Archive for: Our Happiness Blog

With June arriving and children out of school, most families use the summer to take a much needed vacation. Be it visiting family or seeing somewhere new, June is a popular time for travel. Ideally your vacation has been planned months in advance, but what about when you just want to take a quick day away from home? Why not plan a day trip or short weekend to one of North Carolina’s many attractions. Stay at a local hotel for a night and take a break from the usual chores. Visit a local museum or take a drive out to some of our lesser known attractions (did you know North Carolina has a housecat museum AND a museum of cryptozoology and spirits?) Challenge yourself to try that restaurant you’ve been curious about, but never found the time to go. Just because you didn’t plan a big trip, doesn’t mean you have to sit at home!

Our happiness is often heavily influenced by the amount of rest we receive. If you find yourself dragging by the end of your days or that waking up is a real challenge, it might be helpful to create a sleep schedule. Setting a specific time to go to bed and get up in the morning gets your body used to a routine and helps us avoid an afternoon crash. Adjusting to getting up at the same time each morning might be difficult at first, but there are many alarm apps today that can help with this. You can try more calming tones or waking up to your favorite tunes. There are even clocks that make you complete a task before they turn off, such as a rug that forces you to stand up or an alarm clock that rolls away from you (which might be a welcome feature depending on how big your room is). Once you are used to rising at a certain time each morning, finding a set bedtime should be easy. Knowing how much sleep our body needs and making that a part of our schedules can lead to more energy and a happier work day.

Coming home after a long day of work to the thought of cooking an elaborate meal can be a daunting task. You may also find yourself in the rut of eating the same meals each week or relying on eating out to provide a majority of your meals and the variety your body needs. A good way to switch up this routine is finding one new recipe to cook each week. You may decide to make one big meal to sustain you for multiple days, or incorporate it into an arsenal of quick, standby meals. Use the opportunity to try different, more exciting ingredients. You can even turn this into a bonding experience with a partner or child, which can make the activity more fun. You may find the task much less daunting and much more thrilling when you change it up!

The season of graduation is upon us. Whether you or a loved one are nearing the end of Grade School, High School, College, or making another life transition, a time of reflection can be beneficial for us all. For the soon-to-be graduates who may be feeling more worried than excited about this transition stage, try reflecting on the past four years, focusing on the positive and stressful times you have had. Remind yourself that all of these moments have gotten you to where you are today- a graduate moving onto their next chapter and have contributed to the person you’ve become. For those who will be graduating within the next few years, try keeping a list of things you want to accomplish before graduation, or try documenting some of your favorite moments. It can be easy to forget all of the fun you’re having, but keeping a record can help remind you of the journey. For those who have graduated in the past or are celebrating the graduation of others, take a moment to reflect on where you were when you graduated and where you are now, as well as the changes you have seen in others. It can be exciting to think about how far you’ve come, and remind yourself of the progress you’ve made since you walked across the stage.

It is very easy to measure ourselves by those around us and fall into the trap of comparisons. Social media has turned into a “highlight reel” of fantastic experiences and luxury purchases. Timelines and twitter feeds are filled with vacations to Disney World, brand new cars, and run- ins with celebrities. It is easy to see all of these wonderful moments and feel like we aren’t measuring up. Remember, both on social media and in real life, we only see what people want to show us. For every vacation and new puppy, there are travel delays and indoor accidents. Try keeping a gratitude journal of daily things that made you happy. They may not make the highlight reel like running into Robert Downey Jr. (what was he doing in Cary anyways?) but appreciating a good meal or a funny joke from our kids can put us in a better mood than social media ever can.

Did you know that May is national moving month? Over 40 million Americans move each year and it is estimated 80% of those moves occur from spring to the end of summer. However, this often stressful, exhausting ordeal does not have to be all bad. Moving presents us with many mood boosting opportunities. Packing can help us reflect on the possessions we’ve amassed and decide what clutter can be cut out. We may find items we thought were long-gone, allowing us to reflect on the memories associated with them. Moving also provides us with new experiences in a new place. Look forward to all the new restaurant options, new scenery, and new opportunities, rather than the mass of boxes ahead.

Warmer weather makes spring the perfect time to get outside and get some exercise. The mood-boosting benefits of exercise are well known. When we exercise, our brain releases endorphins and serotonin, neurotransmitters that increase feelings of happiness. Lack of serotonin has also been indicated in depression, which exercise is often helpful in treating. Exercising outdoors also helps our bodies get adequate amounts of vitamin D, which promotes healthy bones and muscles. Exercise can also be a great opportunity to practice other mood-boosting activities, such as mindfulness. Focusing our attention to our senses such as the smell of the air, the sound of our feet hitting the ground, or the breeze brushing against our skin can help us focus on the present moment and relieve stress. Remember to start small, even a walk on your lunch break can be an easy, enjoyable way to boost your mood and get some exercise!

April is National Volunteer Month. Research has found that volunteering provides several psychological benefits. It can boost self-esteem, helping us to feel better about ourselves and our community. It challenges us to step outside our comfort zones, creates opportunities to meet others, and can be a resumé booster when looking for work. Depending on the person, it often helps us connect to our personal values and gives us a sense of satisfaction. The Triangle area has many opportunities to give back in a wide range of ways. You could umpire baseball games for special needs children, drive a car for meals on wheels or the red cross, help redo homeless shelters, or even foster dogs! For more information on the opportunities available, check out some of the websites below:
The Volunteer Center
Volunteer Match
Active Good
A Lotta Love

April is National Humor Month (It is also National Fresh Celery month, which does not seem to produce much happiness). What better way to increase our happiness than by taking some time to share a few laughs with friends and family. Why not set aside some time to watch a funny movie, read a funny book, or sing a funny song. Channel your inner standup comedian and practice your punchlines with friends. Laughter can have several health benefits as well, releasing serotonin and decreasing feelings of stress and anxiety. However you decide to celebrate the occasion, be sure to share it with somebody. As the saying goes, laughter is contagious, and humans tend to think highly of those around us who can make us laugh. So get out there and have a laugh (or grab some celery)!