I think we all have days when life gets us down and we get caught up in our to-do lists or the stress of our jobs or families. Or we keep running for our goals and forget to think about the here and now. We need to stop letting that happen and make sure we smile at least once a day.
Because happiness shouldn’t be a goal, it should be a state of mind.
So to help, here are 5 tips on how to stop yourself getting down and instead let yourself be happy.
1. Love who you are
We all have moments when we feel really crappy about ourselves and think we not good enough / clever enough / pretty enough. But sometimes you’ve just got to push all that aside. If you don’t love yourself, no one else will! Having some confidence in who you are, will make you happier every time you look in the mirror.
2. Indulge your inner child
One of the best ways to put a smile on yourself, is to jump back to your childhood self – the person without all the stress and hang ups. Just be silly, let yourself laugh and just have some fun.
3. Become a daydreamer
As a writer, I get pretty excited by the fact I can daydream and let my imagination flow freely because that’s how stories are written. But even if you don’t write, it can be so freeing to just let your mind wander and let yourself dream.
4. Take a moment for you
One of the best ways to bring back the happiest spark, is to step away from the hamster wheel and take a moment out to relax and just be with yourself. My favourite is to have a long bath, pamper myself and listen to my favourite music. And, of course, curling up with a good book is never a bad idea. Find something that helps you and set aside time to indulge.
5. Rock out your guilty pleasure
We should all find something that we enjoy even if it’s silly and something others will laugh at you for enjoying (as long as it’s legal guys!). Sometimes things can be so bad, they’re good and taking some time with your guilty pleasure should make you smile. I either feed my celebrity gossip affliction, stick on the Kardashians or sing really badly along to my favourite music!
What’s your best happiness tip?
Victoria
xoxo
beckyday6
/ January 26, 2012Thanks, I needed this, got a big exam tomorrow and thinking about it’s been getting be down
Great post
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Good luck Becky!
Juliette
/ January 26, 2012I do all of those things, but sometimes they never lift the never-ending gloom that goes on in my head….
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Ah hun, I hope you’re ok!
Juliette
/ January 27, 2012It’s probably SAD…..
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2012Yeah I can’t wait for it to warm up!
Bonnie
/ January 26, 2012Lovely post, Vix. I’m all into numbers 2 and 3, frequently. I love to blame these on the Pisces in me.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012I’m a Pisces too woo!
Angelia Sims
/ January 26, 2012I struggle with number one most often! These are all great.
My tip would be to watch a comedy. Nothing makes me feel better than a great big belly laugh. 
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012I do enjoy a bit of Glee, helps to cheer me up!
thoughtsappear
/ January 26, 2012This post made me want bubbles…asap.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Bubbles are good. Especially in a bath!
Patrick mulengwa
/ January 26, 2012Stop thinking of what could go wrong and think of what could go right and watching a nice comedy episode.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Good advice!
Tori Nelson
/ January 26, 2012#2 is KEY! It took my having a kid to finally get it. It’s hard to be grumpy when climbing a tree or digging in the dirt
Great post, Vix.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Haha digging in the dirt, what about my nails?! Eek, the horror
suzicate
/ January 26, 2012Great post, Vic!
Be happy…rock on!
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Thanks Suzi!
Deborah the Closet Monster
/ January 26, 2012Look at beautiful pictures–which, as it happens, you’ve helped with this morning! I stumbled upon this accidentally a few weeks back, when I was so stressed and down I couldn’t think straight. I asked folks to post their most calming pictures. It was freakin’ amazing how much each of those images took me out of this and put me into the possibility of all the things yet to come.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012You’re right, pictures are really calming and can be really inspirational. Glad I helped!
mystereum
/ January 26, 2012Butterscotch caramel topping on strawberry ice cream. No, silly, more topping than that! And, if the doldrums come around I’ll deeply breathe for 20 seconds, jump around and wiggle, and then put on music and make faces (not necessarily in a mirror) until I start cracking up KNOWING that this full-on better no be going on YouTube.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Mmm ice cream
elvishjesusfreak
/ January 26, 2012I totally love this! I think all these are brilliant pieces of advice and definitely good to follow to be happy!
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Thanks Hope!
Lenore Diane
/ January 26, 2012Excellent!!
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Thanks
nrhatch
/ January 27, 2012Excellent list, Vix!
My best tip: Remember to LAUGH. We do not laugh because we are happy . . . we are happy because we laugh.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Great tip!
D...
/ January 27, 2012I was listening to this song “All you need to say”. It’s a cute little song with some encouraging lyrics. One line is, “search and find true happiness and never take less. While another is “if the world should want your soul, don’t ever say yes.” I think that we should all find our own happiness and enjoy life the way we need to. And when I think about truly happy people, their joy tends not to make others miserable. Those who act with destructive behavior tend to not really be happy, they just want to act out and make others notice them.
Victoria-writes
/ January 27, 2012Great lyrics. Wise words D!
misspinkles
/ January 27, 2012Being happy is so important, but sometimes it gets put on the back burner due to life.
Great tips you have there!!!
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2012Very true and it shouldn’t! Thanks Miss P!
egills
/ January 27, 2012Being able to laugh at myself is a good one… I do so many times… normally when I find myself talking to a wall
I do believe though that life is far too short to waste one precious moment on wallowing in self pity. ( That’s what my blog is for I growl there and then I’m back to normal )
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2012Well said!
Sandi Ormsby
/ January 27, 2012A smile always helps…and then toss in a laugh. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t smile/laugh several times a day. You have to! I think it’s a rule somewhere.
Sandi
http://www.ahhsome.wordpress.com
Lake Forest, CA USA
Victoria-writes
/ January 28, 2012It should be a rule
lookingupwhileslimmingdown
/ January 29, 2012Absolutely LOVE this post!!!! Such good reminders!
Arindam
/ July 27, 2012Great post. Very nicely written. As you said, a person needs to love & accept himself/herself first; then only other can accept & love that person the way he/she is.
Victoria-writes
/ July 28, 2012Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!