I started a news series last week on my Instagram account. Each Monday, I’ll share one small way to boost your happiness and help prevent a case of the Monday Blues. I’ll continue to post there, but I also thought I’d post them here at times for those of you who don’t spend time on Instagram.
My first share was this: Eat Something By Yourself.
It can be a whole meal while the kids are napping/having quiet time (that’s what I do!); it can be a piece of chocolate in the shower; it can be an apple on a quick walk away from the office. Just having those few minutes to yourself–and not multi-tasking!!!–is essential to re-grouping. There is a whole mindfulness piece here too. You actually enjoy your food more AND know better when to call the quits when you’re actually paying attention to it.
Having lunch by myself was a practice I started as a teacher. I would literally lock my classroom door and the kids knew that that time was for me. If I hadn’t done it, I think I would’ve quit like three months in. As a mom now, this is also essential to my sanity. My older kids know to give me some time when I ask for it midday, but they’re usually busy sleeping or quietly playing anyway!
I was pretty shocked by how many commenters (here) said they NEVER eat alone, or even sitting down for that matter. I understand that for most meals of the day, honestly, with so much going on whether you’re home or at work. But I honestly feel that if each person makes a point
My second Happiness Hack: Take Five Minutes.
This can happen at any point of the day. You just take five minutes to simply sit. You can meditate, read, look through a magazine, draw, listen to music, or just close your eyes for a little cat nap. The days are long, busy, and stressful. But we can all spare five minutes.
If you know your day is going to be out of control, I’d recommend waking up early. Each morning, I’ve been trying to wake up around when my husband leaves for work at 5:30 AM. I used to wake up then to work out, but now that I exercise later I’ve been attempting to instead meditate, do a spiritual study, then knock out a bit of work and house duties before the kids get up. But even if I don’t get up by 6:00 or even 6:30 AM, I still get up a little before I know kids’ clock is going to light up. I meditate just five minutes. Even that makes a big difference in my day.
So when can that be for you? Before your day begins? Right in the middle of it? Before the afternoon rush? Or at night to help wind down for bed?
Oh, and in case you didn’t get the KEY to this five minutes, here it is: no phone.
I hope you instill this short practice and let me know how it goes!!!
