Fine-tuning your happiness and wellbeing

happy tourist  doing handstand in nature
(Photo: Envato Elements)
They say your life is the result of the choices you make and people you surround yourself with. In pursuit of happiness, why make huge life-changing decisions that throw your daily routine off course, when you can simply introduce subtle yet conscious tweaks to your current habits that do not disrupt your lifestyle but rather steer it in the right direction. اضافة اعلان

Below are some tried-and-tested methods that a few 20-something year-old locals recommend as daily doses of positivity and mental health pick-me-ups.

Be present instead of connected

Nowadays, our bosses and loved ones expect us to be online and accessible at all times. Many of us have developed a sense of guilt or anxiety if we disconnect after working hours or during the holidays. However, what is more important than being online is being present. Spreading yourself too thin in an attempt to do two things simultaneously at all times often results in burnout and being half invested in everything you do.

In the age of overstimulation, 140-character tweets and 30-second TikToks, we often find ourselves spaced out during important conversations, or scrolling through Instagram while watching our favorite TV shows.

People are finding it increasingly challenging to enjoy life‘s simple pleasures, such as going for a walk or making a home-cooked meal. The fear of missing out, also known as FOMO, is forcing us to feel like doing one thing at time is simply not enough.

Try to train yourself to be present at all times and fully invested in whatever it is that you choose to spend your time doing. Of course, it is another case of easier said than done, but relearning to appreciate little joys and connect with others on a deeper level is definitely worth it.

Celebrate the little victories

Instead of focusing on specific numbers and losing focus of what really matters, set little goals to tick off your daily to-do list and celebrate the small achievements as you go. No one can tell you what is worth celebrating and what is not. So, jot down a list of daily victories, weekly wins and monthly milestones that get you excited about moving a few steps closer to your ultimate goal. For some, this could be waking up half an hour early in the morning after weeks of failed attempts, or finally signing up for that art class that you have had your eye on for months. Whatever it may be, give yourself the credit you deserve and watch the victories grow bigger and more frequent with time.
People are finding it increasingly challenging to enjoy life‘s simple pleasures, such as going for a walk or making a home-cooked meal. The fear of missing out, also known as FOMO, is forcing us to feel like doing one thing at time is simply not enough.
Switch to airplane mode

Switch your phone to airplane mode an hour before bed and spend those 60 minutes reflecting and unwinding. Whether you choose to keep a journal, meditate, read a book or drink some relaxing tea, make sure you slow your pace and quiet your mind.

One of the major benefits of doing so is reducing the negative effects of blue light on our health. Interestingly enough, the Harvard Medical School found possible connections between exposure to blue light and diabetes, obesity, depression, cardiovascular problems and disrupted sleeping patterns.

Another plus is that taking a break from social media before bed frees up some time for you to reflect on the day that passed, make plans for the following day and stick to your sleeping schedule, and well, you know what they say about early birds.

Do not count sheep, count your blessings!

At the end of the day, as soon as you rest your head on the pillow, think of three things you are grateful for, based on the events of that day. It could be something as silly as expressing gratitude for the delicious burger you had for lunch or finally holding a challenging pose you have been working on for month in Yoga class.

According to the University of California’s Robert Emmons and the University of Miami’s Michael McCullough, reflecting positively on recent events can have a huge effect on a person’s health and wellbeing. In one of their studies, they proved that people who express gratitude feel better about their lives, are motivated to work out more and make less trips to the doctor’s office, in comparison to those who focus on inconveniences and irritations.

The point is: do not hypnotize or bore yourself to sleep with imaginary sheep, but rather drift into your nightly rest with a heart full of gratitude and appreciation.

Be kind

This one’s pretty obvious and self-explanatory. Bless someone with your kindness whenever you get the chance. Do not be stingy with smiles and compliments, when you can be the reason someone has a good day. If you do not do it for others do it for the health benefits that come with. Kindness has been linked to feel-good hormones, lower social anxiety, improved cardiovascular health and the list goes on.

Here are a few acts of kindness to get you back in the game:

Ask someone that you would not normally start a conversation with about their day

Schedule a Zoom call with someone who lives abroad

Show up to work with a batch of homemade cookies

Reach out to someone you lost touch with

Feed a stray cat

Eat the rainbow

An article about wellbeing is not complete without mentioning the importance of a healthy diet. After all, “Healthy body, healthy mind” has not become the overused cliché we know today for no reason. Research continues to prove that it is impossible to treat psychological health and physical health as two separate entities, because they are tightly intertwined.

You could always seek the help of a nutritionist for the best personalized meal plan but one way to go about making healthier choices is eating fruits and vegetables of different colors every single day. Hence, the phrase: “eat the rainbow.”

Couple that nutritious diet with a daily walk or workout, and you will start seeing a shift in your mood in no time. According to Better Health, any exercise is better than no exercise, but experts recommend 2.5-5 hours of moderate physical exercise or 1.25-2.5 hours of vigorous physical activity every week to the average adult.

Say no to bad vibes

If you have not got the memo yet, 2022 is the year of putting yourself first and protecting your energy. Do not be afraid to set boundaries or cut ties with people who bring you down. Invest your free time in those who match your energy, help you reach your goals and you feel like you can be your true self around unapologetically. Last but not least, set some quality time with mother nature, at least once a week, and make sure you immerse your five senses in all that our beautiful world has to offer.


Read more Health
Jordan News