December 2009 - Vol 4 Issue 12

Come on Get Happy
Making the best of tough times
by Michelle Gibeault Traub, R.D.

Doesn’t it seem easier to get into a bad mood then it is to stay in a good one? Researchers have found this is true. We tend to forget about what makes us happiest and dwell more on the little annoyances of daily life. Lately there are so many big annoyances ranging from unemployment to flu outbreaks, it can be really hard to look on the bright side. What can we do to snap out of this perpetual funk? We can focus on the things in life that nurture happiness, and remind ourselves what those are every chance we get.

Wake up on the right side of the bed

Your morning really sets the tone for your day. If you wake up grouchy it can be difficult to put some pep in your step, but establishing a favorite morning ritual can make you want to jump out of bed smiling. Try these:

• Drinking your favorite morning beverage - coffee, tea or cocoa – they all have health benefits and a bit of caffeine to give you a boost.
• Indulging in a healthy chocolate pick-me-up like Adora Calcium.
• Going for a morning stroll with your pets or your MP3 player to keep you company.
• Popping in a quick workout video, or simply dancing to some uplifting music to get your blood pumping.
• Practicing yoga sun salutations or gentle stretching.
• Enjoying a hot, steamy shower with your favorite scented body wash.
• Reading a day-to-day calendar with an uplifting saying or a joke (i.e. Dilbert or The Far Side).

Be thankful for little conveniences

Today’s technological advances are astounding! If you find yourself getting bitter about the state of the world think about all the little things you can do that you never could before:

• Making a phone call from anywhere with your cell phone.
• Reconnecting with long lost friends on Facebook.
• Organizing your entire music collection on your computer, and listening to your favorite songs from your MP3 player (www.itunes.com).
• Finding reruns of your favorite TV show and watching them when you want on your computer (www.fancast.com).
• Being able to shop online and have your order shipped right to your home.
• Cruising through the self-checkout at the grocery store.
• Having health information delivered via email or easily accessed via the Internet.

Put your problems behind you before turning in

The way you wrap up your day can be as important as the way you begin it. Stress and depression can cut into sleep which ultimately leads to – you guessed it – more stress and depression. Use these tips to help you unwind at bedtime:

• Plan your morning by packing the kids’ backpacks, setting the coffee maker, and putting out your work-out clothes so that when the alarm goes off you’ll be raring to go.
• Write out any last thoughts or “to dos” from the day so you can hit the hay with a clear head.
• Take a soothing bath with a few drops of lavender oil which promotes relaxation.
• Keep a gratitude journal making note of the top 10 joys you experienced that day. Soon you’ll find yourself paying closer attention to your daily blessings and your list will be overflowing with simple things like the color of the sky or the sound of your child's laughter.

Above all else, give yourself permission to just be happy. Even though we are living in a stressful and depressing time, that doesn’t mean we have to be consumed by negativity. Focus on daily joys and before you know it, you'll be getting happy!

Have tips of your own? Share them in the December Contest of the Month and you could win a free bag of Adora Calcium Supplements.

Top of Page