Happiness Blog

Hobbies are defined as activities done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure. In other words, a hobby is something you opt to engage in because you find it to be enjoyable – and not because someone told you to do it. When we are enjoying ourselves, our emotional well-being is improved while our stress levels are decreased. So spend some time this week engaged in your favorite hobby or starting a new one. If you are struggling coming up with a new hobby, start by asking yourself if you want it to involve being indoors or outdoors. Here are some ideas to get you started: cooking, drawing, reading, photography, sculpting, crocheting, video gaming, fishing, gardening, kayaking, hiking, and horseback riding.

While just the word reading may bring up negative memories about school for some, it can have a whole new meaning when we are in control of the material. So take a moment to reflect on a time where you looked up from a book and thought to yourself, “Whoa! Did that much time really just pass by?!” or “Wow! That was some great insight!” When we find a book that captures our interest, we transport to that author’s world which leads us to learn new ideas, see new viewpoints, and connect with characters along the way. As a result, it may come as no surprise that books are beginning to be “prescribed” by doctors to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. So re-read that favorite book or start that book you have been putting off; And I wish you safe travels on whatever journey you decide take!

Candy hearts and roses and chocolate, oh my! Every year people scramble to come up with ways to demonstrate their love for the someone special in their lives. Before diving into that this year, allot some of your time to loving yourself. While sweets, flowers, and candle light dinners are some of many ways that come to mind when planning Valentine’s Day, what comes to mind when thinking of ways to love yourself? Take a moment to consider this further to come up with a plan and then follow through with it! The possibilities are endless ranging from a spa day to watching your favorite movie with a box of chocolates in hand.

Do you ever come home and feel instantly irritated because you have no idea what you are going to make for dinner? Or do you ever wake up and stare at your lunch bag for what feels like eternity because you have no idea what to take to work? For those of us who have experienced either (or both) of these scenarios know how frustrating it can be. Perhaps it is time to consider meal planning! Here’s why… Planning meals ahead can save time. Don’t believe it? Take a moment to consider how much time you roughly spend a week on just thinking about what to make for a meal after a long day of work? Or how much of your morning is taken up while you contemplate your lunch. Once you do decide what to eat, do you find yourself making quick runs to the supermarket because you are missing a key ingredient? Meal planning can help. Spending 20-30 minutes a week to plan your meals can reduce the time wasted daily, as well as eliminate the time it takes to make the quick runs to the grocery store. Another major benefit of meal planning is healthy eating. When we take time to plan ahead, we can consider things like a balanced, healthy, fulfilling diet. Another huge benefit is you save money. By planning ahead, you may be able to identify common ingredients that are cheaper to buy in larger quantities. Also, it can reduce the likelihood of the excuse, “I have nothing to eat today. I’ll just eat out.” Overall, it reduces stress, as you no longer have to deal with the worry of what to make on a daily basis.

Allowing our creativity to flow through art has a variety of benefits. Research has demonstrated that art projects have led to a reduction in stress levels, an increase in our resiliency, improvement in well-being, decrease in depression, and an increase in one’s ability to cope with chronic illness. So what is it about art that makes it so helpful? Art allows us to bring our feelings to life. By being mindful of these emotions and acknowledging their presence as we reflect them in our art, we are in a better position to process what we are feeling. It also allows us to get into a rhythm or flow of things when we are concentrated on what we are creating. For the period of time you are focused on your artwork, other thoughts and feelings may take the back burner allowing you to be immersed in the moment. Also, it just feels good overall to create something. For those of us that feel as though there is not one artistic bone in our bodies, there are options! Consider acquiring an adult coloring book with a theme that interests you whether it be animals, nature, architecture, etc. Similarly, another option is paint by numbers. Both of these alternatives still allow your creativity to flow as you bring the black and white image to life with whatever colors you choose.

Feng shui was developed over 3,000 years ago in China and focuses on balancing the energies in any given space. While learning about feng shui and truly incorporating the teachings would be wonderful, it may not be ideal for most of us from a time and financial perspective. But there are small, more attainable changes stemming from feng shui that may be easier for us to incorporate to help improve our happiness. For instance, add shelves. If your living room, bedroom, workspace, etc. is too cluttered or messy, anxiety levels may increase. Add some shelves to organize these areas. If shelves do not seem to really do the trick, then spring cleaning might just need to come earlier this year. Cleaning may seem very time and energy consuming, but it may be just what you need. Plus, you would be ahead of the spring cleaning game. Another helpful tip is to have adequate lighting by allowing as much natural light as possible in or consider using lamps, light fixtures, etc. This is said to influence the energy of your home.

While our previous post focused on exercise in general and its impact on happiness, lets focus specifically on yoga, as there has been a rapid rise of people practicing yoga in recent years.Research shows the brain’s gamma aminobutyric (GABA) levels spike even after a single class of yoga. Simply put, one yoga class can contribute to improving your mood! For those who opt to practice yoga long term further benefit, as yoga reduces fatigue, anxiety, anger– all of which impact our happiness in a negative way. For those who find the idea of working out just plain boring, perhaps yoga with a cute goat may be just what you need!