ometimes I struggle a little with being an optimist and a realist at the same time. I love positive thinking and the concept of self belief but then I also think you’ve got to put your big kid pants on and deal with the garbage life can throw at you too. I’ve popped together a list of realistic habits that I do most days and hopefully they will bring you shit loads (or bunches if you don’t like the swears!) of joy…
Acknowledge what a beautiful gift this day is
If you’re stuck in a rut, it can be hard to focus on the positive things. If you wake up every day and be thankful for just one thing, it can totally change the outlook of your day. You can be thankful for your family, your health, your partner, that job you don’t love but pays the bills, your functional body, your amazing colleague that brightens your day or simply the roof over your head. I’ve met children who live in urban slums in India and they’re some of the happiest kids I’ve met in my life. Sometimes life is tough but it’s often not as tough as we think.
Have a special beverage in the morning
I start every day with a hot beverage of some kind. It’s often a coffee, sometimes a hot lemon water and sometimes both but taking the time to make myself a lovely hot drink and sit down to enjoy it makes every day so much nicer.
Be kind to someone
The other day Mr Smaggle and I were walking down the street and this old man stopped and said ‘Good morning! I hope you have a beautiful day!’. We were so delighted we talked about it for the rest of the day. Try doing this – it will put you in a totally stella mood, not to mention making the day of the person you said it to!
Find joy in unpleasant tasks
We all have to do unpleasant things every day like cleaning or shopping but if I’m really not feeling motivated to do a task, I go faux-positive on myself. I used to do this when I was a teacher and I had to get my students to do something they hated like taking out the recycling. I’d act like it was the most fun thing in the world and be all ‘YAY! Recycling!!!’ and soon I’d have kids begging to do the recycling. Fun is in the eye of the beholder so just decide that whatever you’re doing is the best thing that’s happened all week.
Before you go to bed ‘freshen’ up your house
Before I go to bed each night I spend about 20 minutes freshening my house. I plump the cushions, drape my throw rugs, put the dirty dishes away, hang up my hand bag and pack away my crocheting basket. It’s become a habit but it makes such a difference to the way I wake up each morning that I even do it in hotel rooms now. It’s such a treat to wake up in a fresh house.
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
Do you have any little rituals that bring you joy? What’s making you feel sparkly this week?
[divider type=”standard” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]
P.S Did you know there’s a Smaggle newsletter? And Smags on Facebook? There’s lots of awesome life tips and Beyonce in both of those places.