 pounds? Ask how much extra “baggage” are you carrying emotionally.
It’s not that we’re hypocrites, most of the time we’re just not aware of
the inner turmoil we have going on. You have to dive deep to find the
answers you’re looking for.
All that being
said, there are things you can do right NOW that will help you feel
better instantly. Keep in mind that you have to do these things
consistently to see and feel real change in your life.
1. Breathe more deeply. I
find this is especially useful when I’m eating, since it allows me to
feel how full I’m getting and actually enjoy my meal. Breathe deep into
your belly, feeling your diaphragm expand. Breathing lowers your stress
levels, rids your body of up to 70% of toxins, increases your energy,
improves your digestive, immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems,
relieves pain and helps you let go of tension. Here is one simple deep
breathing technique you can try: breathe in through your nose for 5
seconds, hold for 5 seconds, and slowly exhale for 5 seconds through
your nose. Repeat 5 times.
2. Drink water as soon as you wake up (well, drink more water
in general). It helps you wake up and gets your digestive system moving
(nothing starts the day off right quite like a great bowel movement). I
drink around 3 to 4 cups first thing. I find that keeping water right
next to my bed helps me to keep this habit up. Your body needs water,
especially after seven to nine hours of not drinking any.
3. Add spinach to your smoothies. Spinach, kale, chard, chlorella tablets... whatever. Just add something green.
Greens help to increase your energy, alkalize your body, provide a dose
of antioxidants and phytonutrients, and generally just make you feel
amazeballs. Plus, you can hardly taste them in a smoothie.
If you’re really worried about your smoothie tasting too green (as if
there was such a thing), start with spinach and work your way up.
4. Go outside. Coming
from a mainly self-employed bloggerista, trust me when I say going
outside for some fresh air makes a huge difference in your overall
state. I work from home (or next door to home in a coffee shop) and I
know how easy it is to forget there even is an “outside.” I’m sure
everyone working in an office can relate. We can live without water for
weeks and without food for months - oxygen is the most important
nutrient we need. In efforts to save on fuel costs, we insulate offices
and buildings that cut off our fresh oxygen supply. Even if it’s just
for 5 minutes, go outside and get some fresh air. Practice deep breathing (see point #1) and notice how much more calm and happy you feel.
5. Throw on your favorite song. I told you guys about how music keeps me in flow. Listening to music releases endorphins and makes you happy. Seriously it’s that simple. An epic track can change everything.
6. Put your fork down between bites. It can be tempting to shovel food into your mouth sometimes, such as when you’re eating a delicious meal
or eating at your desk. Enjoying food is one of the simple pleasures us
humans take for granted. Unlike the little lovepuff wonderdog I live
with, I get to actually enjoy each morsel I put in my mouth instead of
inhaling it. You also give your body time to recognize when it’s getting
full. As you eat, your stomach expands. This expansion helps to tell
the brain when it’s getting full and to stop eating. This technique also
helps to balance your weight and allows you to get to know your body.
7. Smile more!!
The simple act of smiling, even if you’re not in a particularly good
mood, makes your brain THINK you’re in a good mood, and releases happy
endorphins. Let’s say that smiling just because is like eating more
vegetables. It’s good for you, so you should probably do more of it.
Step up your happiness-intake by smiling at strangers, laughing more, or performing random acts of awesomeness. There’s no losing in this situation.
There you have it folks. Change your life in seven simple steps. Instantly.
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