Nine Small Things to Do Right Now to Feel Better

Making a pleasant difference in your day doesn’t have to mean overhauling your whole routine.  You can make small changes that only take seconds, but add a lot of positivity.

Move a Little

Right now, right where you are, stretch out your arms and roll your shoulders back.  Flex your toes as far as they’ll go.  Bend your neck slowly from side to side and back and forth.  Sit up straight and push your shoulders backward as far as you can. 

In those thirty seconds, you stretched and refreshed yourself and it couldn’t have been easier. Building even a little bit of extra movement into your day is beneficial for almost everyone.  If you are already getting up for a cup of coffee, pause for ten seconds to stretch your hips or back.  If you only have to go up one flight, walk, don’t take the elevator. 

Be Kinder to Your Skin

Improve one thing in your skin care regime. If you wash, but don’t exfoliate, switch out your face wash to one that has safe micro abrasives or use your current face wash with a washcloth.  If you are using a moisturizer, add ten extra seconds to your routine by adding a serum that addresses your skin’s needs, like a stem cell serum. 

Drink a little more water

Go get a glass of water right now.  It will take you less than a minute to drink it.  The next time you yawn or feel tired, drink another glass before you reach for caffeine or sugar as a pick me up.  Water helps your whole body work more efficiently, including your organs and your immune system. 

Get Some Natural Light

Even if you just sit by a window for a little while, you will feel the health benefits of exposure to natural light. There is a reason that many European countries have made natural light a legal requirement for a healthy workplace.  When people get some natural light every day, they have better vision, better sleep, higher Vitamin D, and increased productivity. 

Floss

Your toothbrush doesn’t clean everywhere in your mouth.  Your dentist tells you to floss for a reason.  So, just do it.  You’ll get particles and plaque out from between your teeth, prevent cavities and gum disease, and improve your breath.  That’s pretty great for a two dollar and two-minute investment.

Wear Clothes that Fit

Wearing the right clothes is like the story When You Give a Pig a Pancake.  The positive effects just keep going. 

When you wear clothes that fit you well, you feel good.  When you feel good, you have more confidence.  When you have more confidence, people perceive you as more trustworthy and reliable.  When people perceive you in a more positive light, you are more likely to be given better opportunities of all kinds.  When you have more opportunity, the world opens up. 

Ditch anything in your closet that makes you feel frumpy, constrained, self-conscious, or outdated. 

Insert Music

Taking a break doesn’t have to take an hour or require you to stand in line for coffee.  Music is good for your brain and spirit.  Insert some good music into your day by playing a few great dance songs while you dust off your desk or finish the dishes.  Declare a couple minutes of your commute home as your “me time” by singing along to your favorite song.  Destress after a tough time with Pachelbel’s Canon in D while you check a very simple task off your to-do list. 

Give Compliments

People who are confident enough to give genuine compliments know that helping others feel good helps them feel good too.  Giving compliments is actually a way to express gratitude.  You are telling someone what about them you appreciate.  In doing so, you’ll brighten up the tone of your surroundings and improve your relationships.  While you’re at it, go ahead and give yourself a compliment, since there are certainly things you should be proud of.

Swap snacks

Do a small upgrade of what you graze on.  If you tend to grab some candy in the afternoon, try putting some fruit or healthier cookies within reach as a better alternative.  If you like crunchy and salty snacks, try switching from greasy, vending machine options to veggies and hummus, kale chips, or whole grain tortilla chips with salsa.  This is a good one to get the kids involved in.  If they help cook it, kids are much more likely to try it and eat it!